James Hudson grew up throughout the Great Depression and World War II. His household supported itself by rising their very own meals in the New Jersey countryside. Hudson finally noticed the results of struggle on his highschool classmates, a number of of whom have been World War II Veterans and several other of whom have been killed throughout the Korean War.
Hudson believed the army was in his future. He determined to start out researching totally different army applications and felt notably drawn to the Air Force and its Aviation Cadet Program for pilots and observers.
However, Hudson didn’t have the two years of school required to affix the Aviation Cadet Program, so he took a collection of qualifying checks to affix the program. He enlisted into the program in 1953 and went to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for pre-flight coaching. Next, he was despatched to Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas, the place he realized baseline navigational abilities.
Hudson mirrored on his time at Harlingen Air Force Base in his interview for the Veterans History Project: “The training I got … turned out to be my foundation for my career.”
After finishing the nine-month program at Harlingen Air Force Base, Hudson started radar observer coaching. He was despatched to James Connelly Air Force Base and, after 5 months, earned his commissioned wings at age 20.
Hudson’s first project was to Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts, the place he flew weapons testing missions. He was then despatched to Northern Air Command in Newfoundland, Canada, for 2 years as an teacher and check pilot. He additionally deployed to Bitburg Air Base in Germany as a flight teacher and Tyndall Air Base in Florida as an educational teacher.
When the Vietnam War started, Hudson deployed to Cam Ranh Air Base in Vietnam.
While he was deployed abroad, Hudson flew in 224 fight missions over Laos, North Vietnam and South Vietnam. He served as a senior controller and the assistant director of the tactical unit operations heart.
After Vietnam, Hudson labored on reviewing plane proposals at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. During his time at there, he accredited the proposal for the F-15 plane, which remains to be half of the United States Air Force arsenal right now.
Hudson retired from service in 1973 and returned to his house in Arkansas. During his service, he obtained a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Bronze Star. He achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.
We honor his service.
