The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page
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  4. Commando 42-3655

Commando 42-3655

Aircraft Identification

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-3655

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26788

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU428

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  January 1944

  42-3655 - CURTISS-WRIGHT CORPORATION (USA)

January 1944

Transferred from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY to the one in Louisville, KY.

  January 1944 to October 1944

  42-3655 - USAAF (USA)

22 January 1944

Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Louisville, KY.42 3655 1

8 March 1944

Assigned to ATC Central African Wing, based at 1202nd AAF Base Unit, RAF Takoradi, Gold Coast.

9 October 1944

Damaged beyond repair near Accra, Gold Coast after a mid-air collision (some fatalities).

A few minutes after takeoff from Accra, while climbing, the Commando collided with an unidentified aircraft and crashed 6 miles southeast of the airfield. At least one crew member was killed on board the Commando.

Pilot: 1st Lt Arthur Gartenberg (pictured, killed)

10 October 1944

Condemned for salvage, “washout”.

Last edited: 18/05/2019