The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 42-96607

Aircraft Identification

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96607

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30269

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU805

FATE: Broken up

Operational Record

  July 1944 to September 1947

  42-96607 - USAAF (USA)


July 1944

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

  September 1947 to ca 1953

  42-96607 - USAF (USA)


18 September 1947

Transferred.

Unknown date

Modified by Curtiss-Wright for USAF.

ca 1949

Assigned to the 516th Troop Carrier Group, 345th Troop Carrier Squadron based at Memphis Municipal, TN.

27 November 1951

Received major damage at Buckley AFB, CO in a landing accident.

Pilot: Richard H. Furr

  ca 1953 to December 1957

  42-96607 - CALIFORNIA EASTERN AVIATION INC. (USA)


Unknown date

Probably leased by the USAF to California Eastern Aviation.

  December 1957 to March 1965

  42-96607 - USAF (USA)


14 December 1957

Assigned to the Arizona Aircraft Storage Squadron and stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.

2 April 1964

Sent for reclamation at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.

  March 1965 to April 1969

  N91363 - C-46 PARTS INC. (USA)


2 March 1965

Purchased less engines from USAF. Total airframe time 5,758 hours.

  April 1969 to 1970

  HK-812W - SOEXA (SOCIEDAD DE EXPLOTACION AGROPECUARIA) (COLOMBIA)


15 April 1969

Registered.

  1970 to June 1983

  HK-812 - AEROPESCA (COLOMBIA)


1970

Registered.

11 July 1973

Received major damage in Villavicencio, Colombia in an explosion (0/3 fatalities).

Right wing severely damaged when fuel vapors exploded. [probably on the ground]

 

Right: HK-812, unknown date & location.
Below: HK-812, unknown date & location.
Photo credit for both: Paul Zogg / www.zoggavia.com

  June 1983 to 1987

  HK-812 - INTERCONTINENTAL DE AVIACION (COLOMBIA)


3 June 1983

Transferred as Aeropesca became Intercontinental de Aviacion.

 

Above, right: HK-812 at Villavicencio, Colombia in March 1983 [date discrepancy].
Photo credit: BuchairCards / JP Editions

  1987 to June 2004

  HK-812 - AEROSOL (COLOMBIA)


1987

Purchased, but never repainted.

ca 1990

Withdrawn from use and stored at Bogota El Dorado, Colombia.

June 2004

Broken up at Bogota El Dorado, Colombia.

 

Left: HK-812 standing on a dirt apron of Bogota, Colombia on 11 November 1992. Note the faded Inter colors.
Photo credit: Peter M Garwood / Airliners.net

 

Last edited: 01/02/2020