C-46 Commando

Infobox Aircraft
name= C-46 Commando


caption=Wartime photo, USAAF
type=Military transport aircraft
national origin = United States
manufacturer=Curtiss-Wright
designer=
first flight=26 March 1940
introduced=1941
retired=
status=Still in use
primary user=United States Army Air Forces
more users=United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
produced=1940–1945
number built=3,335
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=

The Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was an transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C. Known to the men who flew them as "The Whale," or the "Curtiss Calamity," Davis et al 1978, p. 11.] the C-46 served a similar role as its counterpart, the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, but was not as extensively produced.

After World War II, a few surplus C-46 aircraft were briefly used in their original role as passenger airliners, but the glut of surplus C-47s dominated the marketplace with the C-46 soon relegated to primarily cargo duty. The type continued in U.S. Air Force service in a secondary role until 1968. However, the C-46 continued in operation as a rugged cargo transport for northern and remote locations with its service life extended into the Twenty-first Century. [Love 2003, pp. 46-47.]

Design and development

The Curtiss CW-20 was first designed in 1937 by George A. Page Jr., the chief aircraft designer at Curtiss-Wright. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,849869,00.html"Air Freighter".] "Time" magazine, 18 May 1942.] The CW-20 was intended as a private venture intended to introduce a new standard in pressurized airliners. The CW-20 had a patented fuselage conventionally referred to as a "figure-eight" (or "double-bubble" Johnson 2007, p. 45.] ) which enabled it to better withstand the pressure differential at high altitudes. This was done by having the sides of the fuselage creased at the level of the floor that not only separated the two portions but shared in the stress of each, rather than just supporting itself. The main spar of the wing could pass through the bottom section which was mainly intended for cargo without intruding on the passenger upper compartment.] A decision to utilize a twin-engine design instead of a four-engine configuration was considered viable if sufficiently powerful engines were available, allowing for lower operating costs and a less complex structure. Johnson 2007, p. 44.]

Engineering work involved a three-year commitment from the company and incorporated an extensive amount of wind tunnel testing at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The resultant design was a large but aerodynamically "sleek" airliner, incorporating the cockpit in a streamlined glazed "dome." The engines featured a unique nacelle "tunnel cowl" where air was ducted in and expelled through the bottom of the cowl, eliminating turbulent airflow and induced drag across the upper wing surface. After a mock-up was constructed in 1938, Curtiss-Wright exhibited the innovative project as a display in the 1939 New York World's Fair. Love 2003, p. 4.]

Although the company had approached many airlines in order to obtain their requirements for an advanced airliner, no firm orders resulted, although 25 letters of intent were received, sufficient to undertake production. Love 2003, p. 4.] The design of a 24-34 passenger airliner proceeded to prototype stage as the CW-20 at the St. Louis, Missouri facility with the initial configuration featuring twin vertical tail surfaces. Powered by two 1,600hp R-2600-C14-BA2 Wright Twin Cyclones, "NX-19436" flew for the first time on 26 March 1940 with famed test pilot Eddie Allen at the controls. After testing, modifications were instituted, including the fitting of a large single tail to improve stability at low speeds.

The first prototype was purchased by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) to serve as a master for the series and was designated "C-55", but after military evaluation, the sole example was returned to Curtiss-Wright and subsequently re-sold to the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). During testing, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold became interested in the potential of the airliner as a military cargo transport, and on 13 September 1940, ordered 46 modified CW-20As as the "C-46-CU Commando"; the last 21 aircraft in this order were delivered as Model CW-20Bs, designated C-46A-1-CU. None of the first C-46s purchased by the U.S. military were pressurized. [ [http://www.jrlucariny.com/site2008/c46clh/c46clh.html Curtis C-46 Commando] ] Johnson 2007, p. 47.] The design was then modified to the C-46A configuration, receiving enlarged cargo doors, a strengthened load floor, and a convertible cabin that speeded changes in carrying freight and troops. The C-46 was introduced to the public at a ceremony in May 1942, attended by its designer, George A. Page Jr.

A total of 200 C-46As in two initial batches were ordered. At this time, one other important change was made; more powerful 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines replaced the two Wright Twin Cyclones. A number of minor modifications, such as fuel system changes and fewer cabin windows were also adopted. Mondey 2006, p. 72.] Subsequent military contracts for the C-46A extended the production run to 1,454 examples, 40 of which were destined for the U.S. Marine Corps, to be designated R5C-1. The military model was fitted with double cargo doors, a strengthened floor and hydraulically operated cargo handling winch; 40 folding seats were the sole passenger accommodation for what was essentially a cargo hauler. Tests indicated that the production C-46 was capable of carrying a substantial payload, and could fly well on one engine. When empty, the aircraft could even climb on one engine at 200-300 ft per minute.

The final large production run C-46D arrived in 1944–55, and featured single doors to facilitate paratroop drops; production totaled 1,430 aircraft. Although a one-off XC-46B experimented with a stepped windscreen and uprated powerplants, a small run of 17 C-46Es had many of the same features as the XC-46B along with three-bladed Hamilton-Standard propellers replacing the standard Curtiss-Electric four-bladed units. A last contract for 234 C-46Fs reverted to the earlier cockpit shape but introduced square wingtips. A sole C-46G had the stepped windscreen and square wingtips but the end of the war resulted in the cancellation of any additional orders for the type. Johnson 2007, p. 47.]

Operational history

Most famous for its operations in the China-Burma-India theater (CBI) and the Far East, the Commando was a workhorse in "flying the The Hump" (over the Himalaya Mountains), transporting desperately needed supplies to troops in China from bases in India and Burma.Long, Everette. [http://www.veteranstoday.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=692 "Alaska's Senator Ted Stevens Recalls First Flight to Peking".] "Veterans Today", 2008.] A variety of transports had been employed in the campaign, but only the C-46 was able to handle the wide range of adverse conditions encountered by the USAAF. Unpredictably violent weather, heavy cargo loads, high mountain terrain, and poorly-equipped and frequently flooded airfields proved a considerable challenge to the transport aircraft then in service, along with a host of engineering and maintenance nightmares due to a shortage of trained air and ground personnel. After a series of mechanical gremlins were resolved, the C-46 proved its worth in the airlift operation. It could carry more cargo higher than other Allied twin-engine transport aircraft in the theater, including light artillery, fuel, ammunition, parts of aircraft and, on occasion, livestock. Its powerful engines enabled it climb satisfactorily with heavy loads, staying aloft on one engine if not overloaded, though "war emergency" load limits of up to 40,000 lbs often erased any safety margins. Nevertheless, after the troublesome Curtiss-Electric electrically-controlled pitch mechanism on the propellers had been removed, the C-46 continued to be employed in the CBI and over wide areas of southern China throughout the war years.

The C-46's huge cargo capacity (twice that of the C-47), large cargo doors, powerful engines and long range also made it ideal for the vast distances of the Pacific island campaign. In particular, the U.S. Marines found the aircraft (known as the R5C) useful in their amphibious Pacific operations, flying supplies in and wounded soldiers out of numerous and hastily-built island landing strips.

Although not built in the same quantities as the C-47, its more famous wartime compatriot, the C-46 nevertheless played a vital role in Pacific operations. However, the aircraft was not deployed in numbers to the European theater of operations until March 1945, where it augmented USAAF Troop Carrier Command in time to drop paratroopers in an offensive to cross the Rhine River in Germany (Operation Varsity).

So many C-46s were lost in the paratroop drop during Operation Varsity that Army general Matthew Ridgway famously issued an edict forbidding the aircraft's use in future airborne operations. Even though the war ended soon afterward and no further airborne missions were flown, the C-46 may well have been unfairly demonized. The operation's paratroop drop phase was flown in daylight at slow speeds at very low altitudes, by an unarmed cargo aircraft without self-sealing fuel tanks, over heavy concentrations of German 20 mm, 37 mm, and larger calibre antiaircraft (AA) cannon utilizing explosive, incendiary, and armor-piercing incendiary ammunition. By that stage of the war, German AA crews had trained to a high state of readiness; many batteries had considerable combat experience in firing on and destroying high speed, well-armed fighter and fighter-bomber aircraft while under fire themselves. Finally, while most if not all of the C-47s used in Operation Varsity had been retrofitted with self-sealing fuel tanks, [Bolce, Don. [http://www.able506.com/440th/tcarticle_operationvarsity.shtml "Operation Varsity."] 24 March 1945.] the C-46s received no such modification. Although 19 of 72 C-46 aircraft were shot down during Operation Varsity, it is not as well known that losses of other aircraft types from AA fire during the same operation were equally as intense, including 13 gliders shot down, 14 crashed, and 126 badly damaged; 15 B-24 bombers shot down, and 104 badly damaged; 12 C-47s shot down, with 140 damaged. [ [http://www.armyhistory.org/armyhistorical.aspx?pgID=868&id=139&exCompID=32 Army History Research] ] [Devlin 1979, p. 624.] During the war years, the C-46 was noted for an abnormal number of unexplained in-air explosions (31 between May 1943 and May 1945) that were initially attributed to various causes. In particular, the fuel system, which was quickly designed, then modified for the new, thirstier Pratt & Whitney engines, was criticized. The cause of the explosions was eventually traced to pooled gasoline from small leaks in the tanks and fuel system, combined with a spark, usually originating from open-contact electrical components. Though many service aircraft suffered small fuel leaks in use, the C-46's wings were unvented; if a leak occurred, the gasoline had nowhere to drain, but rather pooled at the wing root. Any spark or fire could set off an explosion. After the war, all C-46 aircraft received a wing vent modification to vent pooled gasoline, and an explosion-proof fuel booster pump was installed with shielded electrical selector switches in lieu of the open-contact type used originally. [ [http://www.ruudleeuw.com/c46_tech.htm C-46 Curtiss Commando] ] [ [http://www.risingup.com/fars/info/part121-C-APPX.shtml "C-46 Nontransport Category Airplanes".] FAA Part 121, Appendix C.]

Overall, the C-46 had been successful in its primary role as a wartime cargo transport, and had benefited from a series of improvements. Like the C-47/DC-3, the C-46 seemed destined for a useful career as a postwar civilian passenger airliner, and was considered for that purpose by Eastern Airlines. However, the high operating costs of the C-46 (up to 50% greater than the C-47), soon caused most operators to change their minds. Consequently, most postwar C-46 operations were limited to commercial cargo transport, and then only for certain routes. One of the C-46's major drawbacks was the prodigious fuel consumption of its powerful 2,000 hp engines, which used gasoline at a much higher rate than the C-47/DC-3. Maintenance was also more intensive and costlier. Mondey 2006, p. 72.] Despite these disadvantages, surplus C-46s were used by some air carriers, including Capitol, Flying Tigers, Civil Air Transport (CAT) and World Airways to both carry cargo and passengers. Many other small carriers also eventually operated the type on both scheduled and non-scheduled routes. The C-46 became a common sight in South America, and was widely used in Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, especially in mountainous areas (where a good climb rate and high service ceiling were required) or to overfly deep jungle terrain where ground transport was impracticable.

C-46 Commandos also went back to war, serving in both Korea and Vietnam for various USAF operations, including resupply missions, paratroop drops, and clandestine agent transportation. The C-46 was not officially retired from service with the U.S. Air Force until 1968. The type also served under a U.S. civilian agency, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The C-46 played a supporting role in many clandestine operations during the late 1940s and early 1950s, including resupply efforts to Chiang Kai-Shek's troops battling Mao's Communists in China as well as flying cargoes of military and medical supplies to French forces via Gialam Airfield in Hanoi and other bases in French Indochina. The CIA operated its own "airline" for these operations, Civil Air Transport (CAT), which was eventually renamed Air America in 1959. The C-46 was also employed in the abortive U.S.-supported Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.

Although their numbers gradually began to dwindle, C-46s continued to operate in remote locations, and could be seen in service from Canada and Alaska to Africa and South America. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Canadian airline Lamb Air operated several C-46s from their bases in Thompson and Churchill, Manitoba. A C-46 converted to civil passenger transport carried the Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle from power in 1979, just ahead of Sandinista forces. One of the largest C-46 operators was Air Manitoba, whose fleet of aircraft featured gaudy color schemes for individual aircraft. In the 1990s, these aircraft were divested to other owner/operators.

Between 1993 and 1995, Relief Air Transport operated three Canadian registered C-46s on Operation Lifeline Sudan from Lokichoggio, Kenya. These aircraft also transported humanitarian supplies to Goma, Zaire and Mogadishu, Somalia from their base in Nairobi, Kenya. Two C-46s of different vintages still operate as "freighters" for First Nations Transportation [http://www.http://www.fntinc.ca FNT Inc.] in Gimli, Manitoba. Buffalo Airways also owns and operates two C-46s, primarily used in Canada's Arctic.

Variants

;CW-20:Original passenger airliner design;C-55:Original CW-20 prototype and later prototype military cargo transport, also designated XC-46 ;C-46A;CX-46B;XC-46C;C-46D;C-46E;C-46F: 234 delivered;C-46G;C-46H;C-46J;AC-46K:Unbuilt version.;XC-46K;XC-46L;XC-113:Engine change: General Electric T-31 turboprop in place of right hand side R-2800. The aircraft handled so poorly on the ground that it was never flown.;R5C-1:Military transport version for the US Marine Corps.

Operators

Military Operators

;BOL;BRA
*Brazilian Air Force;China as ROC
*Republic of China Air Force;PRC
*People's Liberation Army Air Force;CUB;DOM;EGY;HAI
*Haitian Air Corps;ISR
*Israeli Air Force;JPN
*Japan Air Self-Defense Force;KOR
*South Korean Air Force;MEX;PER;USSR
*Soviet Air Force - One aircraft only. [Hardesty 1991, p. 253 (Appendixes).] ;USA
*United States Army Air Forces
*United States Air Force
*United States Marine Corps
*United States Navy

Civil Operators

;BRA
*SADIA
*Varig;CAN
*Air Manitoba
*Buffalo Airways
*Lambair
*First Nations Transportation
*Pacific Western Airlines;IRL
*Irish International Airlines (Seaboard & Western Airlines);KEN
*Relief Air Transport;UK
*British Overseas Airways Corporation (CW-20);flag|United States|1912
*Capitol Air (Capitol International Airways)
*Civil Air Transport (later became Air America)
*Delta Air Lines
*Resort Airlines
*Riddle Airlines;CRC
*LACSA (Líneas Aéreas Costaricenses S.A. / Costa Rica)

pecifications (C-46)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

number built= 1,516
crew=4
capacity=50 passengers
length main=76 ft 4 in
length alt=23.27 m
span main=108 ft 1 in
span alt=32.9 m
height main=21 ft 9 in
height alt=6.63 m
area main=1,360 ft²
area alt=126.8 m²
empty weight main=32,400 lb
empty weight alt=14,700 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main=48,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt=22,000 kg

engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney R-2800-51
type of prop=two-row 18-cylinder radial engines
number of props=2
power main=2,000 hp
power alt=1,500 kW

max speed main=269 mph
max speed alt=234 knots, 433 km/h
cruise speed main=173 mph
cruise speed alt=278 km/h
range main=2,950 mi
range alt=2,560 nm, 4,750 km
ceiling main=27,600 ft
ceiling alt=8,410 m
climb rate main=1,300 ft/min
climb rate alt=6.6 m/s
max loading main=35 lb/ft²
max loading alt=170 kg/m²
max power/mass main=0.083 hp/lb
max power/mass alt=140 W/kg

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=
* C-47 Skytrain

lists=
* List of military aircraft of the United States
* List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)

see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Bowers, Peter M. "Curtiss Aircraft, 1907-1947". London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.
* Davis, John M., Harold G. Martin and John A. Whittle. "The Curtiss C-46 Commando". Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1978. ISBN 0-85130-065-0.
* Devlin, Gerard M. "Paratrooper!: The Saga Of Parachute And Glider Combat Troops During World War II". London: Robson Books, 1979. ISBN 0-31259-652-9.
* Hardesty, Von. "Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power 1941-1945". Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, First edition 1982, 1991. ISBN 0-87474-510-1.
* Johnson, E.R. "The Airliner that Went to War." "Aviation History" Vol. 18, no. 1, September 2007.
* Love, Terry." C-46 Commando in action". Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 2003. ISBN 0-89747-452-X.
* Mondey, David. "The Hamlyn Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II". New York: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.

External links

* [http://www.ruudleeuw.com/c-46_in_alaska.htm Curtiss Comando]
* [http://www.ruudleeuw.com/c46_tech.htm Background Information:Curtiss C-46 "Commando"]