NEVILLE DENTON COLLECTION
No. 7987. Lockheed 414-56 Hudson Mk.IIIA (G-BEOX c/n 414-6464)
Photographed at Strathallen, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland, UK, by Neville Denton

Lockheed 414-56 Hudson Mk.IIIA

06/30/2008. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "Produced as an A-29-LO fitted with two Wright R-1820-87 Cyclone nine-cylinder radial engines, this aircraft was delivered to the USAAF on February 1, 1942, s/n 41-36975. Under the Lend-Lease program it was immediately transferred to the RAF, s/n FH174, and diverted to the RAAF, s/n A16-199. Arriving in Australia on April 2, 1942, it served with No. 13 and No. 2 Squadrons, and No. 3 Communications Unit, till stored on November 16, 1945. It was put up for disposal on July 28, 1946.

It came on the civil registry as VH-SMM on September 24, 1947, and was operated by a number of companies, before it was reregistered as VH-AGJ on December 14, 1966. Meanwhile it was re-engined with 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3-G Twin Wasp fourteen-cylinder two-row air-cooled radials, and had been used for a number of duties, including training, air-dropping newspapers, surveys, aerial spraying and transport. It was withdrawn from operational services by 1973.

On April 16, 1973, the aircraft was sold to the Strathallen Collection and it left Sydney for the UK on April 19, arriving at Strathallen on May 10, covering over 12,350 mls (19,875 km) in 73 flying hours. The aircraft never flew again, although it was registered as G-BEOX in 1975, when it also received the shown No. 13 Squadron colour scheme. On July 14, 1981, it was acquired by the RAF Museum at Hendon. The registration was cancelled on January 4, 1982."


Created June 30, 2008