Commando 43-46973
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-5-CK Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 43-46973
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 44
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CK21
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
August 1944 to October 1945
43-46973 - USAAF (USA)
21 August 1944
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Louisville, KY.
Assigned to I Troop Carrier Command based at Baer Field, IN.
Remained within the continental USA.
October 1945 to ca 1947
43-46973 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)
31 October 1945
Transferred to RFC and stored at Walnut Ridge AAF, AR.
November 1947 to October 1948
PP-XBS - PRIVATE (BRAZIL)
1947
Purchased by businessman Vinicius Valadares VASCONCELOS of Lagoa Santa, Brazil with the intent of founding a new airline.
October 1948 to October 1949
FAB-2057 - FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA (BRAZIL)
15 October 1948
Purchased at a reduced price as Vasconcelos was looking for cash after he ran into financial difficulties.
Assigned to the 2° Grupo de Transporte, carried passengers and cargo on domestic and international mail routes (Correio Aereo Nacional, CAN).
14 October 1949
Damaged beyond repair near Machacamarca, Bolivia in a forced landing (0/5 fatalities). [also quoted on 13 October 1949]
The Commando was conducting an international mail flight. The pilot performed a forced landing for unknown reasons and the aircraft came to rest amidst sand dunes. The crew of five was rescued while the airplane was written off.
Wreckage stored in nearby Oruro, Bolivia.
Last edited: 30/07/2021