The Lockheed Hudson was developed from the Lockheed Model 14 transport design and became a familiar sight to many members of the RAF, RCAF, RAAF and USAF. The Hudson was used originally for bombing but gained a more prominent niche in anti-shipping and anti-submarine patrol work along air-sea rescue and meteorological missions. Overseas, No. 407 Squadron flew Hudsons on anti-shipping operations from September 1941 until January 1943. They attacked enemy convoys at mast-height level and bombed more than 400,000 tons of enemy shipping.

In Canada, the RCAF flew a total 243 Hudsons with Nos 11, 113, 119, 120, and 145 Bomber-Reconnaissance Squadrons. No. 11 Sqn, formed on the type on 03 November 1939, becoming the first RCAF unit to use the aircraft. The first U-boats sunk by Eastern Air Command (EAC) aircraft were victims of Hudson aircraft flown by No. 113 Sqn (31 July 1942) and No. 145 Sqn (30 October 1942). In all EAC Hudsons made 28 attacks on German submarines. No. 11 Sqn converted to Liberators in August 1944, but Hudsons continued to fly with operational training squadrons, at Nos. 121 and 167 (Composite) Sqns and with No. 168 (Heavy Transport) Sqn until after the war.