Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Curtiss C-46 Commando

Eighty-five years ago today, the Curtiss CW-20 took to the skies for the first time, marking the beginning of what would become the legendary Curtiss C-46 Commando.

Austin Hancock
Austin Hancock
The Tinker Belle arriving at the Military Aviation Museum in Pungo, Virginia on Saturday. The aircraft flew in from its previous owners facility in Monroe, North Carolina. (image by Justin Fortier via Military Aviation Museum)
AirCorps Aircraft Depot
VAN Today in Aviation History Banner

Eighty-five years ago today, on March 26, 1940, the Curtiss CW-20 took its maiden flight. This aircraft marked the beginning of the lineage that would lead to the C-46 Commando. Originally conceived in 1937 as a pressurized airliner, the CW-20 was designed to compete with contemporary transports by offering improved high-altitude performance and greater cargo capacity.

Hump WWII Museum Opens in India
Curtiss C-46A in flight (C-46A-45-CU, S/N 42-96569) over the Himalayas. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Impressed by its capabilities, the U.S. Army Air Corps acquired several CW-20s, designating them as C-55s for evaluation. Following modifications and operational assessments, the aircraft evolved into the C-46 Commando, officially entering military service. While initially seeing some civilian and British government use, the Commando’s true significance emerged during its widespread adoption by the U.S. Army Air Forces (formerly the Army Air Corps) in World War II.

C 46 Commando
The Hump involved aircraft, primarily C-46s as shown above, flying from bases in eastern India to China and back again.

The C-46 was originally named the Condor III, but by 1942, Curtiss company advertisements had embraced the now-familiar Commando moniker. Designed primarily as a cargo transport, the aircraft was also capable of paratrooper drops. Its adaptable interior featured fold-down seating, allowing for a quick conversion between cargo and troop transport configurations. In addition to its U.S. Army Air Forces service, the Commando was also utilized by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, where it was designated as the R5C.

2017 Geneseo Airshow Photos by Tom Pawlesh 0002 crowd explores C 46 The Tinker Belle copy
The former City of Monroe, North Carolina’s magnificent Curtiss C-46 Commando providing a perfect backdrop at te WWII Weekend in Reading, PA (Photo by Tom Pawlesh)

While often compared to the more numerous Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), the C-46 featured a “double-bubble” fuselage design—also described as a “figure-eight” cross-section. This innovative structural feature, a Curtiss patent, enabled the aircraft to withstand pressure differentials at higher altitudes. The design effectively divided the fuselage into two sections, with the upper level accommodating passengers or troops and the lower section used for cargo.

Curtiss Commando C 46F N53594

The Commando is perhaps best known for its critical role in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater of World War II. It became a lifeline for Allied forces, ferrying troops and supplies over “The Hump”—the treacherous Himalayan air route connecting India to bases in China. Despite harsh weather, extreme altitudes, and enemy threats, C-46 crews kept vital supply lines open.

MA 0501a Richard Mallory Allnutt photo Warbirds Over The Beach Military Aviation Museum Pungo VA May 19 2013
A photo from 2013 showing the Military Aviation Museum’s Curtiss C-46 Commando taking off with members of the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team aboard. The jump master could be seen standing and waving from the cargo door during the take-off roll. Photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt

Today, only a handful of C-46s remain airworthy. Among them, Buffalo Airways in Canada operates two aircraft, famously featured in Ice Pilots NWT. Everts Air Cargo, based in Fairbanks, Alaska, also keeps two C-46s in active service. Additionally, the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia, proudly maintains and flies its Commando, “Tinker Belle.” From its origins as a pioneering pressurized airliner to its legendary service in World War II and beyond, the Curtiss C-46 Commando remains an enduring symbol of aviation innovation and resilience.

C 46 Commando Scott Slocum
Photo by Scott Slocum
Aircorps Art Dec 2019
Share This Article
Commercial Pilot, CFI, and Museum Entrepreneur, with a subject focus on WWII Aviation. I am dedicated to building flight experience so I can fly WWII Fighters, such as the P-51 Mustang, for museums and airshows, and in the USAF Heritage Flight. I lead and run the Pennington Flight Memorial, to honor local MIA Tuskegee Airman F/O Leland “Sticky” Pennington.
2 Comments
  • Quite the machine. I started my commercial flying in 1966 on the Commando. Twenty yrs old and flying to Great Falls, Grand Forks in Jan. COLD, yes it was an experience. Continued flying them throughout South and Central America. After about
    1500 hrs I started flying the DC3, what a joy.
    Having Captains that flew them in WWII, I learned a lot and glad I had the opportunity to be able to fly these machines.
    BB

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *