Commando 44-77583

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77583

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32979

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1515

FATE: Written off

  December 1944 to March 1945

  44-77583 - USAAF (USA)

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16 December 1944

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

1 February 1945

Assigned to the 8^th Air Force.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 9^th Air Force, 52^nd Troop Carrier Wing, 313^th Troop Carrier Group, 48^th Troop Carrier Squadron based at Grevillers-Achiet, France.

Marked "Z7".

24 March 1945

Damaged beyond repair over Germany during Operation Varsity (no fatalities).

Crew:
2^nd Lt. Merton W. Larson, Pilot (injured, later flew in Korea, retired a USAF Major and went on to fly for Ozark Airlines, pictured right)
2^nd Lt. Charles E. Combs, Copilot (injured)
Sgt. William F. Barlow, Radio Operator
T/Sgt. Joseph R. Shilts, Crew Chief

The Commando took off at 0940LT as a spare aircraft to replace Chalk 41, which had to return due to engine problems after takeoff. It flew the same paratroopers to Wesel, Germany as Chalk 41, was damaged beyond repair and failed to return. There were no fatalities.

Condemned, missing in action.