The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was one of the most prolific operators of the Lockheed Hudson, employing it as a front-line reconnaissance bomber across the Pacific and Mediterranean theaters.

The Malayan Campaign and Historic Firsts

At the outbreak of war with Japan in December 1941, the RAAF had Hudsons stationed in Malaya with No. 1 and No. 8 Squadrons.

• The First Sinking: On December 8, 1941, an RAAF Hudson from No. 1 Squadron achieved the first sinking of a Japanese ship of any type in World War II, destroying the 9,704-ton transport Awajisan Maru off the coast of Malaya.
• Intense Aerial Combat: RAAF crews frequently engaged Japanese "Zero" fighters. Despite being a bomber, the Hudson was rugged enough to survive many such encounters, though many were lost during the rapid Japanese advance through Malaya, Sumatra, and Java.

Defense of Australia and the New Guinea Campaign

Following the fall of Singapore, Hudsons became a primary tool for the defense of the Australian mainland and operations in the South Pacific.

• Bombing of Darwin: Hudsons from No. 2 and No. 13 Squadrons were involved in the aftermath of the first major air raid on Darwin in February 1942, with several aircraft destroyed on the ground.
• Milne Bay and Port Moresby: During the New Guinea campaign, Hudsons from No. 6 and No. 32 Squadrons provided critical support, attacking Japanese landings at Milne Bay and conducting long-range reconnaissance from Port Moresby.
• Direct Support for Troops: In late 1942, Hudsons were used to supply-drop food and equipment to Australian ground forces fighting along the Kokoda Track and near Buna, often flying through treacherous mountain passes in severe weather.

Mediterranean Operations

Australia's use of the Hudson extended beyond the Pacific. No. 459 Squadron RAAF was formed in Egypt in early 1942 and operated over the Eastern Mediterranean.

• Anti-Submarine and Shipping Strikes: This squadron conducted anti-submarine patrols and night shipping strikes against German and Italian forces along the North African coast, including operations during the Battle of El Alamein.
• Global Service: RAAF navigators and pilots also served in many RAF Hudson squadrons operating from the United Kingdom, Iceland, and Gibraltar.

Variants and Technical Adaptations

The RAAF utilized several specific variants of the aircraft:

• Hudson Mk IVA (A-28): A total of 52 aircraft (serials A16-101 to A16-152) were diverted from the USAAF to Australia under Lend-Lease.
• Hand-Operated Armament: Because of delays in receiving power-operated turrets from the UK, early RAAF Hudsons in 1940 were fitted with a hand-held, manually-operated machine gun in the dorsal position as an interim measure.
• Increased Firepower: To better engage surfaced submarines or Japanese transports, some RAAF Hudsons had their nose armament increased by replacing .303 guns with .50-inch Brownings.

Transition to Support Roles

As the war progressed and more modern aircraft like the Bristol Beaufort and Lockheed Ventura became available, RAAF Hudsons were transitioned to essential support roles:

• Air-Sea Rescue and Ambulance: Units such as No. 1 and No. 2 Air Ambulance Units used Hudsons (often with turrets removed) to transport wounded personnel.
• Survey and Transport: The Survey Flight utilized Hudsons for aerial mapping and photographic surveys across Australia and New Guinea.