The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 42-96560

Aircraft Identification

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96560

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30222

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU758

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  July 1944 to October 1945

  42-96560 - USAAF (USA)


4 July 1944

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

Assigned to Rosecrans Field, MO.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 4th Combat Cargo Group, 15th Combat Cargo Squadron, based at Bowman Field, KY.

25 October 1944

Received major damage at Bowman Field, KY in a landing accident.

Pilot: Richard W. Schmidt

  October 1945 to 1948

  42-96560 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)


26 October 1945

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

  1948 to November 1948

  N50316 - SUN CHEMICAL CORPORATION (USA)


1948

Purchased from RFC.

  November 1948 to December 1949

  XT-170 - CNAC (CHINA NATIONAL AVIATION CORPORATION) (CHINA)


18 November 1948

Purchased. [quoted as 1949 by JB]

May 1949

Ferried to Hong Kong after the Nationalist defeat in mainland China, and impounded by British Authorities under threat from the Communist Chinese government.

  December 1949

  XT-170 - CLAIRE L. CHENNAULT & WHITING WILLAUER (USA)


12 December 1949

Purchased by Claire Chennault & Whiting Willauer, managers of CAT – while still grounded at Hong Kong Kai Tak. This was part of an attempt supported by the US State Department to regain ownership of several CNAC & CATC aircraft.

  December 1949 to 1953

  N8386C - CAT (CIVIL AIR TRANSPORT) (TAIWAN)


19 December 1949

Transferred to CAT.

  1953 to March 1955

  N2023A - CAT (CIVIL AIR TRANSPORT) (TAIWAN)


1953

Reregistered.

  March 1955 to 1955

  CF-HVJ - HEARST ENTERPRISES LTD. (CANADA)


March 1955

Purchased.

  1955 to June 1955

  CF-HVJ - WORLD WIDE AIRWAYS (CANADA)


1955

Purchased.

18 June 1955

Damaged beyond repair in Coral Harbour, NWT in an accident after takeoff (2/2 fatalities).

Shortly after takeoff, while in its initial climb, the Commando stalled and crashed past the end of the runway. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Last edited: 19/08/2020