Commando 42-96782

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96782

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30444

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU980

FATE: Written off

  September 1944 to July 1945

  42-96782 - USAAF (USA)

16 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:
1^st Lt. Dave A. McWhinnie Jr., Pilot
2^nd Lt. Glen R. Jacobs, Copilot

30 October 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.

Unknown date

Assigned to Nichols Field, Philippines .

17 July 1945

Condemned for salvage after typhoon damage.

It is not known whether the Commando crashed or if it was destroyed on the ground. [no info on AAIR]