Commando 44-77538

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77538

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32934

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1470

FATE: Written off

  December 1944 to September 1947

  44-77538 - USAAF (USA)

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7 December 1944

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

13 December 1944

Assigned to the 8^th Air Force.

23 June 1945

Returned to the USA at Bradley Field, CT.

  September 1947 to October 1952

  44-77538 - USAF (USA)

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18 September 1947

Transferred.

5 November 1950

Assigned to the 437^th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, 84^th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium based at Itazuki AB, Japan.

27 January 1952

Received minor damage at Itazuki AB, Japan in a ground accident.

Pilot: Edwin J. Malloy

The Commando hit parked sistership 44-78486 on the ground at Itazuki AB, Japan. Both aircraft suffered minor damage.

Mid-1952

Assigned to the 315^th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, 34^th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium based at Brady AB, Japan.

16 October 1952

Went missing over the Sea of Japan off the east coast of Korea.

Crew:
Cpt. Victor B. Graper, Pilot
1^st Lt. Robert C. Bowerman, Copilot
Sgt Robert A. Deeter Jr., Radio Operator
A2c Harry C. Gammage, Engineer

Passengers:
A1c Alfred W. Arrington
S/Sgt Vincent J. Bevilacqua
A2c Billy R. Bishop
Aoan Carnell E. Booth
Lt. Fred V. Bryan
A3c Lemon Butts Jr.
1^st Lt. Thomas L. Davidson
Ad3 Oliver P. Dehart
A3c George A. Freeman
A3c Norman C. Harmon
T/Sgt Paul J. Hicks
Ad3 James P. King
A3c James A. Kyle
A2c Daniel G. Ruby Jr.
1^st Lt. Richard G. L. Rusk
A3c Walter K. Rutledge
T/Sgt Melvin E. Sarkilahti
A2c John E. Thurman
A3c Valerian Ulinski
Ae3 Bobby R. Wilson
A1c William H. Wimbish

The Commando was operating a military courrier flight between Kangnung AB, Korea and Pohang AB, Korea with four crew members and 21 passengers on board. Shortly after takeoff from runway 08, during the initial climb, it went out of control and crashed into the sea few kilometers offshore. SAR units were immediately dispatched on the scene but only two dead bodies were found two days later and no trace of the aircraft that sank. The exact circumstances and causes of this accident remain unknown. Both dead bodies recovered were reportedly wearing a life jacket.