The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Commando 44-77509

Aircraft Identification

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77509

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 32905

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1441

FATE: Unknown

Operational Record

  December 1944 to September 1947

  44-77509 - USAAF (USA)


December 1944

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

February 1945

Assigned to the 9th Air Force, 52nd Troop Carrier Wing, 313th Troop Carrier Group, 49th Troop Carrier Squadron based at Grevillers-Achiet (B-54), France.

24 March 1945

Damaged over Germany during Operation Varsity.

  September 1947 to September 1957

  44-77509 - USAF (USA)


18 September 1947

Transferred.

Circa 1952

Assigned to the 315th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, 19th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium based at Brady AB, Japan.

17 June 1954

Received major damage at Itazuke AB, Japan in a ground loop during landing.

  September 1957 to May 1977

  71-1131 - JASDF (JAPAN AIR SELF-DEFENSE FORCE) (JAPAN)


17 September 1957

Leased from the US Department of Defense as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP).

 

Below, lines 1 & 2: 71-1131 at the Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan airshow on 21 May 1967.
Photo credit: Y. Toda & apphg / flyteam.jp

Bottom, left: 71-1131 taxiing in Osaka, Japan on 22 September 1979.
Photo credit: Rainer Haufschild / AirHistory.net

Bottom, right: the same, unknown date & location.
Photo credit: unknown / hikokikumo.net

  May 1977 to October 1977

  44-77509 - USAF (USA)


9 May 1977

Returned from lease and stored in Japan.

13 October 1977

Offered for sale at Miho AB, Japan. Total airframe time: 12,093 hours.

  October 1977 to June 1978

  N54512 - PRIVATE (USA)


October 1977

Purchased by Wayne Craft of Jackson, MS.

Intended for sale to SAS (Seletar Air Service) of Singapore, but not taken up.

1 March 1978

Registered.

28 July 1978

Registration cancelled, exported to the Philippines.

  June 1978 to 1991

  RP-C184 - OASIS (ORIENT AIR SYSTEMS & INTEGRATED SERVICES) (PHILIPPINES)


June 1978

Leased Wayne Craft.

Delivered.

9 September 1978

Registered.

1981

Withdrawn from use and stored in Manila, Luzon, Philippines.

 

Below, left: RP-C184 still in service at Manila International, February 1979, still wearing its old Japanese colors.
Photo credit: Brian G. Nichols

Below, right: RP-C184 now stored outside and derelict, still in Manila, 12 March 1983.
Photo credit: Brian Richards

  1991 to unknown date

  RP-C184 - MATS (MANILA AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES) (PHILIPPINES)


1991

Purchased.

Overhaul initiated but not completed as the company went bankrupt.

Abandoned on the ramp in Manila, fate unknown. [alternatively quoted as broken up in 1992 and seen with no engines and no rudder in February 1999 - not visible on GoogleEarth 2024]

Last edited: 23/01/2024