The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 42-101203

Aircraft Identification

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101203

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30658

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1194

FATE: Unknown

Operational Record

  October 1944 to September 1945

  42-101203 - USAAF (USA)


18 October 1944

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

Assigned to the 4th Combat Cargo Group, 15th Combat Cargo Squadron based at Bowman Field, KY.

November 1944

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

Crew:
Todd, Pilot
Hockelberg, Copilot
Piper, Crew Chief
Hermes, Radio Operator

8 December 1944

Ferried through Karachi, Sindh, India.

Early December 1944

Arrived in Sylhet, Bengal, India with the 15th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Transported reinforcements and supplies for Allied forces in Burma.

December 1944

Transported material and equipment for the Ledo Road.

Early January 1945

Moved to Agartala, Tripura, India with the 15th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Late January 1945

Moved to Chittagong, Bengal, India with the 15th Combat Cargo Squadron.

February 1945

Transported men, mules, and boats to support the Allied crossing of the Irrawaddy River, Burma.

2 April 1945

Received major damage in Chittagong, Bengal, India in a taxi accident.

Pilot: Earl J. Curlett (survived)

May 1945

Dropped Gurkha paratroops during the assault on Rangoon.

June 1945

Moved to Namponmao, Burma with the 15th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Transported ammunition, gasoline, mules, and men to China.

12 September 1945

Condemned for salvage, obsolete. [it is not clear whether the Commando was retired or had an accident]