Commando 42-3625
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-3625
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26758
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU398
FATE: Unknown
Operational Record
January 1944
42-3625 - CURTISS-WRIGHT CORPORATION (USA)
26 January 1944
Transferred from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY to the one in Louisville, KY.
January 1944
42-3625 - USAAF (USA)
29 January 1944
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Louisville, KY.
January 1944 to June 1956
39540 - US MARINE CORPS (USA)
29 January 1944
Transferred as R5C-1 and assigned to MCAS Cherry Point, NC.
11 February 1944
US Navy Bureau Number assigned.
By August 1944
Assigned to VMR-252.
January 1945
Assigned to MAG-15 Service Squadron (Servron-15).
February 1945
Assigned to NAS San Diego, CA.
June 1945
Assigned to Homeland Defense Network (HDN), Marine Fleet Air West Coast.
June 1945
Assigned to Homeland Defense Network (HDN), MAG-35.
October 1945
Assigned to MAG-35 Service Squadron (Servron-35).
February 1946
Assigned to NAS San Diego, CA.
Unknown date
Assigned to MAG-33 Service Squadron (Servron-33).
1 June 1946
Assigned to NAS San Diego, CA.
27 June 1946
Reconditionned at NAS San Diego, CA.
17 July 1946
Assigned to VMR-252, based at MCAS El Toro, CA.
October 1947
Assigned to Homeland Defense Network (HDN), MAG-11.
June 1948
Assigned to MCAS Cherry Point, NC.
February 1948
Assigned to NAS Colombus, OH.
August 1961 to May 1966
PP-AKE - VARIG (BRAZIL)
August 1961
Transferred.
Right: PP-AKE in VARIG colors.
Photo credit: Vito Cedrini / AeroEntusiasta.com.br
May 1966 to November 1970
PP-AKE - ASL ARRUDA INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO (BRAZIL)
6 May 1966
Purchased and christened “Belem”. [date quoted as 1968 by AB]
Left: Arruda’s PP-AKE seen in Rio de Janeiro, Galeao International Airport. What does the “F” stand for on the tail?
Photo credit: Antonio Carlos Jobim / airliners.net
November 1970 to September 1974
PP-AKE - EMAL (EMPRESA DE MINERACAO ARIPUANA LTDA) (BRAZIL)
24 November 1970
Purchased.
October 1974 to 1975
PP-AKE - AERONORTE INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO (BRAZIL)
29 October 1974
Probably leased.
1975 to October 1975
PP-AKE - PARANAPANEMA (BRAZIL)
1975
Probably returned at the end of the lease contract.
October 1975 to April 1978
PP-AKE - TABA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS DA BACIA AMAZONICA) (BRAZIL)
29 October 1975
Purchased.
This is quoted by several sources (AB, PL...), however it seems highly unlikely. TABA changed its name in 1947 to Transportes Aereos Bandeirantes (still dba TABA), which was purchased in 1951 by Loide Aereo Nacional. Thence, by 1975, TABA was long gone...
1980 to unknown dateLast edited: 27/08/2023