Commando 44-77664

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

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77664

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 33060

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1596

FATE: Written off

  January 1945 to November 1947

  44-77664 - USAAF (USA)

11 January 1945

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

4 February 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.

20 July 1945

Returned to the USA at Bradley Field, CT.

3 November 1945

Assigned to Bergstrom AAF, TX.

27 March 1947

Recommended for salvage.

3 April 1947

Reclamation completed.

  November 1947 to 1952

  44-77664 - WAA (WAR ASSETS ADMINISTRATION) (USA)

25 November 1947

Transferred.

Stored at Bush Field, GA.

  1952 to 1954

  N1628M - SKYCOACH EXPRESS (USA)

1952

Purchased by 280 Mike Inc. of Los Angeles, CA, and operated by Skycoach Express.

Right: N1628M with Skycoach, possibly at Oakland, CA at an unknown date.
Photo credit: Bill Larkins / AV.CA

  1954 to February 1960

  N1628M - REGINA CARGO AIRLINES (USA)

1954

Leased.

7 February 1955

Damaged at Charleston, SC in a landing gear collapse.

2 July 1957

Purchased.

26 April 1960

Registration cancelled, exported to Colombia.

Left: N1628M in Regina colors at Long Beach, CA in December 1958.
Photo credit: Ed Coates / AirHistory.net

  February 1960 to 1966

  HK-792 - TAXADER (TAXI AEREO DE SANTANDER) (COLOMBIA)

29 February 1960

Purchased.

May 1960

Registered.

  1966 to 1969

  HK-792 - TAO (TAXI AEREO OPITA) (COLOMBIA)

1966

Purchased. [this Commando is also noted as being Aerocosta's first aircraft, back in 1966 - it may have been leased to TAO]

  1969 to October 1970

  HK-792 - AEROCOSTA (COLOMBIA)

1969

Purchased.

28 October 1970

Damaged beyond repair in a crash near Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe (3/4 fatalities).

The Commando was conducting a cargo flight to Colombia with three crew members and one passenger on board. As it suffered engine problems in cruise, it diverted to Guadeloupe where an emergency landing was performed. In the process, the airplane crashed, a fire erupted and the entire aircraft was consumed by flames. Fatalities reports vary between two and four.