Awarded the D.F.C

Awarded the D.F.C

Account of Pilot Officer James Douglas Hudson's award of Distinguished Flying Cross. Notes was member of RAFVR called up at outbreak of war and trained as navigator. While on deployment his Blenheim was brought down in North Africa and he was interned for two and a half years. After being freed volunteered for flying duties. Took part in invasion of Normandy on D-Day where he dropped bombs on Normandy. Completed 30 operations and now involved in training. Native of Leeds and covers education. Includes photograph.

On newspaper cutting

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NHudsonJD151001-010013

SEPTEMBER 23,
AWARDED THE D.F.C.
PILOT OFFICER James Douglas Hudson (28), son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold E. Hudson, 191, Halifax-road, Nelson, who, as announced in Wednesday’s “Express,” has been awarded the D.F.C. for “meritorious navigation and devotion to duty.”

[photograph]
P.O. J. D. HUDSON, D.F.C.

Serving in the R A.F. since the outbreak of the war, P.O. Hudson received his commission in February this year. He was a member of the Volunteer Reserve, and was called up at the outbreak of the war.
Trained as a navigator, he went abroad in August, 1940, as a member of a Blenheim bomber crew, but the ‘plane was brought down in North Africa and he was interned. After spending 2 1/2 years as a prisoner, he was released following the Allied invasion. Sent to England, he immediately volunteered for flying duties.
He took part in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day. He was a member of a Lancaster bomber crew, and it is stated that his plane dropped the first bomb in Normandy on D-Day. [deleted] Since, [/deleted] he has made 30 operational flights over enemy country. He is now engaged in specialist training.
A native of Leeds, he was educated at Skipton and Manchester Grammar School, and on leaving the latter school he became an assistant in a shipping office in Manchester. For a period before joining the Services he was an assistant buyer.