RNZAF And USAAF Pictures
Wed May 06, 2009 11:28 pm
Hi Gents
Here are some photos of RNZAF Hudson aircraft and one of a pair of RNZAF Kittyhawks. Also a couple of shots of USAAF P-40's, all from the Pacific.
Regards
Buz
Here are some photos of RNZAF Hudson aircraft and one of a pair of RNZAF Kittyhawks. Also a couple of shots of USAAF P-40's, all from the Pacific.
Regards
Buz
Wed May 06, 2009 11:48 pm
nice pics keep them coming. btw any Beaufort pics are appreciated
Thu May 07, 2009 3:01 am
No turret or a Scarff ring for the dorsal gun?
Dorsal Guns
Thu May 07, 2009 5:39 am
Turrets are the order of the day, just the angler makes it hard to see them.
Thu May 07, 2009 7:21 am
Nice photo's!
Rick
Rick
Thu May 07, 2009 7:39 am
Awesome photos, thanks for posting these. Have you any further details? Such as the photographer's name, date, mission details, location?
Sorry for all the queries but as I'm writing the history of the RNZAF Hudson squadrons, these really interest me. I'd love to get larger scans for the book/s if possible please - dave_daasnz@hotmail.com
As for turrets, although I agree the angle is likely obscuring the turrets it should also be remembered that not all RNZAF Hudsons had turrets. When they arrived here from the USA they had no armament (due to lend lease reasons) and British turrets were fitted but the RNZAF had only about 50 turrets fo the 96 aircraft received. As an aircrfat went for major servicing the turret would be removed and put on its replacement if it was stationed in the Forward Area. Many Hudsons here at home had n turrets fitted.
The shot of the P-40's escorting the Hudson is a famous event. There's a shot form the same photographer but a split second later on page 75 of Air to Air - The Story Behind the Air-to-Air Combat Claims of the RNZAF by Chris Rudge. In the P-40's are Sqn Ldr Michael Herrick and Flt Lt Sholto Duncan, of No. 15 Squadron RNZAF, who on this trip were escorting the No. 3 Squadron RNZAF Hudson and they were alerted by the Hudson crew after they'd spotted a Nakajima Dave. Herrick (already a Battle of Britain Ace) and Duncan shared in the kill of the Dave, the first enemy aircraft shot down in the Pacific by RNZAF fighter pilots.
Are the other Hudson air to airs from the same photographer (a Hudson crew members)?
Sorry for all the queries but as I'm writing the history of the RNZAF Hudson squadrons, these really interest me. I'd love to get larger scans for the book/s if possible please - dave_daasnz@hotmail.com
As for turrets, although I agree the angle is likely obscuring the turrets it should also be remembered that not all RNZAF Hudsons had turrets. When they arrived here from the USA they had no armament (due to lend lease reasons) and British turrets were fitted but the RNZAF had only about 50 turrets fo the 96 aircraft received. As an aircrfat went for major servicing the turret would be removed and put on its replacement if it was stationed in the Forward Area. Many Hudsons here at home had n turrets fitted.
The shot of the P-40's escorting the Hudson is a famous event. There's a shot form the same photographer but a split second later on page 75 of Air to Air - The Story Behind the Air-to-Air Combat Claims of the RNZAF by Chris Rudge. In the P-40's are Sqn Ldr Michael Herrick and Flt Lt Sholto Duncan, of No. 15 Squadron RNZAF, who on this trip were escorting the No. 3 Squadron RNZAF Hudson and they were alerted by the Hudson crew after they'd spotted a Nakajima Dave. Herrick (already a Battle of Britain Ace) and Duncan shared in the kill of the Dave, the first enemy aircraft shot down in the Pacific by RNZAF fighter pilots.
Are the other Hudson air to airs from the same photographer (a Hudson crew members)?
Thu May 07, 2009 7:50 am
The back of the Boulton-Paul turret and barrels of the two .303 Brownings is just visible.
Some early RAAF Hudsons were fitted with a kind of blister over the hole with a gun pointing out of the back before the turrets were delivered, and later on the turret was removed when Hudsons were used for comms and freighting, but these are fully 'battle-ready' - the pilot's two fixed forward firing Brownings are also just visible.
Some early RAAF Hudsons were fitted with a kind of blister over the hole with a gun pointing out of the back before the turrets were delivered, and later on the turret was removed when Hudsons were used for comms and freighting, but these are fully 'battle-ready' - the pilot's two fixed forward firing Brownings are also just visible.
Thu May 07, 2009 8:12 am
Yes I agree you can see a turret. I think all the RNZAF machines had the forward firing Brownings fitted all the time, unlike the turrets and radars which were swapped round. Some also had beam Vickers guns fitted up at Guadalcanal and Santo, but I've never yet found a photo of one with it. I'm not even sure which side they were fitted to be was assured by an air gunner it wasn't both sides.
I'm sure I've seen a photo of a USAAF Hudson with the same type of blister turret you mentioned James, and similar turrets were fitted by the RAAF to your Empire Flying Boats too I believe.
I'm sure I've seen a photo of a USAAF Hudson with the same type of blister turret you mentioned James, and similar turrets were fitted by the RAAF to your Empire Flying Boats too I believe.
Thu May 07, 2009 8:37 am
Hi Dave,
I agree with what you've said; for clarification, this is the temporary USAAF flexible mount:
http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/lok_hudson.php
This is the RAAF temporary unit:
http://www.raaf.gov.au/units/13sqn.aspx
Seen less clearly here:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/de ... b7155338fd
Both were temporary fits in a hole intended for the turret in short supply. The Hudson's Boulton-Paul turret was actually an adaptation of the turret design for the nose of the Halifax.
The G Class Empire boats got proper Boulton-Paul Mk.II (Defiant style) turrets in the UK, while the Australian equipped C and G classes got Scarff style mounts - probably ex-Demon. The actual 'mount' of the guns in the RAAF Hudson temporary fit is a mystery, AFAIK, and was probably a simple pintle mount, rather than a ring.
Cheers,
I agree with what you've said; for clarification, this is the temporary USAAF flexible mount:
http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/lok_hudson.php
This is the RAAF temporary unit:
http://www.raaf.gov.au/units/13sqn.aspx
Seen less clearly here:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/de ... b7155338fd
Both were temporary fits in a hole intended for the turret in short supply. The Hudson's Boulton-Paul turret was actually an adaptation of the turret design for the nose of the Halifax.
The G Class Empire boats got proper Boulton-Paul Mk.II (Defiant style) turrets in the UK, while the Australian equipped C and G classes got Scarff style mounts - probably ex-Demon. The actual 'mount' of the guns in the RAAF Hudson temporary fit is a mystery, AFAIK, and was probably a simple pintle mount, rather than a ring.
Cheers,
Thu May 07, 2009 9:04 am
Interesting to note, that the markings on the P-40's underside was the US Star, guess to try to keep those trigger-happy yank gunners from blazing away!
Thu May 07, 2009 6:04 pm
The later shots of P-40's overhead, accordin to their file names, are 44th FG, USAAF, hence the stars. RNZAF P-40's seldom if ever flew with stars, they were repainted with the RNZAF roundel as soon as they were accepted into service.