Lockheed PBO Hudson

The Lockheed PBO was the U.S. Navy designation for the Hudson, a twin-engine maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft derived from the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra airliner. Originally built in large numbers for Britain's Royal Air Force, a batch was diverted to the U.S. Navy, which used them early in World War II for coastal anti-submarine patrol. A Navy PBO of squadron VP-82 scored the first U.S. sinking of a German U-boat in March 1942.

Fast and well-armed for its size, the Hudson bridged the gap before more capable patrol bombers arrived in quantity. Though the Navy operated only a modest number under the PBO designation, the broader Hudson family served widely with Allied air forces in patrol, bombing, and transport roles.