Commando 44-77373

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77373

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32769

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1305

FATE: Written off

  November 1944 to March 1945

  44-77373 - USAAF (USA)

4 November 1944

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

Assigned to the 5^th Air Force, 54^th Troop Carrier Wing, 433^rd Troop Carrier Group, 69^th Troop Carrier Squadron operating in the Southwest Pacific theater.

Marked "XA366".

19 December 1944

Ferried through Brisbane Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia.

Late December 1944

Arrived at Nadzab Field, New Guinea with the 69^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Early January 1945

Moved to Biak AAF, Dutch East Indies with the 69^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Late January 1945

Moved to Tanauan Field, Leyte, Philippines with the 69^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

12 March 1945

Went missing over the Philippines (34/34 missing). [MACR 13672]

Crew:
2^nd Lt. Leo J. Kelly, Pilot (pictured)
2^nd Lt. Paul A. Healy, Copilot
Sgt. Theodore S. Oja, Engineer
SSgt. Charles W. Kiester, Radio Operator
2^nd Lt. Beatrice H. Memler, Medical Attendant
T/3. John A. Hudson, Medical Attendant

The Commando was operating an ambulance flight between Elmore Field, Mindoro and Tanauan Field, Leyte, Philippines with 6 crew and 28 patients onboard. It took off at 1045 LT from Elmore Field. At around 1315 LT, the crew radioed that they were turning back to Mindoro, without further information. They were never heard or seen again. It is suspected that they collided with Douglas C-47 42-100455, which was operating a flight between Tanauan to Labo, Mindanao and disappeared around the same time.

15 March 1945

Condemned for salvage, missing in action.

1989

Wreckage of Douglas C-47 42-100455 found 36 km west of Tanauan, on the slopes of Mount Mamban.

2013

Wreckage of Commando 44-77373 found 5 km away from the Douglas C-47.