Commando 41-5170

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46-CU Commando

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 41-5170

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26372

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU12

FATE: Written off

  September 1942 to October 1942

  41-5170 - USAAF (USA)

21 September 1942

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

Assigned to New York LaGuardia, NY.

  October 1942 to January 1943

  41-5170 - EASTERN AIR LINES (USA)

2 October 1942

Leased to Eastern Air Lines to acquire initial operating experience.

Late 1942

Returned to Curtiss briefly for modifications.

  January 1943 to September 1943

  41-5170 - USAAF (USA)

31 January 1943

Assigned to Buffalo, NY.

ca 1943

Likely assigned to 3rd Operational Training Unit (3 OTU), based at Reno AAF, NV.

28 September 1943

Destroyed near Lovelock, NV after the crew bailed out due to an engine failure (1/15 fatalities).

The Commando was operating a training flight between Salt Lake City, UT and Reno AAF, NV. Enroute at 14,000 feet the right engine failed with a loss of fuel pressure. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and could not feather the propeller. They were now unable to maintain altitude and ten passengers were ordered to bail out. The left engine then overheated. The pilot could no long maintain altitude over the mountainous terrain. The Commando was flying just below 8,000 feet in an area with mountains rising to 9,000 feet. The remaining crew members bailed out as well, but one of them was killed in the attempt when his parachute failed to open. The airplane continued on autopilot and made a successful belly landing in a valley field.