Commando 44-77595

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77595

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32991

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1527

FATE: Written off

  December 1944 to March 1945

  44-77595 - USAAF (USA)

19 December 1944

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

25 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, 47^th Troop Carrier Squadron based at RAF Folkingham, England.

Marked "N3-B".

24 March 1945

Damaged beyond repair during Operation Varsity (28/39 fatalities). [MACR 13421]

Crew:
1^st Lt. Moorehead Philip, Pilot (KIA, pictured right)
1^st Lt. William C. Simmons, Copilot (KIA)
S/Sgt Harold M. Power, Radio Operator (KIA)
T/Sgt Homer W. Lundine, Crew Chief (KIA)

Paratroopers:
1^st Lt. Armond Di Silvio
1^st Lt. Lynn R. Tomlison
T/Sgt Wesley J. Monk (KIA)
S/Sgt Milton Lowinger (KIA)
S/Sgt Gilbert W. Skipper (KIA)
S/Sgt John R. Thomas (KIA)
Tec/4 Homer B. Chase
Tec/4 Louis B. Ginter (KIA)
Tec/4 W. R. Maturn
Sgt Tobias Garcia
Sgt Anthony J. Reinwald (KIA)
Sgt Ronald D. Rogers (KIA)
Tec/5 John Reft (KIA)
Cpl. Dick D. Johnson (KIA)
Pfc Herschel C. Badger (KIA)
Pfc Orell D. Choate
Pfc Floyd C. Davis (KIA)
Pfc Thomas B. Dowda (KIA)
Pfc Joseph P. Guarino (KIA)
Pfc George W. Hirzel (KIA)
Pfc Joseph A. Lombardi (KIA)
Pfc Gasper J. Monteleone (KIA)
Pfc Donald L. Nelson
Pfc Frank J. Oliva (KIA)
Pfc Paul J. Patton (KIA)
Pfc James E. Payne (KIA)
Pfc William T. Rowe (KIA)
Pfc William B. Sanford (KIA)
Pfc Raymond A. Szwak (KIA)
Pvt Arthur B. Brelsford
Pvt Robert G. Curran
Pvt Harold D. Fowler (KIA)
Pvt Louis G. Higuera (KIA)
Pvt Marvin D. Jackson
Pvt Bartholomew P. Malone

The Commando was taking part in Operation Varsity, carrying 35 paratroopers of the 513^th Parachute Infantry Regiment to a dropzone near Wesel, Germany. It was hit by flak before approaching the target, and was seen dropping out of formation and stalling to the ground. Eleven paratroopers managed to jump to safety before the airplane crashed, while all other occupants were killed on impact.

28 March 1945

Condemned, missing in action.

Below: 44-77595 at some European airfield in early 1945.
Photo credit: Fenton P. Fleming Collection