The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

PANAGRA (Pan American - Grace Airways)

Operator Identification

  13 September 1928 to 1967

  United States of America


TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: PY / PY

HEADQUARTERS: USA

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Braniff International Airways (merger)

Operator History

Pan American-Grace Airways, better known as PANAGRA, was an airline formed as a joint venture between Pan American World Airways and Grace Shipping Company. It was founded in 1929 to compete with SCADTA, a German-owned company.

PANAGRA held a quasi-monopoly over air travel in parts of Colombia and South America during the 1940's and 1950's. Its network stretched from Panama and the US-controlled Panama Canal Zone to Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires.

After World War II, PANAGRA continued serving Latin American with Douglas DC-6, DC-7 and ultimately DC-8. It merged with Braniff in 1967.

Commando Operations

August 1943 to November 1944

PANAGRA leased a Commando during World War II and operated it in support of ATC Caribbean Wing.

Commandos Operated

Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando: 41-12372

Last edited: 03/01/2019