A U.S. C-46 aircraft conducting an aerial evacuation of wounded American troops from Manila, the capital of the Philippines, shortly after U.S. forces retook the city after intense fighting with the Japanese.

The US Army Air Force took delivery of this Curtiss C-46 Comando on February 24th 1945. For 40 years the aircraft operated for a number of companies and ende...

The C-46 gained its greatest fame during WWII transporting war materials over the "Hump" from India to China after the Japanese had closed the Burma Road. C-46 flights on the treacherous air route over the Himalayas began in May 1943.

The Curtiss C-46 played a major, though oft-forgotten role in defeating Imperial Japan during WWII. The aircraft’s unique cargo-carrying capabilities and performance helped keep China in the war at a time when its collapse seemed imminent.

2023年9月26日 · The Curtiss C-46 Commando became the primary Allied aircraft flying supplies over the Himalayan Mountains to China. During the mission, the C-46 was the only Allied aircraft capable of handling adverse conditions like violent weather, high mountains, and poorly maintained airfields.

It produces a maximum thrust of 2,000 hp and drives four-bladed Curtiss Electric constant-speed propellers. The C-46 has a maximum speed of 230 knots at 15,000 feet and a cruise speed of 150 knots. It has a travel range of 2,740 nautical miles at 150 knots and 870 nautical miles at …

The instrument panel in the cockpit of a C-46. Published at 6000 × 4634 px. Link to full-size photo: Curtiss C-46 cockpit Site statistics: Photos of World War II: over 26800 aircraft: 63 models tanks: 59 models vehicles: 59 models guns: 3 models units: 2 ships: 47 WW2 battlefields - 12

It was America's largest and heaviest twin-engine transport in World War II. The C-46 was a low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear and could obtain a top seed of 269 mph with an operational range of 1,200 miles. However, normal payload for middle distances was four tons.

There were enemy planes to contend with, (legend has it that a C-46 crew member shot a Zero down by firing his rifle though an open cockpit window.), the departure airfields in India were hot and humid, and the monsoon season was a killer. Literally.

The C-46 Commando was a twin-engine transport aircraft used primarily by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II and continued in service with the United States Air Force (USAF) and other air forces around the world post-war.