Commando 44-77648

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77648

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 33044

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1580

FATE: Unknown

  January 1945 to January 1946

  44-77648 - USAAF (USA)

8 January 1945

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

26 January 1945

Assigned to the 8^th Air Force.

Departed the USA for Europe.

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".

24 March 1945

Damaged during Operation Varsity over Wesel, Germany.

Crew:
Cpt. Leroy L. Bryant, Pilot
2^nd Lt. Willard F. Heffernan, Copilot
1^st Lt. Warren D. Bender, Navigator
S/Sgt Harry K. Beecher, Radio Operator
T/Sgt. Robert G. Marquis, Crew Chief

The aircraft was carrying paratroopers of the 513^th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

20 July 1945

Returned to the USA at Bradley Field, CT.

Right: a video of 44-77648 loading up for Varsity on 24 March 1945 between times 0:37 and 1:26.
Photo credit: USAF / Youtube

  January 1946 to unknown date

  44-77648 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)

9 January 1946

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

Fate unknown.