![]() ![]() ![]() The Hudson was the first England-based aircraft to shoot down a German aircraft (a Dornier Do-17, in 1939). The RAF nicknamed the Hudson the ‘Old Boomerang’ because they usually came back, even when shot up or damaged. The aircraft flew as part of 269 Squadron. Lockheed employees were so grateful for the work that they donated part of their wages, and their time, to build an extra Hudson as a gift for the RAF, The Spirit of Lockheed-Vega Employees. I, II, III, IV and Vs were received by the RAF from 1938 to 1942, about 70 per cent of Hudson production. In 1938 the RAF placed an order for 550 of the Lockheed Hudson – at $25m, this was at the time the largest single order ever received by an American aircraft manufacturer. The Hudson built by Lockheed Martin employees in their spare time as a gift for the RAF Lockheed Martin UK currently operates from more than 20 locations across the country, with around 2,000 employees, and works with more than 1,000 UK companies in its supply chain. The bases were an important early milestone in a proud 80-year history of industrial partnership that continues today. To cope with the huge increase in demand created by the war, Lockheed also operated out of at least six bases in the UK, with local employees working on aircraft assembly, modification and repair. Martin Company and Consolidated Aircraft Corporation (later Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft) supplied no less than 12 different aircraft types to the UK Air Ministry. From 1939 to 1945, Lockheed Martin precursors the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, the Glenn L. The Hudson is probably the most well-known Lockheed Martin aircraft flown by the Royal Air Force during World War II - but ‘Old Boomerang’ is but a small part of Lockheed’s fascinating wartime history with the UK. Rhodes, Lockheed Martin Communications and Aeronautics HistoryĪ look back at Lockheed Martin’s role in the British war effort as we approach the 75 th Anniversary of VE Day on. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |