Commando 41-12422

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 41-12422

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26549

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU189

FATE: Written off

  July 1943 to October 1943

  41-12422 - USAAF (USA)

3 July 1943

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

6 August 1943

Assigned to ATC India-China Wing, 1^st Transport Group, 6^th Transport Squadron based in Chabua, Assam, India.

Unknown date

Transferred to ATC India-China Wing, 30^th Transport Group, 6th Transport Squadron based in Mohanbari, Assam, India.

3 October 1943

Exploded in mid-air after taking off from Kunming, Yunnan, China (6/6 fatalities).

Shortly after takeoff from Kunming airport, while in its initial climb, the Commando exploded and crashed in a field located 6.5 km northeast of the airport. All six crew members were killed.

Crew:
F/O Gilbert C. Fincher
2^nd Lt Winfield A. Hird
Cpl Patrick E. Knipshield (Radio Operator)
Pfc Joseph P. Kochie
Cpl Maurice G. Kosier
2^nd Lt Edward J. Wilson