Commando 44-77507

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77507

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32903

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1439

FATE: Written off

  December 1944 to May 1945

  44-77507 - USAAF (USA)

2 December 1944

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

Assigned to the 8^th Air Force.

18 February 1945

Departed the USA for Europe.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 9^th Air Force, 52^nd Troop Carrier Wing, 349^th Troop Carrier Group, 314^th Troop Carrier Squadron based at Roye-Amy Airfield, France.

23 May 1945

Damaged beyond repair near Taillefontaine, France in a crash due to an engine fire (45/45 fatalities).

Crew:
1^st Lt. Rex L. Pond, Pilot (pictured right)
1^st Lt. Claude H. Weid, Copilot
Tech/3 Herbert H. Hill, Medic
Sgt Edward V. Vermillion, Medic

The Commando was operating a flight from Germany to Paris, France evacuating ill and injured personnel, some of them liberated prisonners of war. There were 4 crew members and 41 passengers on board. Thereafter, the passengers were supposed to continue their journey home to the USA. During the flight, one of the engines caught fire. The airplane was seen plunging to the ground near the village of Taillefontaine, France. There were no survivors.

16 April 1945

Condemned for salvage, non-battle damage. [dates discrepancy]