Commando 44-77602

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77602

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32998

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1534

FATE: Written off

  December 1944 to March 1945

  44-77602 - USAAF (USA)

20 December 1944

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

20 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, 48^th Troop Carrier Squadron based at Grevillers-Achiet (B-54), France.

Marked "Z7-M".

24 March 1945

Went missing over Germany during Operation Varsity (fatalities). [MACR 13425]

Crew:
1^st Lt. James P. Claussen, Pilot (KIA, pictured right)
2^nd Lt. Ruben Levy, Copilot (KIA)
1^st Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo, Navigator (KIA)
S/Sgt. George Kuhn, Radio Operator (KIA)
T/Sgt. Charles L. Williams, Crew Chief (injured)

The Commando, flying as Chalk 52, was hit by flak near Wesel. It was last seen with its left engine on fire heading back toward the Rhine River. The airplane crash landed on the northeastern bank of the Rhine. All crew members were killed apart from the Crew Chief T/Sgt. Charles L. Williams, who was partially out of the side escape hatch when the aircraft crash-landed and as a result was thrown clear of the wreckage. German medics picked him up unconscious, carried him seriously wounded to a nearby cellar, dressed his wounds and departed. He was later found by advancing American forces.

Condemned, missing in action.

Below: 48^th TCS Commandos taxiing out to their doom on Varsity day. 44-77602 is in the middle of the picture.
Photo credit: unknown / Marion, OH WWII Veterans