Commando 41-24674

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 41-24674

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26595

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU235

FATE: Written off

  August 1943 to March 1945

  41-24674 - USAAF (USA)

25 August 1943

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

7 December 1943

Assigned to ATC India-China Wing based in Sookerating, Assam, India.

25 July 1944

Received major damage in Chengkung, Yunnan, China in a landing accident.

Pilot: William J. Masters

7 October 1944

Condemned for salvage.

2 September 1944

Repaired and reinstated. [dates discrepancy]

28 February 1945

Went missing near Tingkawk Sakan, Burma (1/3 fatalities). [MACR 12796]

While performing a supply mission, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Tingkawk Sakan, Burma. All three men bailed out of the airplane, but Pvt McCormick's parachute and harness became entangled in a tree upon landing. He was unable to free himself and died in the jungle. His crewmates searched for him for several days, but when they finally found him it was too late. They buried him nearby and hung his dogtag on a cross made of bamboo. Lt Drager and Lt Sill wandered in the dense jungle for 21 days before being rescued by Chinese fishermen.

Crew:
2^nd Lt Fred A. Dreger, Pilot
2^nd Lt John B. Sill Jr., Copilot
Pvt Wesley F. McCormick

2 March 1945

Condemned for salvage.