With its reputation for building capable, modern twin-engined commercial airliners, when the British Purchasing Commission saw details of the Lockheed Company’s proposal for a light bomber design in 1938, they knew it was the aircraft they were looking for. 

They needed a maritime patrol aircraft capable of supporting the Avro Anson in this role and agreed to purchase the new aircraft, calling it the Hudson in RAF service. 

By the start of the Second World War, the RAF had 78 Hudsons in service, which were all fitted with distinctive Boulton Paul dorsal turrets once they arrived in Britain.