Commando 44-77432

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77432

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32828

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1364

FATE: Written off

  November 1944 to April 1945

  44-77432 - USAAF (USA)

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25 November 1944

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

Assigned to I Troop Carrier Command based at Baer Field, IN.

Unknown date

Assigned to 807^th AAF Base Unit, Bergstrom AAF, TX with I Troop Carrier Command.

18 April 1945

Damaged beyond repair 11 km southeast of Bergstrom AAF, TX following an engine fire (4/5 fatalities).

Crew:
2^nd Lt. Charles Bailey Jr, Instructor (pictured, killed)
Eugene A. Jacobs, Pilot (survived)
PFC Gerald E. Borchard (killed)
Pvt Robert Borge (killed)
Cpl Arthur H. Carroll Jr (killed)

The Commando was performing a training flight from Bergstrom AAF, TX with a Waco CG-4A glider in tow. Shortly after takeoff from runway 17L, the left engine started cutting out. The instructor reduced power on that engine, which seemed to help. Later in the flight, nearing glider release altitude, the right engine began to loose power. The crew radioed Bergstrom that they would be returning with one engine out after glider release. The controller saw the engine was on fire and instructed the crew to release the glider immediately. The glider pilot had also seen the fire and already released the glider himself. The Commando descended for an emergency landing, but the fire could not be put out. At 750ft, the instructor told the rest of the crew to bail out. Only one crewmember maneged to jump out, but his parachute failed to deploy in time. The right engine then separated, the aircraft hit terrain and crashed in flames. Three crewmembers were killed instantly, while a fourth one died from his injuries the next day. One of the pilots survived, probably the trainee.

1 June 1945

Reclamation completed.