Ferry Command's Hudson Crews 2 & 3

by J. Pinsent

After being the first to do anything, no one seems to remember the second or third to perform the identical accomplishment. When Bennett's first crew was successful in being the first formation of bombers to cross the Atlantic, the second and third crossing was equally as dramatic.

The first thing comes to mind is the weather and winds were different. Next thing, was their success an accident of probability. Also because there was no means to debrief the following crews, there still were unanswered question to possible problems the first crew had encountered.

In this respect the second & third crossing should also be acknowledged as important historical events.

On Nov. 29. 1940 the second formation flight of seven Hudsons to Aldergrove led by Captain Humphrey-Page was successful

On Dec. 17, 1940 the third formation flight of seven Hudsons to Aldergrove led by Captain Store was successful.

In 37 days, 21 Hudson bombers proved the success of ferrying bombers across the Atlantic without a loss of life.