Commando 42-101219
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando
USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101219
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30674
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1210
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
October 1944 to March 1945
42-101219 - 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:
Lt. Russell F. Schroeder, Pilot
Widder, Copilot
Walter P. Formigli, Crew Chief
Molina, Radio Operator
1 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.
30 April 1945
Went missing over the China-Burma-India theatre (7/7 fatalities). [MACR 14325]
Crew:
1st Lt. Russell F. Schroeder, Pilot
FO. Clarence L. Cowman, Copilot
Sgt. Walter P. Formigli, Crew Chief (pictured, top)
Cpl. Guy L. Wingler, Radio Operator (pictured, bottom)
... and 3 unknown local flight clerks, aka "kickers", used to impel supplies through the cargo door.
The Commando departed Chittagong, Bengal, India on a combat cargo supply mission to Taungtha, Burma during the monsoon season. It went missing, but the wreckage and crew remains were later recovered.
3 May 1945
Condemned for salvage.
Last edited: 12/09/2020