Commando 42-101157

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101157

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30612

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1148

FATE: Written off

  October 1944 to January 1945

  42-101157 - USAAF (USA)

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4 October 1944

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

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

Marked "X617".

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

Crew:
1^st Lt. James Sanders Jr., Pilot
2^nd Lt. Roger M. Dreyer, Copilot

23 November 1944

Assigned to Brisbane Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia.

Late 1944

Moved to Biak AAF, Papua, Dutch East Indies with the 5^th Combat Cargo Squadron.

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

29 January 1945

Damaged beyond repair at Tacloban Field, Philippines in a takeoff accident (5/5 fatalities).

Crew:
1^st Lt. Mumford M. Heard, Pilot
F/O Clark A. Robinson, Copilot
Sgt. Scott Braley, Crew Chief
S/Sgt. James K. Duncan, Radio Operator
Cpl. Milton R. Richter, Assistant Radio Operator

The Commando had been cleared for takeoff by the tower of Tacloban Airfield, Philippines. During the takeoff run, the pilot noticed that a C-54 was attempting to land on the same runway at the same time. In order to to avoid a collision, the Commando pilot veered off the runway and ended up hitting two B-24s and Commando 42-101039. The entire crew was killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Condemned for salvage.