The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 41-24737

Aircraft Identification

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-25-CU Commando

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 41-24737

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26658

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU298

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  October 1943 to November 1943

  41-24737 - USAAF (USA)


20 October 1943

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

  November 1943 to February 1957

  39511 - US MARINE CORPS (USA)


19 November 1943

Transferred as R5C-1.

By August 1944

Assigned to VMR-952 based in Emirau, Bismarck Archipelago.

December 1944

VMR-952 joins the Transport Air Group, based in Guam, Mariana Islands.

February 1945

Participated with VMR-952 in the Battle of Iwo Jima.

June 1945

Assigned to MAG-35 Service Squadron (Servron-35).

August 1945

Assigned to NAS San Diego, CA.

March 1946

Assigned to MAG-35 Service Squadron (Servron-35).

  February 1957 to October 1958

  N4089A - MARCO INDUSTRIES INC. (USA)


February 1957

Purchased.

  October 1958 to September 1959

  N4089A - L. B. SMITH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION (USA)


14 October 1958

Purchased.

  September 1959 to March 1966

  ZP-CAP - LAPSA (LLOYD AEREO PARAGUAYO SA) (PARAGUAY)


11 September 1959

Purchased.

23 September 1959

Registered.

  March 1966 to October 1966

  ZP-CAP - PRIVATE (PARAGUAY)


11 March 1966

Purchased by Maria Teresa Reina de Biagiola.

  October 1966 to December 1966

  ZP-CAP - GERMA INC. (PARAGUAY)


5 October 1966

Purchased and christened “Chandico”.

6 December 1966

Crashed near San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina (0/3 fatalities).

Enroute, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash-landed in a desert area located near Olacapato Chico, some 40 km northwest of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina. All three crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Last edited: 01/08/2020