Commando 43-43340

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-1-HI Commando

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 43-43340

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): -

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): HI2

FATE: Written off

  November 1944 to September 1947

  43-43340 - USAAF (USA)

November 1944

Delivered from the Higgins Industries factory in New Orleans, LA.

Right: one of the two Higgins-built Commandos, possibly 43-43340, on the Michoud factory production line in New Orleans, LA, 1944.
Photo credit: USAutoIndustryWorldWarTwo.com

  September 1947 to March 1965

  43-43340 - USAF (USA)

18 September 1947

Transferred.

Unknown date

Modified by Curtiss-Wright for USAF.

Unknown date

Assigned to 2343^rd Air Force Reserve Training Center, based in Portland, OR.

28 November 1957

Assigned to the Arizona Aircraft Storage Squadron and stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.

1 April 1964

Sent for reclamation at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.

  March 1965 to September 1966

  N4657S - FOUR STAR AVIATION INC. (USA)

2 March 1965

Purchased less engines from USAF. Total airframe time 4,098 hours.

  September 1966 to 1969

  CP-749 - RUTAS AEREAS UNCIA (BOLIVIA)

29 September 1966

Registered.

24 August 1967

Damaged in an accident at San Pedro, Bolivia.

  1969 to January 1973

  CP-749 - SERVICIOS AEREOS CURTISS (BOLIVIA)

1969

Purchased.

January or February 1970

Damaged in a forced landing at Santa Barbara, Bolivia.

26 May 1972

Damaged at La Paz El Alto, Bolivia in a landing accident (0/3 fatalities). [occurence also listed as taking place on 27 May 1972]

The Commando was operating a cargo flight into La Paz El Alto, Bolivia with three crewmembers on board. During the approach, the landing gear was lowered and it did lock down properly. Touchdown was normal, however after a 1,300-meter rollout the right main gear leg began to retract slowly. Suddenly, the left main gear collapsed. The tailwheel remained down, but the aircraft belly, propellers and engines were damaged.

20 January 1973

Damaged beyond repair at Reyes, Bolivia.