The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 42-101142

Aircraft Identification

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101142

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30597

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1133

FATE: Broken up

Operational Record

  October 1944 to May 1947

  42-101142 - USAAF (USA)


2 October 1944

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

Assigned to the 2nd Combat Cargo Group, 6th Combat Cargo Squadron based at Baer Field, IN.

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

Crew:
1st Lt. Floyd W. Smith Jr., Pilot
2nd Lt. Norman A. Olson, Copilot

1 December 1944

Ferried through Brisbane Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia.

Late 1944

Moved to Biak AAF, Papua, Dutch East Indies with the 6th Combat Cargo Squadron.

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

March 1945

Moved to Dulag Field, Philippines with the 6th 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 6th 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 6th Combat Cargo Squadron.

ca 1946

Assigned to Nichols Field, Philippines and stored.

  May 1947 to unknown date

  42-101142 - CAT (CIVIL AIR TRANSPORT) (CHINA)


19 May 1947

Purchased as part of a 25 Commandos purchased from USAAF surplus in the Philippines by UNRRA for use by CAT.

Ferried to Tien Ho, Guangdong, China and stored as part of CAT's reserve fleet.

Used for parts and probably broken up at Tien Ho.

Last edited: 01/09/2020