The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 42-101197

Aircraft Identification

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101197

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30652

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1188

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  October 1944 to December 1944

  42-101197 - USAAF (USA)


11 October 1944

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

Assigned to the 4th Combat Cargo Group, 13th Combat Cargo Squadron based at Bowman Field, KY.

12 November 1944

Ferried from Morrison Field, FL to Sylhet, Bengal, India.

Crew:
2nd Lt. Wallace M. Buell, Pilot
2nd Lt. Donald V. Kral, Copilot
Pfc. William G. Burmester, Crew Chief
Sgt. Valdon J. Lachance, Radio Operator

28 November 1944

Ferried through Karachi, Sindh, India.

Early December 1944

Arrived in Sylhet, Bengal, India with the 13th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Transported reinforcements and supplies for Allied forces in Burma.

December 1944

Transported material and equipment for the Ledo Road.

19 December 1944

Damaged beyond repair in Yazagyo, Burma in a takeoff accident.

Pilot: 2nd Lt. Wallace M. Buell (survived, retired a USAF Lt. Col. after flying in the Berlin Airlift and the Korean War)

28 December 1944

Condemned for salvage.