Commando 44-77353

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77353

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32749

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1285

FATE: Written off

  November 1944 to June 1945

  44-77353 - USAAF (USA)

2 November 1944

Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.

Assigned to the 5^th Air Force, 54^th Troop Carrier Wing, 433^th Troop Carrier Group, 67^th Troop Carrier Squadron operating in the Southwest Pacific theater.

Marked "X309".

15 December 1944

Ferried through Brisbane Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia.

Late December 1944

Arrived at Biak AAF, Dutch East Indies with the 67^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Mid-January 1945

Moved to Tanauan Field, Leyte, Philippines with the 67^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Early June 1945

Moved to Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines with the 67^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Unknown date

Assigned to Nichols Field, Philippines.

11 June 1945

Went missing over the Southwest Pacific (9/9 missing). [MACR 14617]

Crew:
1^st Lt. Robert W. McCullough, Pilot
2^nd Lt. Ray F. Cochran, Copilot
2^nd Lt. Daryl W. Porter, Navigator
T/Sgt. Oliver E. Smiley, Engineer
Cpl. Theron S. Hensel, Assistant Engineer (pictured)
Sgt. Clifford E. Trainor, Radio Operator

The Commando was operating a flight between Guam, Mariana Islands and Tacloban Field, Leyte, Philippines with six crewmembers, three passengers and some cargo. It took off from Guam at 1326 LT, and after a last routine radio contact with the Guam air traffic controller, it was never heard or seen again.

13 June 1945

Condemned for salvage, missing.