Commando 44-77374

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77374

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32770

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1306

FATE: Broken up

  November 1944 to October 1948

  44-77374 - USAAF (USA)

3 November 1944

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

Probably assigned to the 5^th Air Force, 54^th Troop Carrier Wing operating in the Southwest Pacific theater.

6 January 1945

Ferried through Brisbane Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia. [date is assignment date]

8 January 1945

Received major damage on Canton Island, Phoenix Islands in a taxi accident.

Pilot: John W. Loughlin (pictured; survived and retired in 1981 as a USAF Lt. Col.)

The Commando was probably ferrying from the USA to Australia at the time of the accident.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 403^rd Troop Carrier Group, 13^th Troop Carrier Squadron operating in the Philippines.

2 February 1946

Received minor damage 5 km west of Dulag Field, Leyte, Philippines in a ground accident due to weather.

Pilot: Robert W. Shaw

1 January 1948

Assigned to Clark Field, Philippines.

22 June 1948

Reclamation authorized, possibly by the Army-Navy Liquidation Commission.

1 October 1948

Reclamation completed, probably at Clark Field, Philippines.