Commando 44-77883
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando
USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77883
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 33279
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1815
FATE: Stored
Operational Record
February 1945 to September 1947
44-77883 - USAAF (USA)
February 1945
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.
September 1947 to August 1963
44-77883 - USAF (USA)
18 September 1947
Transferred.
Unknown date
Assigned to 2346th Air Force Reserve Training Center, based at Hamilton AFB, CA.
13 April 1958
Assigned to the Arizona Aircraft Storage Squadron and stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.
14 August 1963
Departed Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ for Miami, FL.
19 August 1963
Assigned to the 1045th Operational Evaluation and Training Group, effectively the CIA's air arm.
Supplied to foreign country under the Military Assistance Program.
August 1963 to February 1964
N10703 - MARATHON AVIATION CORPORATION (USA)
7 January 1963
Registered.
August 1963
Overhauled by Intermountain Aviation at Marana, AZ.
22 November 1963
Test-flown by Capt. Connie Seigrist out of Marana, AZ.
5 June 1964
Registration cancelled, exported to Thailand.
February 1964 to present
VT-DRN - MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (INDIA)
22 February 1964
Registered.
Operated by the Aviation Research Center (ARC) of India with the technical support of the CIA as part of operation Oak Tree.
Based at Charbatia AB, Odisha, India, flying clandestine missions over Chinese-occupied Tibet.
Unknown date
Retired from service.
Displayed outside at Sarsawa Air Force Station, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Right: VT-DRN at the Research and Analysis Wing's Aviation HQ, Sarsawa, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Photo credit: Warbirds of India
Last edited: 16/01/2024