Commando 42-101084

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101084

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30539

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1075

FATE: Written off

  September 1944

  42-101084 - USAAF (USA)

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15 September 1944

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

  September 1944 to August 1950

  39566 - US MARINE CORPS (USA)

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15 September 1944

Transferred as R5C-1 and delivered to NAS San Diego, CA.

October 1944

Assigned to Homeland Defense Network (HDN), MAG-35.

November 1944

Assigned to MAG-15 Service Squadron (Servron-15).

December 1944

Assigned to VMR-252, based at MCAS Ewa, HI.

December 1945

Assigned to the Service Squadron (Servron) of an unknown Marine Aircraft Group.

January 1946

Assigned to VMR-353, probably based on Saipan, Mariana Islands.

February 1946

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

April 1946

Assigned to NAS San Diego, CA.

22 October 1946

Reconditioned at NAS San Diego, CA.

Late October 1946

Assigned to VMR-253, probably based at MCAS Miramar, CA.

November 1946

Assigned to VMR-152, based in China.

January 1947

Assigned to MAG-25 Service Squadron (Servron-25).

February 1947

Assigned to Air Fleet Marine Force Pacific, based at MCAS Ewa, HI.

18 June 1947

Assigned to VMR-153, based at MCAS Tsingtao, Shandong, China.

Unknown date

Assigned to VMR-252, based at MCAS El Toro, CA.

4 August 1950

Damaged beyond repair on approach to Tinker AFB, OK after loosing one or both engines (0/6 fatalities).

The Commando was operating a flight between MCAS Cherry Point, NC and NAS Moffett Field, CA, carrying a cargo of high explosives. The aircraft had to make a technical stop at Tinker AFB, OK, probably for refueling. While performing a GCA approach into Tinker, the left engine failed. Accounts differ as to whether the right engine failed as well, or lost power, but in any case the Commando stalled and crashed in a field short of the runway. On impact, the left engine was torn off. A fire erupted, causing the cargo to explode after the six occupants escaped the wreckage with various injuries.

Struck off charge.