Western Hemisphere Import Export Company

  Unknown dates

  United States of America

TYPE: Aircraft broker

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Unknown

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

Western Hemisphere Import Export Company was most likely an aircraft broker. In the mid-1950's, it was involved in the purchase, refurbishment and resale of many Indian Government Commandos. During this operation, the Commandos seem to have been refurbished at a facility in Panagarh, West Bengal, India. Most aircraft ended up sold to Loide Aereo Nacional of Brazil, but a few were bought by other customers.

1955* to January 1961*

Several Western Hemisphere Commandos were destroyed in Panagarh on 19 June 1957 when the hangar they were stored in collapsed during a storm (including (43-47206)).

• Curtiss C-46A-5-CK Commando: N9818F
• Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando: (42-3617), PP-LDU
• Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando: (42-61071)
• Curtiss C-46A-41-CU Commando: (42-61011), (42-61026), (42-61069)
• Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: (42-107393), (42-96555), (42-96598), PP-LEG, (42-96685), N10428, N50790
• Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando: PP-LDF
• Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando: N8013E, PP-LEJ, (43-47175)
• Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando: (43-47206), PP-LEN / N9817F
• Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando: (42-101230) (probable), (42-101231) (probable), (42-101233) (probable), (44-77304)  (probable)