Commando 44-77360

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77360

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32756

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1292

FATE: Written off

  November 1944 to March 1945

  44-77360 - USAAF (USA)

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2 November 1944

Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.

Probably assigned to the 5^th Air Force, 54^th Troop Carrier Wing, 433^rd Troop Carrier Group, 70^th Troop Carrier Squadron operating in the Southwest Pacific theater.

7 December 1944

Ferried through Brisbane Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia.

Mid-December 1944

Arrived at Biak AAF, Dutch East Indies with the 70^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Late February 1945

Moved to Dulag, Leyte, Philippines with the 70^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

15 March 1945

Went missing over Leyte Island, Philippines (25/25 killed). [MACR 15996]

Crew:
1^st Lt. Wilson B. Haslan, Pilot (pictured)
2^nd Lt. Myles V. Reed, Copilot
SSgt. Arthur T. Poillucci, Engineer
Sgt. Samuel A. Bruno, Radio Operator

The Commando was operating a flight between Elmore Field, Mindoro and Tanauan Field, Leyte, Philippines with 4 crewmembers and 21 passengers. It took off at 1630 LT but failed to arrived at destination and was declared missing. The wreckage was later found on a mountainside 6 km northwest of San Roque, Leyte. All occupants were found dead. The reason for the accident was deemed to be the bad weather over the route of flight at the time.

16 March 1945

Condemned for salvage, accident, non-combat.