Commando 42-96597
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96597
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30259
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU795
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
July 1944 to January 1945
42-96597 - USAAF (USA)
1 July 1944
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.
31 July 1944
Assigned to ATC India-China Division.
28 August 1944
Received major damage in Chabua, Assam, India in a landing accident.
Pilot: Joseph W. Whitney
15 January 1945
Went missing over India (3/3 fatalities).
Crew:
2nd Lt Wayne C. Watts, Pilot
1st Lt Melvin H. Coughenour, Copilot
PFC Gerald D. Schmoker
The Commando was found a few days later crashed in Bangfor, Assam, India, with the whole crew dead onboard.
17 January 1945
Condemned for salvage.
Last edited: 23/01/2020