Commando 42-96542

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96542

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30204

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU740

FATE: Written off

  July 1944 to November 1945

  42-96542 - USAAF (USA)

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6 July 1944

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

Assigned to the 1^st Operational Training Unit (1 OTU), Squadron C, based at Rosecrans Field, MO.

6 February 1945

Damaged at Rosecrans Field, MO in a ground accident.

Pilot: Jack W. Cornell

  November 1945 to 1949

  42-96542 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)

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6 November 1945

Transferred to RFC and stored at Walnut Ridge AAF, AR.

  1949

  N50315 - SUN CHEMICAL CORPORATION (USA)

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1949

Purchased from RFC.

  1949 to November 1949

  PP-XCP - TCA (TRANSPORTE CARGA AEREA) (BRAZIL)

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1949

Purchased. [AB quotes registration to be PP-XCO]

  November 1949 to 1950

  PP-LDB - LOIDE AEREO NACIONAL (BRAZIL)

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November 1949

Transferred as TCA changed its name to Loide Aereo Nacional.

18 January 1950

Reregistered.

  1950 to September 1950

  PP-LDB - TABA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS BANDEIRANTES) (BRAZIL)

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1950

Probably leased from Loide Aereo Nacional.

8 September 1950

Damaged beyond repair in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil while ditching after engine problems (0/3 fatalities).

The Commando was operating a cargo flight between Vitoria and Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport, Brazil. On approach to Santos Dumont, the crew encountered hydraulic problems and was forced to lower the gear manually. Shortly after, both engines lost power and the Captain decided to divert to Galeao Airport which was closer to his position than Santos Dumont. During the final turn, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. All three crew members were injured while the aircraft was lost. It was determined that the loss of power on both engines was caused by the failure of the hydraulic system.