Commando 42-101099

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101099

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30554

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1090

FATE: Written off

  September 1944

  42-101099 - USAAF (USA)

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15 September 1944

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

  September 1944 to June 1956

  39569 - US MARINE CORPS (USA)

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15 September 1944

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

26 September 1944

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

December 1944

Assigned to VMR-352, based at MCAS Cherry Point, NC.

9 February 1945

Assigned to VMR-353, probably based at MCAS Cherry Point, NC.

December 1945

Assigned to VMR-952, based at Guam, Mariana Islands.

June 1946

Assigned to NAS San Diego, CA.

1 October 1946

Reconditioned at NAS San Diego, CA.

October 1946

Stored at NAS Litchfield Park, AZ.

  June 1956 to July 1956

  N2871C - NORMAN KORER (USA)

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June 1956

Purchased by Norman Korer, Chicago, IL of the Airline Investment Corporation.

  July 1956 to 1957

  N46U - AIRLINE INVESTMENT CORPORATION (USA)

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Unknown date

Transferred from Norman Korer to his company.

  1957 to December 1957

  ZP-CBM - PARAGUAY AIR SERVICES (PARAGUAY)

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Unknown date

Leased from Airline Investment Corporation.

22 December 1957

Damaged beyond repair at sea off Aracruz, Brazil in a crash at sea (5/5 fatalities).

The Commando was operating a trial cargo flight between Asuncion, Paraguay and Miami, FL with several enroute stops. It took off at 1752 LT from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont bound for Belem, Brazil. As it was following the shore, it went out of control and crashed in the sea off Aracruz. The aircraft was rumored to be carrying $70 millions in cash and 140 kg of platinum. Hydrochloric acid was supposedly found in the fuel, leading several sources to believe the accident may have been the result of sabotage.