The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 42-107397

Aircraft Identification

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-107397

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 27084

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU724

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  July 1944 to September 1945

  42-107397 - USAAF (USA)


July 1944

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

Assigned to Rosecrans Field, MO.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 2nd Combat Cargo Group, 5th Combat Cargo Squadron, based at Syracuse AAB, NY for training.

19 September 1944

Went missing near Speculator, NY (3/3 fatalities).

Pilot: 2nd Lt. William R. Barohn (killed)

The Commando was conducting a night navigation training exercise and left Syracuse AAB, NY in the evening. While cruising at an altitude of 3,200 feet, it hit the slope of Blue Ridge Mountain located some 20 km northwest of Speculator, NY. All three occupants were killed. SAR operations were suspended after a few days as no trace of the aircraft was found.

August 1945

Wreckage found.