Commando 42-96798

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96798

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30460

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU996

FATE: Written off

  September 1944 to September 1947

  42-96798 - USAAF (USA)

September 1944

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

Unknown date

Assigned to 561^st AAF Base Unit based at Rosecrans Field, MO.

9 January 1945

Damaged at Rosecrans Field, MO in a taxi accident.

Pilot: Charley H. Jones

  September 1947 to March 1965

  42-96798 - USAF (USA)

18 September 1947

Transferred.

Unknown date

Modified by Curtiss-Wright for USAF.

Unknown date

Probably assigned to the Arizona Aircraft Storage Squadron and stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. [no reference to this Commando in AMARC records]

  March 1965 to unknown date

  N91370 - C-46 PARTS INC. (USA)

2 March 1965

Purchased less engines from USAF. Total airframe time 6,140 hours.

  Unknown date to June 1972

  B-1551 - CHINA AIRLINES (TAIWAN)

Unknown date

Purchased.

  June 1972

  EM-2 (I) - AIR AMERICA (USA)

ca June 1972

Operated by China Airlines under subcontract with Air America (Contract no.70-34), wore an aluminium scheme.

5 June 1972

Damaged beyond repair near Pleiku, South Vietnam in an approach accident (32/32 fatalities).

Souls on board:
3 China Airlines flight crewmembers
11 US military
14 South Vietnamese military
1 South Vietnamese civilian
3 deadhead China Airlines mechanics

The Commando was operating a flight for the US and South Vietnamese militaries between Ban Me Thuot and Pleiku, South Vietnam with 3 crew and 29 passengers. During the GCA approach to Pleiku, communications were lost while the aircraft was on a downwind heading descending to 6,100 feet. Versions differ here, but either the aircraft did not take the base leg turn, or it kept on descending to 4,500 feet. Attempts to reestablish contact were made on 243 MHz and 121.5 MHz, and via other aircraft but to no avail. Radar contact was lost 35 km east of Pleiku with no further contact made with the aircraft.

7 June 1972

Wreckage found 4 km southwest of last reported position. The Commado had crashed at 4,400 feet near the top of a 4,500 feet peak. All occupants were found dead.