Commando 44-77542

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77542

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32938

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1474

FATE: Written off

  December 1944 to March 1945

  44-77542 - USAAF (USA)

7 December 1944

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

13 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, 29^th Troop Carrier Squadron based at RAF Folkingham, England.

24 March 1945

Went missing over Germany during Operation Varsity (no fatalities). [MACR 13418]

Pilot: probably Maj. Robert F. Laird Sr. (survived)

The Commando was shot down by flak and probably made an emergency landing.

28 March 1945

Condemned, missing in action.