The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page
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Commando 42-96713

Aircraft Identification

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96713

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30375

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU911

FATE: Written off

Operational Record

  August 1944 to December 1944

  42-96713 - USAAF (USA)

28 August 1944

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

29 October 1944

Assigned to 20th Air Force, XX Bomber Command, 2nd Air Transport Squadron (Mobile), based at RAF Kalaikunda, Bengal, India.

31 October 1944

Moved with 2nd Air Transport Squadron to Dergaon, Assam, India.

November 1944

Moved with 2nd Air Transport Squadron to Luliang, Yunnan, China.

16 December 1944

Went missing near Ipin, Sichuan, China (4/4 missing).

Crew:
1st Lt Robert M. Cole, Pilot
2nd Lt Robert E. Smith, Copilot
Sgt Charles F. Flynn, Jr, Engineer
Sgt John L. Vousden, Radio Operator

The Commando was operating a cargo flight between Luliang, Yunnan and Hsinching, Sichuan, China. They were last contacted by radio stating they were over Ipin, Sichuan and were neither seen nor heard from again.

19 December 1944

Condemned for salvage.