Commando 42-107399
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-107399
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 27086
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU726
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
July 1944 to June 1945
42-107399 - USAAF (USA)
4 July 1944
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.
Assigned to Rosecrans Field, MO.
Unknown date
Assigned to the 3rd Operational Training Unit (3 OTU), based at Reno AAF, NV.
22 June 1945
Damaged beyond repair 5 km southeast of Gold Run, CA in a midair explosion (3/3 fatalities).
Pilot: James B. Solomon
The Commando departed Reno AAF, NV on a high-level training flight bound for Long Beach AAF, CA. Enroute, weather conditions worsened and the pilot decided to return to Reno. A few minutes later, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in the American River Canyon near Gold Run, CA. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. There are conflicting versions about the reason of this occurrence, as one revealed that the loss of control was caused by an explosion in the right wing and the separation of both wings shortly thereafter, while the second version mentioned a fire in the cockpit.
24 June 1945
Surveyed at Reno AAF, NV. [AB quotes “completed 17 May 1945”, but dates discrepancy]
Last edited: 22/10/2019