Commando 43-47191

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 43-47191

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 262

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CK239

FATE: Written off

  February 1945 to November 1945

  43-47191 - USAAF (USA)

20 February 1945

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.

  November 1945 to April 1951

  43-47191 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)

8 November 1945

Transferred to RFC and stored at Walnut Ridge AAF, AR.

  April 1951 to August 1951

  N3918C - CENTRAL AIRLINES (USA)

27 April 1951

Purchased from RFC.

  August 1951 to August 1953

  N3918C - ALL AMERICAN AIRWAYS (USA)

15 August 1951

Purchased.

6 January 1953

Received major damage in a landing accident in Cheyenne, WY.

The Commando landed short, bounced, shed a wing and rolled over.

Right: N3918C's wreck following its accident in Cheyenne, WY.
Photo credit: mikeeepannell / Key.Aero

  August 1953 to September 1953

  N3918C - AIRLINE MAINTENANCE CORP. (USA)

August 1953

Purchased.

Repaired - given the picture above, it is doutful that the airframe in question ever became airworthy again. On the other hand, c/n 262's data plate was probably used on another Commando being refurbished by the Airline Maintenance Corp. If anybody has a clue about which Commando that could be, feel free to write to us.

  September 1953 to May 1960

  YV-C-LBG - LEBCA (LINEA EXPRESA BOLIVAR CA) (VENEZUELA)

17 September 1953

Registered.

19 May 1960

Damaged beyond repair in a forced landing near David, Panama (no fatalities).

The Commando force-landed on a beach near David, Panama.

Left: YV-C-LBG in LEBCA colors.
Photo credit: unknown / Flickr