Commando 42-101207

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101207

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30662

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1198

FATE: Written off

  October 1944 to March 1945

  42-101207 - USAAF (USA)

13 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 "X626".

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

Crew:
1^st Lt. Douglas L. Ellis, Pilot
2^nd Lt. Merl A. Lehenbauer, Copilot
Sgt. Charles F. Landers, Radio Operator
SSgt. Francis Carney, Flight Engineer

Mid-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.

9 March 1945

Went missing over the Southwest Pacific (7/7 missing). [MACR 14268]

Crew:
Cpt. Virgil Benson, Pilot (pictured)
2^nd Lt. Ernest P. Kirkland, Copilot
2^nd Lt. Louis H. Hopkins Jr., Navigator
Cpl. Edward F. Ciepiela, Radio Operator
Cpl. Allen R. Hoke, Crew Chief (pictured)
Cpl. William R. Nordell, Assistant Crew Chief

The Commando was operating a cargo flight from Biak AAF to Hollandia AAF, Papua, Dutch East Indies. It was never seen or heard from again.

12 March 1945

Condemned for salvage.