Commando 42-96690

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96690

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30352

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU888

FATE: Written off

  August 1944 to January 1945

  42-96690 - USAAF (USA)

8 August 1944

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

Assigned to 556th AAF Base Unit based at Reno AAF, NV, probably with the 3^rd Operational Training Unit (3 OTU).

6 January 1945

Damaged beyond repair near Silver Springs, NV in an airborne structural failure due to a fire (5/5 fatalities).

The Commando left Reno AAF at 0650LT on a local training mission. While cruising east of Carson City, a fire erupted in the left engine. Shortly thereafter, the left wing on fire detached and hit the tail. The aircraft went out of control, disintegrated and eventually crashed in a mountainous area located 50 km east of Carson City.

Crew:
Cpt William A. Beven
Pvt William R. Carl [or Curl]
Pvt Fred R. Davis
F/O Donovan J. Hogan
1^st Lt Walter E. Schmidt

Surveyed.

17 January 1945

Reclamation completed.