Hudson Serials question.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

While looking at Serial numbers of Lockheed Hudsons I came upon the following.
In Andrew Hendrie's book, "Lockheed Hudson in World Warr II" on page 179 "Apendix F",
Model - Number - Gross Wt - Serial numbers - Remarks
A-29 - 416 - 21,700lb - 41-23223/23638 - EW361/EW766
153 repossessed; 20 diverted to USN.

I understood that the only Hudsons in the EW serial range were EW873 to EW972 ( ex 42-6582/6681) ?

Further that from
EW100 to EW322 were Liberator VI's;
Nil from EW323 to EW340;
EW341 to EW610 were Cornell I's in Canada;
EW611 to EW634 being Liberator VI's;
NIL from EW635 to EW872;
EW873 to EW972 Hudson VI's;
EW973 to EW997 Lodestar I's;
EW998 A-36 Mustang;
EW999 Skymaster I.

While I wonder about the two gaps in the serial number run there seems to be an overlap of Cornell, Liberator's and Hudson's at least from EW361 to EW634.
Cornell's and Liberator's seem to be documented in this section,
Cornell's from EW361 to EW610 and Liberator'd from EW611 to EW634.
So in regard to EW361 to EW766, there is EW361 to EW610 and EW611 to EW634 which leaves EW635 to EW766, this section already in the second gap EW635 to EW872.

IS there any info out there that would indicate that EW635 to EW766 were indeed Hudson aircraft serial numbers ?

Thanks
Alex

[Bill Walker]

My personal bible on the subject, "British Military Serials" by Robertson lists:

EW341 to EW610 Cornell
EW611 to EW634 Liberator
EW635 to EW873 no entry
EW874 to EW972 Hudson, 42-6582 to -6681

Baugher's web site confirms the US serials/RAF serials match up for the EW874 + up Hudsons. The other serials you mention, 41-23223 and up, had serials allocated in the BW361 and up range, but were diverted to various other destinations, including Australia.

This web site matches Robertson, but I think they based all their early info on that book: http://www.ukserials.com/

[Graham Boak]

Air Britain's EA100-EZ999 agrees - gaps were deliberately left to confuse German intelligence - these were known as "black-out blocks."

This book is about to be revised, so may change, but I suspect Bill has the right answer. That's an awful lot of aircraft just to disappear from history.

Another source should be Air Britain's Lockheed Twins, but having seen Bill's comment I haven't bothered to check.

[udf_00]

Could EW a typo for BW ?
http://www.uswarplanes.net/lockheedtwin.html

[Alex Smart]

Hell All,
Many Thanks for the detailed replies.
I think that Andrew Hendrie's book, must be a typo error.
EW instead of correct BW.
So -
Model - Number - Gross Wt - Serial numbers - Remarks
A-29 - 416 - 21,700lb - 41-23223/23638 - EW361/EW766
153 repossessed; 20 diverted to USN.
Should read as -
Model - Number - Gross Wt - Serial numbers - Remarks
A-29 - 416 - 21,700lb - 41-23223/23638 - BW361/BW766
153 repossessed; 20 diverted to USN.

Thanks for help in clearing the fog.
Alex