Commando 42-107399

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

  July 1944 to June 1945

  42-107399 - USAAF (USA)

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4 July 1944

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

Assigned to Rosecrans Field, MO.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 3^rd 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]