Commando 42-61028

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-61028

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26903

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU543

FATE: Written off

  April 1944 to September 1947

  42-61028 - USAAF (USA)

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April 1944

Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.

  September 1947 to March 1965

  42-61028 - USAF (USA)

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18 September 1947

Transferred.

Unknown date

Modified by Curtiss-Wright for USAF.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 2343^rd Air Force Reserve Training Center, based in Portland, OR.

11 February 1953

Received minor damage at Hill AFB, UT in a ground collision during taxi.

Pilot: Thomas L. Wiper (survived, retired a USAF Colonel)

Unknown date

Assigned to the 2346^th Air Force Reserve Training Center, based at Paine AFB, WA.

19 April 1958

Assigned to the Arizona Aircraft Storage Squadron and stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.

2 February 1959

Sent for reclamation at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.

  March 1965 to November 1971

  N91372 - C-46 PARTS INC. (USA)

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2 March 1965

Purchased less engines from USAF. Total airframe time 4,680 hours.

  November 1971 to September 1972

  CP-959 - SAVCO (BOLIVIA)

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November 1971

Purchased.

7 September 1972

Damaged beyond repair in Trinidad, Bolivia in an accident after takeoff (1/8 fatalities [or 2/8]).

The Commando was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Trinidad. Shortly after getting airborne from runway 31, after a takeoff run of 1200 meters, the No.1 engine failed while the aircraft was only 60 feet high. The aircraft banked left, lost height, touched down again and ran through small trees and a fence. The right gear collapsed and the nose hit the ground. One or two occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.