Commando 42-96776

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96776

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30438

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU974

FATE: Written off

  September 1944

  42-96776 - USAAF (USA)

25 September 1944

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

  September 1944 to July 1945

  39561 - US MARINE CORPS (USA)

25 September 1944

Transferred as R5C-1 and delivered to NAS San Diego, CA.

October 1944

Assigned to Homeland Defense Network (HDN), MAG-35.

19 December 1944

Assigned to VMR-352 based at MCAS Cherry Point, NC.

January 1945

Assigned to VMR-252.

Supported the assaults on Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

4 July 1945

Damaged beyond repair off Guam, Marianna Islands after ditching.

Pilot: 1^st Lt. Donald J. Garin (survived)

Shortly after taking off from Guam North Field, while climbing, the Commando crashed into the ocean about 8 km offshore.

31 July 1945

Struck off charge as Class 3-5-Z.