Commando 44-77582

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77582

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32978

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1514

FATE: Written off

  December 1944 to March 1945

  44-77582 - USAAF (USA)

15 December 1944

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

21 January 1945

Assigned to the 8^th Air Force.

Early 1945

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

Went missing over Germany during Operation Varsity (no fatalities). [MACR 13419]

Pilot: probably 1^st Lt. Donald Dunn (injured, survived) [probably Donald Wayne Dunn, DFC, PH, fought again in Korea and retired a USAF Major]

The Commando was shot down by flak, and the crew either bailed out or made an emergency landing.

Condemned, missing in action.