Commando 42-96690
Aircraft Identification
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
Operational Record
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 3rd 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
1st Lt Walter E. Schmidt
Surveyed.
17 January 1945
Reclamation completed.