Commando 42-3651

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

  January 1944 to October 1945

  42-3651 - USAAF (USA)

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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)

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5 October 1945

Transferred to RFC, stored at Bush Field, GA.

  March 1948 to April 1948

  N79094 - NATS (NATIONWIDE AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES) (USA)

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10 March 1948

Purchased from RFC.

  April 1948

  N79094 - R. PAUL WEESNER (USA)

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12 April 1948

Purchased by R. Paul Weesner, President of NATS.

  April 1948 to 1949

  XA-HAE - AEROTRANSPORTES DEL SURESTE (MEXICO)

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13 April 1948

Leased from R. Paul Weesner and assigned a temporary registration.

  1949 to February 1950

  XB-LAQ - AEROTRANSPORTES DEL SURESTE (MEXICO)

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1949

Reregistered.

  February 1950

  XB-LAQ - R. PAUL WEESNER (USA)

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February 1950

Returned from lease to Aerotransportes del Sureste.

  February 1950 to April 1950

  N79094 - CHARLES E. MATHEWS & CO. (USA)

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20 February 1950

Purchased.

  April 1950 to May 1950

  N79094 - AAXICO (USA)

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22 April 1950

Purchased. [registration quoted as N79044 by AB, assumed to be a typo]

  May 1950 to July 1964

  HK-512 - SAM (SOCIEDAD AERONAUTICA DE MEDELLIN) (COLOMBIA)

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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.

  July 1964 to February 1966

  HK-512 - TAO (TAXI AEREO OPITA) (COLOMBIA)

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22 July 1964

Purchased.

  February 1966 to November 1966

  HK-512 - AEROCARGA (COLOMBIA)

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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.