Commando 42-3651
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-3651
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26784
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU424
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
January 1944 to October 1945
42-3651 - USAAF (USA)
26 January 1944
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.
17 February 1944
Assigned to ATC Central African Wing.
12 December 1944
Received major damage in Accra, Gold Coast in a landing accident after a mechanical failure.
Pilot: Stanley E. Bush
14 April 1945
Received major damage in Accra, Gold Coast in a belly landing.
Pilot: Cloyd I. Brooks (survived)
20 July 1945
Assigned to Morrison Field, FL.
October 1945 to March 1948
42-3651 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)
5 October 1945
Transferred to RFC, stored at Bush Field, GA.
March 1948 to April 1948
N79094 - NATS (NATIONWIDE AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES) (USA)
10 March 1948
Purchased from RFC.
April 1948
N79094 - R. PAUL WEESNER (USA)
12 April 1948
Purchased by R. Paul Weesner, President of NATS.
April 1948 to 1949
XA-HAE - AEROTRANSPORTES DEL SURESTE (MEXICO)
13 April 1948
Leased from R. Paul Weesner and assigned a temporary registration.
February 1950
XB-LAQ - R. PAUL WEESNER (USA)
February 1950
Returned from lease to Aerotransportes del Sureste.
May 1950 to July 1964
HK-512 - SAM (SOCIEDAD AERONAUTICA DE MEDELLIN) (COLOMBIA)
1 May 1950
Purchased.
15 October 1952
Damaged in Medellin, Colombia in an accident. Repaired.
11 August 1954
Damaged in Medellin, Colombia in an accident. Repaired.
2 February 1960
Damaged at Crespo Airport, Cartagena, Colombia in a takeoff accident.
February 1966 to November 1966
HK-512 - AEROCARGA (COLOMBIA)
4 February 1966
Purchased.
4 November 1966
Damaged beyond repair in Funza, Colombia (0/2 fatalities).
The Commando departed Bogota El Dorado Airport on a cargo flight to Cali, Colombia. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the electrical system failed. The crew decided to reduce the altitude and to attempt an emergency landing in a field located in Funza, about 6 km northwest of the airfield. While the airplane was damaged beyond repair, both occupants were uninjured.
Unknown date
Registration cancelled.
Last edited: 28/08/2023