Commando 44-77577

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77577

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32973

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1509

FATE: Written off

  December 1944 to December 1945

  44-77577 - USAAF (USA)

14 December 1944

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

11 January 1945

Departed the USA for Europe.

Assigned to the 8^th Air Force.

Early 1945

Probably assigned to the 9^th Air Force, 52^nd Troop Carrier Wing operating in Europe.

23 July 1945

Returned to the USA at Bradley Field, CT.

  December 1945 to May 1948

  44-77577 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)

11 December 1945

Transferred to RFC and stored at Walnut Ridge AAF, AR.

  May 1948 to March 1950

  44-77577 - USAF (USA)

21 May 1948

Returned to USAF service.

19 August 1948

Assigned to the Oklahoma City Air Material Area based at Tinker AFB, OK and probably refurbished.

19 February 1949

Assigned to Glendale, CA.

30 June 1949

Assigned to the 435^th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, 349^th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium training with the 2585^th Air Force Reserve Training Center at Miami, FL.

8 July 1949

Converted to TC-46D.

23 July 1950

Damaged beyond repair at Myrtle Beach, SC due to structural failure in flight (39/39 fatalities).

Pilot: 1^st Lt. Alexander M. Smart, Jr.

The Commando was operating a military passenger flight between Myrtle Beach, SC and Nashville, TN with five crew members and 34 passengers on board. The passengers were returning hom from a military exercise that had taken place in Myrtle Beach, SC. Shortly after airborne, the left aileron detached, causing vibrations and controlability issues. The pilot attempted to maintain wings level at an altitude of 1,500ft, but excessive aerodynamic loads caused the wings to separate. The airplane span down to the ground and exploded on impact. All occupants were killed and the Commando was destroyed.

The probable cause of the accident was determined to be the center section of the left aileron that had torn loose and cause the aileron to separate.

26 July 1950

Reclamation authorized.

7 August 1950

Reclamation completed.

Below: an article of the Evening Star showing a view of the wreckage.
Photo credit: Evening Star, 24 July 1950