The Lockheed Hudson held immense significance in Canadian service, as the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was the second-largest operator of the type among Commonwealth nations, receiving a total of 248 aircraft. It served as a primary weapon in the Battle of the Atlantic and as a high-casualty, aggressive strike bomber with RAF Coastal Command in Europe.

Maritime Patrol and the Battle of the Atlantic

In late 1939, the Hudson became the first modern maritime patrol aircraft for Canada’s Eastern Air Command. Operating from bases in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, RCAF Hudsons provided essential convoy escorts for shipping departing from major ports like Halifax.

• Strategic Impact: The persistent patrols flown by squadrons such as No. 11 RCAF were strategically vital; they forced German U-boats to remain submerged during daylight hours, severely limiting their ability to track and attack Allied convoys.
• U-boat Successes: Canadian Hudsons achieved notable victories against the U-boat threat. On July 31, 1942, S/Ldr N.E. Small of No. 113 Squadron successfully attacked and sank U-754 with depth charges. On October 30, 1942, F/O E.L. Robinson of No. 145 Squadron achieved another sinking, destroying U-658 off Newfoundland.

No. 407 (RCAF) "Demon" Squadron

In the European theater, the Hudson was synonymous with the aggressive operations of No. 407 (RCAF) Squadron, nicknamed the "Demon" Squadron.

• Shipping Strikes: Based at North Coates in the UK, the squadron specialized in "mast-height" attacks against German shipping along the Dutch and Norwegian coasts. Their first recorded success occurred on October 13, 1941, with the sinking of the 1,939-ton Hamm-19.
• High Casualty Rates: The "Demon" Squadron's aggressive tactics came at a heavy price. During shipping strikes, loss rates for the squadron and its counterparts reached as high as 54 percent.
• Major Operations: No. 407 Sqdn participated in historic RAF missions, including the attempt to stop the German fleet during the "Channel Dash" and the "Thousand Bomber Raid" on Bremen in June 1942.

Training and Specialized Roles

Beyond front-line combat, the Hudson was a staple of Canadian aviation in other capacities:

• Training: Numerous Hudsons were supplied to the RCAF to support the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), serving as advanced navigational and gunnery trainers until they were eventually replaced by the Lockheed Ventura.
• Search and Rescue: Units like the No. 123 Search and Rescue Flight utilized Hudsons for maritime rescue operations.