Commando 42-101090

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101090

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30545

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1081

FATE: Written off

  September 1944 to May 1945

  42-101090 - USAAF (USA)

27 September 1944

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

Assigned to the 2^nd Combat Cargo Group, 7^th Combat Cargo Squadron based at Baer Field, IN.

Ferried from Fairfield-Suisun AAB, CA to Nadzab Field, Australian New Guinea .

Crew:
Capt. Ray H. Brashear, Pilot
1^st Lt. Leonard W. Clifford, Copilot

10 November 1944

Ferried through Brisbane Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia.

Late 1944

Moved to Biak AAF, Papua, Dutch East Indies with the 7^th Combat Cargo Squadron.

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

Unknown date

Assigned to Nichols Field, Philippines.

10 May 1945

Damaged beyond repair in the Philippines while ditching (0/4 fatalities).

Crew:
Addis C. Costello (probably navigator)
... and three other crew members

The Commando crashed in the water for unknown reasons in the Philippines. The four crewmembers escaped and boarded the liferaft. They came ashore after a day at sea, and were captured by the Japanese. Both pilots were killed while the other two crewmembers were later rescued by Philippine guerillas.

Condemned for salvage.