The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 41-24743

Aircraft Identification

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 41-24743

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26664

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU304

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  November 1943 to January 1944

  41-24743 - USAAF (USA)


1 November 1943

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

9 December 1943

Assigned to ATC India-China Wing.

26 December 1943

Damaged beyond repair in Yunnanyi, Yunnan, China in a landing accident.

Pilot: Vilas C. Rice (survived, later became a USAF Lt Col) [wrongly spelled Vilas G. Rice by AAIR]

11 January 1944

Condemned for salvage. Wrecked fuselage used as a mess for Yunnani aircrews.

[this Commando is also reported missing between Mohanbari and Chanyi on 27 March 1944 in MACR 3495]

 

Right: a Chinese soldier stands guard in front on Yunnanyi airfield’s crew mess, January 1945.
Photo credit: USAF

Last edited: 20/01/2019