The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 42-96663

Aircraft Identification

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96663

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30325

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU861

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  August 1944

  42-96663 - USAAF (USA)


4 August 1944

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

  August 1944 to ca 1956

  39548 - US MARINE CORPS (USA)


4 August 1944

Transferred as R5C-1 and delivered to NAS San Diego, CA.

Assigned to VMR-953, based at Corvallis AAF, OR.

30 September 1944

Moved with VMR-953 to MCAS Ewa, HI.

Operated flights extending into Pacific combat areas including Leyte in December 1944 and Okinawa in May 1945.

January 1946

Assigned to MAG-35 Service Squadron (Servron-35).

March 1946

Assigned to San Diego, CA.

1 July 1946

Reconditioned in San Diego, CA.

25 July 1946

Assigned to NAS Norfolk, VA.

August 1946

Assigned to VMR-252, based at MCAS Miramar, CA.

Unknown date

Assigned to MCAS Cherry Point, NC.

31 May 1947

Struck off charge as surplus.

30 June 1947

Reinstated at MCAS Cherry Point, NC and assigned to VMR-252, based at MCAS El Toro, CA.

July 1947

Assigned to MAG-11, probably based at MCAS Cherry Point, NC.

January 1948

Assigned to NAS Columbus, OH.

  ca 1956 to August 1956

  N7758B - L. B. SMITH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION (USA)


ca 1956

Purchased and converted to Super 46C.

  August 1956 to March 1957

  N7758B - AAXICO (USA)


August 1956

Purchased.

  March 1957 to February 1958

  LV-PEV - COMPANIA AUSTRAL DE TRANSPORTES AEREOS SACI (ARGENTINA)


28 March 1957

Given an import registration (“pasavante”).

1 November 1957

Purchased and christened “Pinguino”.

 

  February 1958 to March 1960

  LV-GEB - COMPANIA AUSTRAL DE TRANSPORTES AEREOS SACI (ARGENTINA)


27 February 1958

Reregistered.

23 January 1958

Performed Austral's first scheduled service: Buenos Aires Aeroparque, Argentina to Comodoro Rivadavia via Bahia Blanca and Trelew, taking off at 2:00 AM from Buenos Aires.

Crew:
Captain Wood
First Officer Oscar Sundt

20 March 1958

Damaged in Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina in an incident.

 

Above: a blurred shot of “Pinguino”, date & location unknown.
Photo credit: unknown / BAAA
Left: another blurred shot of “Pinguino”, clearly showing the “Super 46” labels on the cowling.
Photo credit: Marcello W. Miranda / Roll Out

  March 1960 to April 1961

  LV-GEB - AEROTRANSPORTES LITORAL ARGENTINO (ARGENTINA)


9 March 1960

Leased from Austral.

  April 1961 to December 1969

  LV-GEB - COMPANIA AUSTRAL DE TRANSPORTES AEREOS SACI (ARGENTINA)


12 April 1961

Returned from lease to Aerotransportes Litoral Argentino.

17 December 1969

Damaged beyond repair at Buenos Aires Aeroparque, Argentina in a takeoff accident (0/2 fatalities).

The Commando was operating a cargo flight from Buenos Aires Aeroparque. After liftoff, while climbing through a height of 300 feet, the left engine stopped. The aircraft stalled but the captain was able to regain control and to perform an emergency landing on a sports field located near the airport. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The failure of the left engine was the consequence of an error on the part of the crew, who positioned the fuel selector on an empty tank.

Last edited: 04/06/2020