Commando 44-78013

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-78013

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 33409

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1945

FATE: Written off

  March 1945 to April 1946

  44-78013 - USAAF (USA)

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8 March 1945

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

4 April 1945

Departed the USA for Karachi, Sindh, India.

  April 1946 to unknown date

  44-78013 - INDIAN GOVERNMENT (INDIA)

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10 April 1946

Purchased.

  Unknown date to May 1955

  HK-808 - LACE (LINEAS AEREAS COLOMBIANAS EXPRESAS) (COLOMBIA)

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Unknown date

Purchased. [a broker was probably involved]

  May 1955 to June 1955

  XA-LID - TIGRES VOLADORES (MEXICO)

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May 1955

Leased from LACE for a period of 30 days during the maintenance of Tigres Voladores other Commando. [which one? apparently purchased from LACE]

Used for the carriage of laborers domestically in Mexico

18 June 1955

Damaged beyond repair at Leon, Mexico in a takeoff accident (some fatalities).

Captain: P. A. Alfredo Rivero

The Commando was operating a domestic passenger flight from Leon, Mexico with two pilots and 36 to 42 passengers on board. Despite the fact the lease agreement mandated the presence on board of Captain Kiss, LACE's representative, this flight was undertaken by Tigres Voladores without advising him. Furthermore, the aircraft was only insured for cargo flights. While taking off from Leon, an engine failed and the Commando crashed into trees and caught fire. Sources quote 2 to 18 fatalities and 24 injured.

The insurance did not compensate LACE for the loss of the airplane, arguing the insurance policy did covered neither the carriage of passenger nor the operation of the airplane by pilots not holding a Colombian license. LACE filed a law suit against the insurance company, but lost on appeal on 30 June 1958.