Commando 44-77654

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77654

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 33050

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1586

FATE: Written off

  January 1945 to March 1945

  44-77654 - USAAF (USA)

10 January 1945

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

12 February 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, 49^th Troop Carrier Squadron based at RAF Folkingham, England.

Marked "H2-U".

4 March 1945

Destroyed by friendly anti-aircraft fire near Ipswich, England (4/4 fatalities). [MACR 12913]

The Commando was on a mission to deliver a Waco CG-13A glider to Grevillers-Achiet (B-54), France. It departed RAF Folkingham, England at 1030LT, towing the loaded glider. Unfavorable weather was encountered enroute but the airplane and glider made a successful landing at Grevillers-Achiet. The Commando departed Achiet at 1550LT for the return trip, without the glider in tow, and with only the crew of four on board. At 1925LT, the pilot radioed "we are lost". The airplane circled Hawkinge, Lympne and Detling airfields southeast of London, England at approximately 10,000 feet in daylight. The pilot ultimately flew off course over a restricted area of the English Channel near Ipswich, England where he was fired upon by anti-aircraft guns at 2005LT. It crashed in the sea just off Orford, England.

5 March 1945

Condemned for salvage, non-battle damage.