Commando 43-47197
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 43-47197
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 268
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CK245
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
February 1945 to July 1947
43-47197 - USAAF (USA)
17 February 1945
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Louisville, KY.
7 March 1945
Departed the USA for the Panama Canal Zone.
Assigned to the 20th Troop Carrier Squadron based at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone.
July 1947 to late 1947
43-47197 - FLC (FOREIGN LIQUIDATION COMMISSION) (USA)
10 July 1947
Transferred to FLC and probably stored in Panama.
Late 1947 to unknown date
RX-112 - PRIVATE (PANAMA)
Late 1947
Purchased from FLC by Harold A. Speer.
May 1948 to March 1952
OB-OAE-234 - ANDES (AEROVIAS NACIONALES DEL SUR) (PERU)
8 May 1948
Leased from the Babb Company.
14 May 1948
Registered.
March 1952 to unknown date
N1545V - THE BABB CO. (USA)
March 1952
Returned after ANDES went bankrupt.
Late 1953 to 1957
N3959C - AAXICO (USA)
September 1953
Purchased by Howard J. Korth, owner of AAXICO.
1957 to unknown date
CU-T554 - AEROVIAS Q (CUBA)
1957
Purchased.
Right: this texture gives a good idea of CU-T554's looks when it joined Aerovias Q.
Photo credit: flyawaysimulation
Early 1959 to July 1959
CU-T583 - AEROVIAS Q (CUBA)
Early 1959
Reregistered.
Above: CU-T583 boarding passengers, unknown date & location.
Right: a scale model of the same.
Photo credit: yesterdayairlines.com
July 1959 to late 1959
TI-1024C - PRIVATE (COSTA RICA)
Late 1959
Illegally purchased in US dollars by Manuel E. Guerra and flown to Costa Rica.
Late 1959 to October 1971
TI-1024C - LACSA (LINEAS AEREAS COSTARRICENSES) (COSTA RICA)
Late 1959
Purchased.
8 November 1960
Received major damage in a landing accident at Palma Sur, Costa Rica (0/2 fatalities).
The Commando was operating a positioning flight to Palma Sur with only two pilots onboard. After touchdown, the crew noticed a private Piper registered TI-281 entering the runway. To avoid any collision, the crew veered off runway to the right when the airplane collided with trees and came to rest. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was noted as damaged beyond repair by all sources.
Possibly repaired and returned to service.
29 October 1971
Damaged beyond repair in a landing accident in Golfito, Costa Rica (no fatalities).
The Commando was operating a flight into Golfito. After touchdown, the crew veered off the runway due to a mechanical failure and hit a mail truck that was driving by.
[it is uncertain whether the Golfito aircraft is actually TI-1024C, as it was already deemed damaged beyond repair in Palma Sur in 1960 - anyone with further information on these two accidents, please write to us]
Above: a flight simulator texture for TI-1024C.
Photo credit: unknown
Right: an article about the 1971 Golfito accident, mentioning "TI-1024" as the aircraft involved.
Photo credit: La Nacion, 6 November 1971
Last edited: 05/11/2021