Commando 42-96700
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96700
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30362
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU898
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
August 1944 to November 1945
42-96700 - USAAF (USA)
18 August 1944
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.
Assigned to I Troop Carrier Command, based at Baer Field, IN.
November 1945 to 1946
42-96700 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)
6 November 1945
Transferred to RFC and stored at Walnut Ridge AAF, AR.
1946 to 1947
C-68 - LATCO (LINEAS AEREAS TRANSATLANTICAS COLOMBIANAS) (COLOMBIA)
1946
Purchased from RFC.
1947 to 1951
HK-68 - LATCO (LINEAS AEREAS TRANSATLANTICAS COLOMBIANAS) (COLOMBIA)
1947
Reregistered.
1951 to January 1953
HK-605 - LIA (LINEAS INTERAMERICANAS AEREAS) (COLOMBIA)
1951
Purchased.
29 January 1953
Damaged beyond repair in Bogota, Colombia in an emergency landing following an engine failure (0/2 fatalities).
The Commando was operating a cargo flight between Bogota, Cartagena and Barranquilla. Shortly after takeoff, while in the initial climb, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine. The Captain completed an emergency landing in a wasteland located 6 km southeast of the airport, in the Santa Lucia suburb of Bogota. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probably later dismantled and sold for parts.
Last edited: 11/03/2020