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Hudson
VH-BIH undergoing civil conversion at Mascot. Identification
of the Israeli Hudsons is made difficult by the lack of photographs
of these aircraft in Australia. This photo of VH-BIH at Mascot is the
only known image of an Israeli Hudson prior to departure from Australia.
The Application for Registration for VH-BIH, dated 19 March 1948, stated
that the aircraft was configured with 13 passenger seats. The DCA file
on the aircraft later recorded that; "The registration letters
painted on the side of the aircraft were about two inches high, presumably
to avoid identification except at close quarters." The registration
letters in the above photograph appear to be about half the height of
the rudder balance weight cutout which has been measured (on an actual
Hudson fin!) at 30cm (approx 12 inches) high so that would make the
registration letters approximately 6 inches high. It could be speculated
that the registration may have been moved subsequently from the fin
to the "side" of the fuselage and in a reduced size but there
is no evidence to support this.
 Picture:
Warren Penny via Geoff Goodall |