Commando 41-12373
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 41-12373
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26500
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU140
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
May 1943 to November 1944
41-12373 - USAAF (USA)
17 May 1943
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.
Unknown date
Probably assigned to the 3rd Operational Training Unit (3 OTU) based at Reno AAF, NV.
21 November 1944
Damaged beyond repair near Esperanto, CA following a loss of control in flight (8/8 fatalities).
The Commando left McClellan Field, CA at 16:12 on a training mission to Reno AAF, NV. It was destroyed when it struck terrain in an inverted spin, killing all onboard. The crew probably lost control of the airplane. It entered a steep dive, overstressing the airframe when the crew attempted to regain control.
22 November 1945
Surveyed at Reno AAF, NV. [according to AB. 1944 would make more sense. Typo?]
3 July 1946
Reclamation completed.
Last edited: 03/01/2019