The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 42-107386

Aircraft Identification

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-107386

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 27073

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU713

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  June 1944 to February 1945

  42-107386 - USAAF (USA)


1 June 1944

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

9 July 1944

Assigned to ATC North African Division.

23 October 1944

Assigned to ATC India-China Division.

4 February 1945

Went missing near Karoi, Arunachal Pradesh, India (34/35 fatalities). [MACR 12033]

Pilot: F/O Cecil A. Weaver

The Commando was operating a passenger flight between Chabua, Assam, India and Karachi, Sindh, India. The 33 passengers were homeward bound to the USA. While cruising some 88 km west of Jorhat, Assam, India, the crew experienced technical problems and the aircraft caught fire. Out of control, it crashed on the summit of a jungle-covered hill at an altitude of 6,500 feet. It was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. Only one passenger, T/Sgt. Marvin H. Jacobs, survived and was rescued by local villagers.

13 February 1945

Condemned for salvage.