Commando 42-61042
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-41-CU Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-61042
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26917
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU557
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
April 1944 to March 1945
42-61042 - USAAF (USA)
18 April 1944
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.
21 May 1944
Assigned to ATC India-China Wing.
30 May 1944
Assigned to ATC North African Wing.
15 June 1944
Assigned to 20th Air Force, XX Bomber Command, 2nd Air Transport Squadron (Mobile), based at RAF Kalaikunda, Bengal, India.
31 October 1944
Moved with 2nd Air Transport Squadron to Dergaon, Assam, India.
November 1944
Moved with 2nd Air Transport Squadron to Luliang, Yunnan, China.
5 March 1945
Damaged beyond repair in Luliang, Yunnan, China in a takeoff accident.
Pilot: Jesse C. Ward
The pilot lost control of the Commando while taking off in a strong crosswind, and run off the runway into a ditch.
7 March 1945
Condemned for salvage.