Harold B. Hudson

Lieutenant Harold Byrn Hudson MC (8 December 1898 – February 1982) was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 13 victories.^{[1][better source needed]} As wingman to William George Barker, he scored a record five victories over observation balloons in a single day.^[2]

Harold Byron Hudson
Nickname(s)	Steve
Born	8 December 1898 Cobham, England
Died	February 1982 (aged 83) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Allegiance	Canada
Service / branch	Royal Flying Corps
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	No. 28 Squadron RAF, No. 45 Squadron RAF
Awards	Military Cross

Biography

Hudson was British-born, but his family relocated to British Columbia in 1912. He joined the Royal Flying Corps, being commissioned a Probationary Temporary Second Lieutenant on 24 May 1917.^{[3][better source needed]} He was assigned to 28 Squadron in Italy. There Hudson often flew with Captain William George Barker. Indeed, Hudson's first victories were two observation balloons shared with Barker on 24 January 1918. Hudson went on to destroy an Albatros D.V on 5 February. Then, a week later, Barker and Hudson pulled off the unprecedented feat of destroying five kite balloons on a single sortie. By 26 May 1918, Hudson's win total reached seven balloons and six airplanes; besides the mass victories over balloons with Barker, Hudson had destroyed four airplanes and driven two down out of control. He was posted briefly, without success, to 45 Squadron.^[2]

Postwar, Hudson returned to Canada to work in pulp mills making paper.^[3]

Honours and awards

• 16 September 1918 – T./Lt. Harold Byrn Hudson, R.A.F. is awarded the Military Cross:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in destroying four enemy aeroplanes and shooting down two enemy kite balloons in flames.

— London Gazette^[4]

Notes

1. "Harold Byrn Hudson".
2. Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 203.
3. "Harold Byrn Hudson". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
4. "No. 30901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 September 1918. p. 10968.

References

• Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
• "WWI Aces of Canada". theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 14 June 2008.^{[better source needed]}