Commando 43-47175
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 43-47175
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 246
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CK223
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
February 1945 to April 1946
43-47175 - USAAF (USA)
5 February 1945
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Louisville, KY.
14 February 1945
Departed the USA for Karachi, Sindh, India.
Probably assigned to ATC India-China Division.
April 1946 to 1955 1955 to October 1955
43-47175 - WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMPORT EXPORT COMPANY (USA)
1955
Purchased and refurbished.
Right: 43-47175 in a hangar in Panagarh, West Bengal, India, circa 1955.
Photo credit: Marco Menezes
October 1955 to May 1958
PP-LEA - LOIDE AEREO NACIONAL (BRAZIL)
27 October 1955
Purchased.
21 May 1957
Registered.
May 1958 to February 1962
PP-BLE - TABA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS BANDEIRANTES) (BRAZIL)
5 May 1958
Transferred, as TABA was a subsidiary of Loide at the time.
Possibly operated in Loide colors. [TBC]
February 1962 to June 1968
PP-BLE - VASP (VIACAO AEREA SAO PAULO) (BRAZIL)
February 1962
Transferred as Loide was taken over by VASP.
June 1968 to April 1971
PP-BLE - PRIMA LTDA (BRAZIL)
7 June 1968
Purchased.
Christened "Jeanne d'Arc".
Left: a picture of PP-BLE in Prima colors dated June 1965 in Sao Paulo Congonhas, Brazil - date discrepancy?
Photo credit: Reginald Rowe / AirlineFan
April 1971 to July 1971
PP-BLE - VASP (VIACAO AEREA SAO PAULO) (BRAZIL)
30 April 1971
Repossessed by VASP.
September 1971 to December 1971
PP-BLE - AEROCOM LTDA (BRAZIL)
21 September 1971
Leased from Jose Martinez.
December 1971 to May 1973
PP-BLE - PRIVATE (BRAZIL)
31 December 1971
Returned to Jose Martinez from lease to Aerocom.
June 1973 to January 1975
PP-BLE - AGROPECUARIA DO JURUA (BRAZIL)
27 June 1973
Leased from Adair Ruiz.
February 1975 to 1976
CP-1244 - VIBAS LTDA (BOLIVIA)
25 February 1975
Purchased.
Christened "Marcelito".
23 May 1975
Departed Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on its delivery flight to Bolivia.
Right: CP-1244 at La Paz El Alto, Bolivia on 6 April 1975.
Photo credit: Tony Pearce / Air Britain
Below: the same in 1976, unknown location.
Photo credit: AviacionBoliviana.net
1977 to 1979
CP-1244 - TABSA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS BENIANOS SA) (BOLIVIA)
1977
Purchased.
Right: CP-1244 still in fading VIBAS colors, titles removed, in the late 1970's.
Photo credit: EX/ZX
1979 to January 1988
CP-1244 - ETA (ESCORPION TRANS AEREOS) (BOLIVIA)
1979
Purchased.
18 January 1988
Damaged beyond repair 100 km northwest of La Paz, Bolivia in a CFIT (9/9 fatalities).
The Commando was operating a domestic charter flight from La Paz, Bolivia with 3 crewmembers and 6 passengers on board. While flying in bad weather, the aircraft struck the slopes of Mount Colorado, approximately 100 km northwest of La Paz. All occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed. [Mount Colorado location not identified]
Last edited: 25/04/2021