Curtiss C-46 airplane crashed on August 1st, 1975

[Paul Krumrei]

Greetings:

My name is Henry Arismendi, from Caracas, Venezuela (South America) and I'm writing to you for a very unusual help.

Here in Venezuela I'm a technical diver, devoted to explore our sea wrecks...one of them was a Curtiss C-46 airplane crashed on August 1st, 1975 in front of our main harbour area...

Accident date: 01-08-1975.
Aircraft: Curtiss
Model: C-46 (1943 to 1945?).
YV-140C (former: YV-C-TGH),
Owner: LATINOAMERICANA AÉREA DE CARGA S.A. (LATINCARGA).

We recently discovered the wreck, sunk at more than 200 fts deep, INTACT!.

In my research of the origins of the plane, I found some data that lead me to this excellent site
(not sure about info accuracy)

C-46A-CU, serial 26465 / 41-12338 USAAF
431019 C-46A 41-12338 Sqdn:99FrS Group:29FrG (sorry I don't know what means FrS and FrG)
Constructed between 1943 a 1945.

Please any info you can provide or verify if mine is accurate will be very helpful for my research

Sincerely yours,

Inst. Henry Arismendi
PADI, IANTD, DSAT Instructor
Venezuela
www.scubadelivery.com

[Amado Aguiluz F.]

Hi All,

Would just like to add that C-46A-10-CU, 26465, CU105, was delivered to the USAAF as 41-12338 on April 17, 1943.

Any details on the 1975 accident?

Amado

[Swiss Mustangs]

The date "431019" refers to an earlier accident on this birds record.....

431019 C-46A 41-12338 99FrS 29FrG 10th AAF CBI - CRMF (crash due to mechanical failure) - damage must have been minor...

FrS / FrG = Ferrying Squadron / Ferrying Group

see here: http://www.cbi-history.com/part_ii.html


Martin

[Tulio]

Same date, but next door in Docello, Colombia, a Douglas DC-3 from the Colombian Air Force / SATENA (Servicios Aereos a los Territorions Nacionales) airline, FAC-688 crashed [without any additional information available].

Saludos,


Tulio

[Swiss Mustangs]

January 08, 1975
Time: 08:30

FAC-688

Route: San Vicente del Caguan - Florencia

Crashed and burned in mountains while en route. Improper flight planning by proceeding in mountainous terrain during adverse weather conditions which had reduced visibility along the route.

Fatalities: 21 (passengers:17 crew:4) - some sources have the number at 30

Cordially
Martin

[Tulio]

Thank you, Martin!

Yes, I had 30 on board, but no other info regarding casualties.

My files have been upgraded now.

Thank you again.

Saludos,


Tulio