Commando 44-77604

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77604

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 33000

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1536

FATE: Written off

  December 1944 to April 1945

  44-77604 - USAAF (USA)

19 December 1944

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

14 January 1945

Departed the USA for Europe.

Assigned t the 8^th Air Force.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 9^th Air Force, 52^nd Troop Carrier Wing, 313^th Troop Carrier Group, 29^th Troop Carrier Squadron based at RAF Folkingham, England.

Marked "5X".

24 March 1945

Damaged during Operation Varsity over Wesel, Germany.

10 April 1945

Destroyed in a midair collision over Woodchurch, Kent, England (4/4 + 1 fatalities).

Crew:
2^nd Lt. William Blanton, Pilot
2^nd Lt. Kendall W. DeCourval, Copilot
Cpl. Douglas D. Dineen, Radio Operator
Sgt. Millard E. Warren, Crew Chief

The Commando was operating a military cargo flight into England, in formation with other ships, with four crew members on board. At 12:30LT, at 3,000ft between the villages of Ashford and Woodchurch, Kent, Spitfire Mk.IX ML232 from Biggin Hill piloted by Group Captain Gordon L. Raphael approached from 11 o'clock and flew headling into the formation at a speed of 250 mph. It is not known whether the fighter pilot did not see the formation or intended to buzz it. The Spitfire struck the left wing of 44-77604 and disintegrated on impact. The Commando had its wing sheared off and spun down to earth. All occupants of both airplanes were killed. The bodies were recovered by the British and placed in the mortuary at Woodchurch, Kent, being later identified by American authorities.

11 April 1945

Condemned, accident, ops.

Below: two shots of 44-77604 evidently boarding for Varsity as Chalk 35.
Photo credit: Carl Gwartney Collection / San Diego Air & Space Museum