Commando 44-77556

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77556

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32952

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1488

FATE: Written off

  December 1944 to March 1945

  44-77556 - USAAF (USA)

11 December 1944

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

18 January 1945

Assigned to the 8^th Air Force.

February 1945

Assigned to the 9^th Air Force, 52^nd Troop Carrier Wing, 313^th Troop Carrier Group, 49^th Troop Carrier Squadron based at Grevillers-Achiet (B-54), France.

Marked "H2-F".

24 March 1945

Damaged beyond repair at Grevillers-Achiet, France in a takeoff accident.

The Commando was assigned as Chalk 13 to Operation Varsity, departing from Grevillers-Achiet, France. During the take off roll, it slowly veered left, left the runway and impacted vehicles and a building before coming to a stop. It was immedately replaced as Chalk 13 by Commando 44-77530.

28 March 1945

Condemned for salvage, non-battle damage.

Right: a video of the accident between times 1:59 and 2:33.
Photo credit: USAF / Youtube

Below: a view of the damage after the crash.
Photo credit: Carl Gwartney Collection / San Diego Air & Space Museum