The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 44-77586

Aircraft Identification

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77586

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32982

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1518

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  December 1944 to January 1946

  44-77586 - USAAF (USA)


16 December 1944

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

18 January 1945

Departed the USA for Europe.

Assigned to the 8th Air Force.

Early 1945

Probably assigned to the 9th Air Force, 52nd Troop Carrier Wing operating in Europe.

19 July 1945

Returned to the USA at Bradley Field, CT.

  January 1946 to March 1946

  44-77586 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)


16 January 1946

Transferred to RFC and stored at Walnut Ridge AAF, AR.

  March 1946 to July 1946

  HC-SCA - ANDESA (ECUADOR)


15 March 1946

Purchased from RFC.

29 March 1946

Delivered.

17 July 1946

Damaged beyond repair at Cuenca, Ecuador in an approach accident (30/30 fatalities).

The Commando was operating a scheduled passenger flight between Guayaquil and Cuenca, Ecuador with four crew members and 26 passengers on board. While on final approach to Cuenca, the pilot decided to perform a go around for unknown reasons. The plane did not gain enough height and crashed into a hill 2 km from the airport.

Last edited: 16/03/2024