Commando 44-77515

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77515

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32911

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1447

FATE: Unknown

  December 1944 to September 1947

  44-77515 - USAAF (USA)

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December 1944

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

  September 1947 to February 1956

  44-77515 - USAF (USA)

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18 September 1947

Transferred.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 437^th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, 83^rd Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium based at Brady AB, Japan.

25 December 1950

Received major damage at Itazuke AB, Japan in a ground accident due to a mechanical failure.

Pilot: Gilbert F. Klarner (survived)

7 November 1951

Received minor damage at Kimpo AB, Korea in a taxi accident.

Pilot: Harry Marcus

  February 1956 to 1976

  61-1128 - JASDF (JAPAN AIR SELF-DEFENSE FORCE) (JAPAN)

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3 February 1956

Leased from the US Department of Defense as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP).

Assigned to the 402^nd Tactical Airlift Squadron based at Miho AB, Japan.

1958

Assigned to Kisarazu AB, Japan, still with the 402^nd Tactical Airlift Squadron.

1968

Assigned to Iruma AB, Japan, still with the 402^nd Tactical Airlift Squadron.

 

Below, left: 61-1128 on final approach to Iruma AB, Japan, unknown date.
Photo credit: unknown / flyteam.jp

Below, right: the absolute coolness of a 1^st Airborne Brigade Japanese paratrooper on training, lying in the grass at Shimousa AB, Japan, 1968.
Photo credit: hiro-hiro@250magna / X

Bottom, left: pretty albeit low-definition shot of 61-1128 flying in formation with two sisterships.
Photo credit: www.mod.go.jp

Bottom, right: 61-1128 on another final approach, unknown date & location.
Photo credit: unknown / ameblo.jp

  1976 to October 1977

  44-77515 - USAF (USA)

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1976

Returned from lease and stored in Japan.

13 October 1977

Offered for sale at Miho AB, Japan. Total airframe time: 11,892 hours.

  October 1977 to late 1978

  N54511 - PRIVATE (USA)

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October 1977

Purchased by Wayne Craft of Jackson, MS.

August 1978

Registered.

  Late 1978

  NO REG - OASIS (ORIENT AIR SYSTEMS & INTEGRATED SERVICES) (PHILIPPINES)

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Late 1978

Leased from Wayne Craft.

Ferried out of Japan to Manila, Luzon, Philippines for delivery to OASIS. During the flight, suffered engine problems and diverted to Guam, Mariana Islands.

Abandoned in Guam, not taken up.

Fate unknown.

 

Right: N54511 in Guam in 1979 or 1980, still wearing JASDF's livery with titles covered.
Photo credit: Randy Studer / WarBirdRegistry