The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 42-101041

Aircraft Identification

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101041

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30496

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1032

FATE: Broken up

Operational Record

  September 1944 to unknown date

  42-101041 - CURTISS-WRIGHT CORPORATION (USA)


13 September 1944

Transferred from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY to the one in Louisville, KY.

  Unknown date to March 1947

  42-101041 - USAAF (USA)


25 September 1944

Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Louisville, KY.

Assigned to the 2nd Combat Cargo Group, 5th Combat Cargo Squadron based at Baer Field, IN.

Marked "X603".

Ferried from Fairfield-Suisun AAB, CA to Townsville, Australia.

Crew:
1st Lt. Harry L. Bechtel Jr., Pilot
2nd Lt. Jewell C. Crouch, Copilot

15 November 1944

Assigned to Brisbane Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia.

Late 1944

Moved to Biak AAF, Papua, Dutch East Indies with the 5th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Involved in the transport of supplies and troops to American and Filipino forces in the Philippines.

May 1945

Moved to Dulag Field, Philippines with the 5th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Operated flights to Australia, New Guinea, and within the Philippines, and transported personnel and supplies to the Ryukyus, evacuating casualties on the return flights.

August 1945

Moved to Bolo Point, Okinawa, Japan with the 5th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Operated flights carrying occupation forces personnel and equipment to Japan, and ferrying liberated prisoners of war to the Philippines.

September 1945

Moved to Yokota AB, Japan with the 5th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Unknown date

Assigned to Okinawa, Japan.

31 March 1947

Condemned for salvage, probably by the Army-Navy Liquidation Commission, and used for parts.

Last edited: 01/09/2020