Commando 42-96579

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96579

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30241

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU777

FATE: Written off

  July 1944 to September 1944

  42-96579 - USAAF (USA)

4 July 1944

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

31 July 1944

Assigned to ATC India-China Division, Assam Wing, 1337th AAF Base Unit, based in Sookerating, Assam, India.

Christened "Miss Bowlegs II".

19 September 1944

Damaged beyond repair 12 km northeast of Kunming, Yunnan, China in an accident (fatalities).

Pilot: 2^nd Lt Roy Grant Jr (killed, pictured)

The Commando crashed trying to make an approach in thunderstorms.

30 September 1944

Condemned for salvage.

Below: 2nd Lt. Roy Grant Jr and his crew posing in front of 42-96579, unknown date & location.
Photo credit: Brent Wingfield