Commando 44-77403

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77403

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32799

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1335

FATE: Written off

  November 1944 to March 1946

  44-77403 - USAAF (USA)

10 November 1944

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

Assigned to the 5^th Air Force, 54^th Troop Carrier Wing, 375^th Troop Carrier Group, 56^th Troop Carrier Squadron operating in the Southwest Pacific theater.

20 January 1945

Ferried through Brisbane Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia.

Late December 1944

Arrived at Mokmer Field, Biak, Papua, Dutch New Guinea with the 56^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

February 1945

Moved to San Jose, Mindoro, Philippines with the 56^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Supplied ground forces on Luzon and neighboring islands.

Unknown date

Assigned to Tacloban Field, Leyte, Philippines.

May 1945

Moved to Porac, Luzon, Philippines with the 56^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

August 1945

Moved to Okinawa, Japan with the 56^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Transferred troops from Luzon staging bases to the Ryukyus for the planned invasion of Japan.

September 1945

Moved to Tachikawa AB, Japan with the 56^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Ferried liberated Allied prisoners from Okinawa to Luzon.

15 January 1946

Received major damage at Laoag AB, Luzon, Philippines in a takeoff accident.

Pilot: Samuel J. "Sam" Comella

23 March 1946

Damaged beyond repair in the Southwest Pacific theatre in unknown circumstances.

Condemned for salvage, accident, non-combat.