Commando 43-47175

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

  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

  43-47175 - INDIAN GOVERNMENT (INDIA)

10 April 1946

Purchased.

  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.

  July 1971 to September 1971

  PP-BLE - PRIVATE (BRAZIL)

29 July 1971

Purchased by Jose Martinez.

  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.

  May 1973 to June 1973

  PP-BLE - PRIVATE (BRAZIL)

4 May 1973

Purchased by Adair Ruiz.

  June 1973 to January 1975

  PP-BLE - AGROPECUARIA DO JURUA (BRAZIL)

27 June 1973

Leased from Adair Ruiz.

  January 1975 to February 1975

  PP-BLE - AVIMOTOR LTDA (BRAZIL)

6 January 1975

Purchased.

  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

  1976 to 1977

  CP-1244 - PRIVATE (BOLIVIA)

1976

Purchased by Ricardo Quiroca. [possibly Quiroga]

  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]