Commando 44-78153
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando
USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-78153
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 33549
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU2085
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
April 1945 to September 1947
44-78153 - USAAF (USA)
April 1945
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.
September 1947 to November 1965
44-78153 - USAF (USA)
18 September 1947
Transferred.
Unknown date
Assigned to the 2466th Air Force Reserve Training Center based at Bakalar AFB, IN.
24 October 1954
Received minor damage at Bakalar AFB, IN in a takeoff accident due to fuel starvation.
Pilot: Kenneth C. Martin
Unknown date
Assigned to the 2346th Air Force Reserve Training Center based at McClellan AFB, CA.
14 May 1958
Assigned to the Arizona Aircraft Storage Squadron and stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.
2 February 1959
Sent to reclamation, then removed from surplus list.
November 1965 to April 1967
N63335 - MARATHON AVIATION CORPORATION (USA)
22 November 1965
Purchased.
14 August 1966
Departed Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. [Air International Corporation of Miami, FL, is that Air International Inc.?]
April 1967 to February 1968
N63335 - TRADEWINDS CARGO INC. (USA)
14 April 1967
Registered.
Overhauled by Intermountain Aviation at Marana, AZ.
8 February 1968
Departed the USA for India, ferry organized by World Aviation Services of Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Damaged beyond repair at Kindley AFB, Bermuda in a landing accident (0/2 fatalities).
The Commando was on the first day of its ferry flight, with the two-pilot crew intending to spend the night in Bermuda. They landed at Kindley AFB, Bermuda at 2055 LT with a 70° right cross wind of 24 knots gusting to 38. During rollout, the aircraft swerved and the gear collapsed. As it was skidding on the runway towards Castle Harbour, the tail wheel got caught and prevented the airplane from going entirely in the water. Both crew escaped safely, but the airplane was half sunk in the sea.
14 or 15 February 1968
Pulled out of the water for investigation by the USAF.
16 February 1968
Decision to scrap the aircraft, with serviceable parts removed by SAT (Southern Air Transport) of Miami, FL.
18 November 1968
Registration cancelled, exported to Thailand (sic).
1968Last edited: 16/01/2024