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.
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