Commando 44-77638

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77638

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 33034

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1570

FATE: Broken up

  January 1945 to August 1946

  44-77638 - USAAF (USA)

4 January 1945

Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY

24 January 1945

Assigned to the 8^th Air Force.

Departed the USA for Europe.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 9^th Air Force, 52^nd Troop Carrier Wing, 313^th Troop Carrier Group, 48^th Troop Carrier Squadron based at Grevillers-Achiet (B-54), France.

24 March 1945

Damaged over Germany during Operation Varsity.

Crew:
1^st Lt. Emanuel Cherkasky, Pilot (injured)
2^nd Lt. John F. Fraser, Copilot
S/Sgt. Donald R. Miller, Radio Operator
T/Sgt. James M. Reardon, Crew Chief

The Commando, flying as Chalk 54, was damaged by flak over the drop zone and landed at an airfield in France. The pilot suffered an arm injury due to flying glass, but the rest of the crew was unhurt.

20 July 1945

Returned to the USA at Bradley Field, CT.

Assigned to Patterson Field, OH.

12 February 1946

Reclamation authorized.

20 August 1946

Reclamation completed.