Commando 42-101219

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

  October 1944 to March 1945

  42-101219 - USAAF (USA)

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18 October 1944

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

Assigned to the 4^th Combat Cargo Group, 15^th 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 15^th 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 15^th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Late January 1945

Moved to Chittagong, Bengal, India with the 15^th 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.