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The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 42-101221

Aircraft Identification

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-101221

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30676

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1212

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  October 1944 to April 1945

  42-101221 - USAAF (USA)


20 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:
Leonard R. Land, Pilot
Anderson, Copilot
Max A. Green, Crew Chief
Teddy Blazejewski, Radio Operator

2 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.

2 December 1944

Damaged in Sylhet, Bengal, India in a taxi accident.

Pilot: Leonard R. Land (survived)

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.

13 April 1945

Went missing over Burma (4/4 missing). [MACR 13835]

Crew:
Capt. Leonard R. Land, Pilot
2nd Lt. Harry P. Papandrew, Copilot
Sgt. Max A. Green, Crew Chief
SSgt. Teddy Blazejewski, Radio Operator

The Commando departed Chittagong, Bengal, India on a cargo mission to Meiktila, Burma. The crew last contacted the base at Chittagong when they were about 20 minutes east of Chittagong. They were not heard from or seen again. There were heavy thunderstorms in the area which may have contributed to the disappearance.

16 April 1945

Condemned for salvage, missing.

Last edited: 12/09/2020