Commando 44-77653

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77653

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 33049

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1585

FATE: Written off

  Janvier 1945 to April 1945

  44-77653 - USAAF (USA)

8 January 1945

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

Early 1945

Assigned to the 9^th Air Force, 52^nd Troop Carrier Wing, 313^th Troop Carrier Group, 47^th Troop Carrier Squadron based at RAF Folkingham, England.

Marked "N3".

24 March 1945

Damaged over Germany during Operation Varsity.

April 1945

Moved to Grevillers-Achiet (B-54), France, still with the 47^th Troop Carrier Squadron.

27 April 1945

Damaged beyond repair in a crash near Hesdin, France (3/3 fatalities).

Crew:
1^st Lt. Edward C. Koenig (pictured right)
2^nd Lt. Ned Driggers
T/Sgt. Francis V. Walsh

The Commando was conducting a military supply flight with three crew members on board. It crashed in the forest 2 km north of Hesdin, France for unknown reasons. All on board were killed.