Commando 44-77609

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77609

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 33005

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1541

FATE: Written off

  December 1944 to November 1945

  44-77609 - USAAF (USA)

20 December 1944

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

17 January 1945

Assigned to the 8^th Air Force.

Departed the USA for Europe.

Early 1945

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

21 July 1945

Returned to the USA at Bradley Field, CT.

  November 1945 to unknown date

  44-77609 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)

30 November 1945

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

  Unknown date to April 1955

  YV-C-ARD - RANSA (RUTAS AEREAS NACIONALES SA) (VENEZUELA)

Unknown date

Purchased.

26 April 1955

Damaged beyond repair off Tanaguarena, Venezuela in a crash at sea (3/3 fatalities).

The Commando was performing a maintenance test flight from Caracas Maiquetia, Venezuela with three crew members on board. It crashed in the sea for unknown reasons.