Commando 42-3597

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-3597

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26730

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU370

FATE: Written off

  January 1944 to April 1944

  42-3597 - USAAF (USA)

3 January 1944

Delivered.

15 January 1944

Departed the USA for India.

Unknown date

Assigned to ATC India China Wing, based at Station 11, Missamari, Assam, India.

25 April 1944

Went missing near Imphal, Manipur, India (3/4 fatalities).

Crew:
2^nd Lt Thomas C. Rintoul Jr, Pilot (survived)
1^st Lt David M. Nichols, Copilot
Cpl John D. Howard, Engineer
PFC Paul M. Witt, Radio Operator

The Commando was operating a cargo flight between Chittagong, Bengal, India and Supam, India [or Tubihal, India] during the Battle of Imphal. It was attacked by enemy aircraft and shot down. The pilot bailed out, and suffered a broken left leg and minor injuries. He was found on 28 April 1944, and sent to the 112th Station Hospital in Kailakundai the next day for treatment. When the crashed Commando was located, the other three crew members were found dead.

8 May 1944

Condemned for salvage.

[This aircraft is erroneously quoted by JB & PL as being US Navy Bu.No.39543]