Curtiss C-46 Commando, from the factory to the field ...

[Mark Allen M]

Per request, Curtiss Buffalo Plant C-46 Assembly photos.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_C-46_Commando

Part 1


Curtiss C-46A major subassemblies drawing. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A wing leading edge manufacturing and storage. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A component storage area. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A - joining the aft fuselage and tail sub-assemblies. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A forward fuselage inspection. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A fuselage assembly. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A forward fuselage work. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A fuselage and center wing assembly. Aircraft is being lifted by a ceiling hoist. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A fuselage and empennage assembly (Spring 1943). (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss' Buffalo Plant Final Assembly (C-46A-50-CU SN 42-96803). Note the adjacent P-40 assembly line. Middle aircraft is P-40N-30-CU SN 44-7441. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A engine preparation. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A engine installation during final assembly. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A engine with propeller and cowling installed. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A engine inspection. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A inspecting the wing fairing. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A, inspecting the main landing gear. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A, working on the forward fuselage. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A, working on the center wing section. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A, installing a complete engine package. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A final assembly at the Buffalo Plant. C-46A-30-CU SN 42-24773 and 42-24767 are the nearest two aircraft with tails visible. (U.S. Air Force photo)

[Mark Allen M]

Part 2


Curtiss C-46A production schedule scoreboard. The scoreboard shows production just slightly behind schedule. Aircraft is C-46A-41-CU SN 42-107299. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A cockpit (taken in August 1944). (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A throttle quadrant and copilot's panel. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A copilot's side panel. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A engineer's jump seat. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A pilot's side panel. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A overhead panel. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46 interior. Cargo compartment looking forward from the aft cargo door. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Last edited by Mark Allen M on Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mark Allen M]

Part 3


Curtiss C-46D side view. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A (C-46A-45-CU, SN 42-96574). (U.S. Air Force photo)-2


Curtiss C-46A (C-46A-45-CU, SN 42-96574). (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A (C-46A-50-CU, SN 42-96803). (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss XC-46B


Curtiss XC-46B


Curtiss C-46D in flight (C-46D-15-CU, SN 44-78109). Notice both paratroop doors are open. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A in flight (C-46A-45-CU, SN 42-96569) over the Himalayas. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Curtiss C-46A in flight (C-46A-45-CU, SN 42-96569) over the Himalayas. (U.S. Air Force photo)

[Mark Allen M]

Part 4



Curtiss C-46 Commandos Of The 9Th Troop Carrier Command Hold Their Formation As They Pass Over An Air Base Somewhere In France. 21 March 1945


Curtiss C-46 Commandos Of The 9Th Troop Carrier Command Hold Their Formation As They Pass Over An Air Base Somewhere In France. 21 March 1945


Curtiss C-46 Commandos Of The 9Th Troop Carrier Command Hold Their Formation As They Pass Over An Air Base Somewhere In France. 21 March 1945


Curtiss C-46 Commandos Of The 9Th Troop Carrier Command Hold Their Formation As They Pass Over An Air Base Somewhere In France. 21 March 1945


Curtiss C-46 Commandos Of The 9Th Troop Carrier Command Hold Their Formation As They Pass Over An Air Base Somewhere In France. 21 March 1945


Curtiss C-46 Commandos Of The 9Th Troop Carrier Command Hold Their Formation As They Wing Their Way Over France. 20 March 1945

[hang the expense]

No complaints on the photos they are certainly great.The first three are of P-40 production and the second one I have never seen before.Thats all tomahawk stuff in the 2nd pic btw.

[Mark Allen M]

that's all tomahawk stuff in the 2nd pic btw.

You gotta look closer. P-40 yes, but also C-46 stuff.

[The Inspector]

Mark, How 'bout a shot or two of the prewar CW-20 Airliner, especially the twin tailed version?

[daviemax]

Mark, thanks for another great set of photos.

A number of years ago, I had the privilege of spending some time with a former "hump" pilot who flew the C-46 (he is no longer with us). Among other things he said the controls were so difficult he felt as if they "were set in cement." This is only one data point, I would love to hear other perspectives on the experience of flying one.

[Russ Blow]

Thanks for the C 46 series Mark.

My dad flew them in CBI based mainly from Kunming and Yunanyi from Jan 45 until Sept. 45. He passed away in 2002 and did not speak a lot about it but he did say the few times he flew a C 47 it felt like a sports car compared to the 46.

I remember we used to get an old C 46 freighter fly into Norfolk to deliver parts and equipment for the local Ford plant and any time my dad heard it fly over we jumped in the car and drove down to see it.

[Mark Allen M]

Your welcome. Actually that could have been my old brother-in-law flying that C-46 into Norfolk. He flew C-46's stateside for several years after flying Helo's in Vietnam.

[Deuelly]

Per request, Curtiss Buffalo Plant C-46 Assembly photos.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_C-46_Commando


Curtiss C-46A component storage area. (U.S. Air Force photo)

I love all the things going on in this photo. The only Tomahawk parts I see are the QEC's and the cowling pieces along the wall. Presumably to go on more QEC's. The guy in the foreground building crates possibly for the engines. Then all the Kittyhawk/Warhawk parts stacked everywhere showing the changing of the guard. All the while you have the C-46 sitting in the background. Kind of like during the war when the Curtiss fighters got the notoriety while the Curtiss C-46 sat in the background doing the work.

[John Dupre]

Just curious, were any C-46's used for Normandy?

[Chris Brame]

The last seven photos look like the stepped-nose C-46E or XC-46B.

Mark, How 'bout a shot or two of the prewar CW-20 Airliner, especially the twin tailed version?

Here's a wartime shot, from the Imperial War Museum, © IWM (CM 6535):

[Cherrybomber13]

Mark,
Excellent thread!
A few things I noticed for conversation sake.
Compared to the Chance Vought assembly line photos the Curtiss line seems so much newer, maybe even cleaner and brighter. Might be the depth of field is better or better photographer.
Also I would say it's safe to assume that 90% of the people is those photos have passed away, yet the aircraft they built 70 odd years ago still fly in some of the most extreme weather and conditions earning their keep. Sadly, I can't imagine any company intentionally building a product built to last like that ever again. It will be a sad day when the last commercial C-46's and C-47's tie down for the last time.

[tom d. friedman]

excellent post as usual. leon..... love the lines of the c-46. the company sure went belly up fast after the war, but those factory shots during the war are incredible!!!do you recognize any tail numbers from ortner's that flew out of wakeman??