Commando 42-96708

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46D-1-CU Commando

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96708

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30370

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU906

FATE: Broken up

  September 1944 to April 1947

  42-96708 - USAAF (USA)

15 September 1944

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

Assigned to the 2^nd Combat Cargo Group, 8^th Combat Cargo Squadron based at Baer Field, IN.

Ferried from Fairfield-Suisun AAB, CA to Nadzab Field, Australian New Guinea .

Crew:
Capt. Vincent V. Loomis Jr., Pilot
1^st Lt. Thomas W. Hartzel, Copilot

14 November 1944

Ferried through Brisbane Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia.

November 1944

Moved to Finschhafen Dreger Field, Australian New Guinea with the 8^th Combat Cargo Squadron.

January 1945

Moved to Biak AAF, Papua, Dutch East Indies with the 8^th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Involved in the transport of supplies and troops to American and Filipino forces in the Philippines.

March 1945

Moved to Dulag Field, Philippines with the 8^th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Operated flights to Australia, New Guinea, and within the Philippines, and transported personnel and supplies to the Ryukyus, evacuating casualties on the return flights.

August 1945

Moved to Bolo Point, Okinawa, Japan with the 8^th Combat Cargo Squadron.

Operated flights carrying occupation forces personnel and equipment to Japan, and ferrying liberated prisoners of war to the Philippines.

September 1945

Moved to Yokota AB, Japan with the 8^th Combat Cargo Squadron.

ca 1946

Assigned to Nichols Field, Philippines.

21 April 1947

Condemned for salvage, probably by the Army-Navy Liquidation Commission.

4 January 1947

Reclamation completed at Clark Field, Philippines . [dates discrepancy]