bomber Archives - Page 4 of 18 - Destination's Journey

Bloch MB.130 Reconnaissance Aircraft

Bloch MB.130 Reconnaissance Aircraft

The Bloch MB.130 was designed in response to a French Air Staff requirement for a fast multi-seat BCR (bomber, combat, reconnaissance) aircraft. First flying on 8 June 1934 at Villacoublay It was designated the MB.130 A. It was powered by two 760hp Gnome-Rhône 14 Kdrs engines and fitted with a fixed, trousered undercarriage.

After a series of tests, it was modified to incorporate a retractable undercarriage, 870hp Gnome-Rhône 14 Kirs/Kjrs engines and a ventral turret extended to the rear. The modified aircraft, redesignated MB 130 B, flew on 3 April 1935.

The Bloch MB.310 did not enter production, as the French Air Force decided to focus on specialised aircraft for different roles. Bloch used the basic airframe from the MB.130 to develop the more advanced MB.311.

Vultee XA-41 Dive Bomber

Vultee XA-41

Originally designed as a dive-bomber, the role of the Vultee XA-41 was changed to a low level attack aircraft when the USAAF decided that dive bombers were too vulnerable. Changing priorities and the coming end of the Second World War saw the order for two prototypes changed to just one.

The only prototype first flew on 11 February 1944. It was used predominantly as an engine test bed for the R-4360, although the US Navy evaluated it against other attack aircraft (Douglas AD-1 Skyraider and Martin AM-1 Mauler). Engine tests continued until 1950 when the XA-41 was scrapped.

Lockheed Hudson

Newcastle Williamtown Air Show November 2023

Lockheed Hudson Mk.IV A16-105 at Canberra Airport

Lockheed Hudson Mk.IV A16-105 was built in 1938. It arrived in Australia in early December 1941 and was used to train RAAF aircrews. Between December 1942 and January 1943 it saw operational service in Papua and New Guinea, carrying out supply flights during the Allied advance on Buna, on Papua’s north coast.

After the war, A16-105 was flown as a photographic survey aircraft. It completed its last flight in 1998, and was purchased by the Australian War Memorial in 2001. It has since undergone an extensive restoration to its wartime configuration.

Lockheed Hudson Mk.IV A16-105 in RAAF markings at Canberra Airport

Lockheed Hudson VH-KOY / A16-211

Lockheed Hudson A16-112 was built in the USA at the Lockheed Aircraft Corp., Burbank, California, in 1939 and received from USA on 5th December 1941. It served the Royal Australian Air Force throughout the Second World War, operating off the Western Australian Coast and later from Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea. It flew operationally with Nos. 32, 6 and 14 Squadrons RAAF.

Now fully restored it is the only Lockheed Hudson flying in the world.