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The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 42-101156

Aircraft Identification

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101156

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30611

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1147

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  October 1944 to August 1945

  42-101156 - USAAF (USA)


7 October 1944

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

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

Marked "X615".

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

Crew:
1st Lt. Robert D. Beard, Pilot
2nd Lt. George S. Hensel, Copilot

9 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.

Unknown date

Assigned to Nichols Field, Philippines.

23 August 1945

Damaged beyond repair in the Southwest Pacific theatre in an accident.

Condemned for salvage.

Last edited: 01/09/2020