Commando 44-77838

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

USAAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 44-77838

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 33234

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU1770

FATE: Written off

  February 1945 to September 1947

  44-77838 - USAAF (USA)

February 1945

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

  September 1947 to February 1965

  44-77838 - USAF (USA)

18 September 1947

Transferred.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 2234^th Air Force Reserve Training Center based at Hanscom AFB, MA.

13 May 1950

Received major damage at Hanscom AFB, MA in a taxi accident.

Pilot: John W. Smith

While taxiing at Hanscom AFB, the Commando collided with parked North American F-51H Mustang 44-64212.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 313^th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, 47^th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium based at Mitchel AFB, NY.

25 March 1953

Received minor damage at Mitchel AFB, NY in a taxi accident.

While parked at Mitchel AFB, the Commando was hit by sistership 44-77996 of the same unit, which was taxiing nearby.

Unknown date

Assigned to the 2578^th Air Force Reserve Training Center based at Ellington AFB, TX.

10 May 1958

Assigned to the Arizona Aircraft Storage Squadron and stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.

Right: 44-77838, unknown date & location.
Photo credit: Brian Stainer

  February 1965 to 1970

  N32228 - C-46 PARTS INC. (USA)

3 February 1965

Purchased from USAF less engines. Total airframe time 5,422 hours.

22 April 1969

Registered.

13 November 1970

Registration cancelled, exported to Bolivia.

  1970 to 1972

  CP-910 - AEROVIAS LAS MINAS (BOLIVIA)

1970

Purchased.

  1972 to December 1973

  CP-910 - TAI (TRANS AEREOS ILLIMANI) (BOLIVIA)

1972

Purchased.

7 December 1973

Damged beyond repair at Santa Ana, Bolivia in a landing accident (0/4 fatalities).

The Commando suffered an engine 1 fire during flight. It landed safely at Santa Ana, Bolivia. While all occupants evacuated, the uncontained fire caused irreparable damage to the aircraft.

Below, left: CP-910 at La Paz El Alto, unknown date.
Photo credit: Jacques Guillem

Below, right: CP-910 at La Paz El Alto, unknown date.
Photo credit: Christian Volpati

Bottom, both: CP-910 at La Paz El Alto, 21 November 1973.
Photo credit: Ron Mak