Curtiss CW-20B C-46A Commando

Curtiss CW-20B C-46A Commando

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11/30/2007. The aircraft is wearing the CNAC fleet number 117 and was one of at least twenty C-46’s delivered to China under lend-lease. It became registered as XT-13 (for cargo) and later it went to the PLAAF (People's Liberation Army Air Force), s/n 97042.

The CNAC logo shown on the aircraft is the Chinese character "chung" which means "in the middle" (China was regarded as "the middle kingdom"). CNAC was formed in July 1930 by the Chinese Government and American interests (including Curtiss-Wright). Pan American Airways took over the American interests in 1933 and CNAC established the first air routes in China.

Early in WW II it pioneered the famous route over the Hump (the Himalayas) between China and India, supplementing the USAAF effort from 1942, operating DC-3's, C-47's, C-53's and later C-46's. After the war the airline received DC-4’s, but on 18 June 1949, the airline became under the control of the PLAAF and all operations were halted on 17 August 1949, the fleet was flown to safety in Hong Kong.

Special thanks to Martin S. Best, David Carter, Ruud Leeuw, Jack Mckillop and Matt Miller for their assistance.


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11/30/2007. The aircraft is wearing the CNAC fleet number 117 and was one of at least twenty C-46’s delivered to China under lend-lease. It became registered as XT-13 (for cargo) and later it went to the PLAAF (People's Liberation Army Air Force), s/n 97042. The CNAC logo shown on the aircraft is the Chinese character "chung" which means "in the middle" (China was regarded as "the middle kingdom"). CNAC was formed in July 1930 by the Chinese Government and American interests (including Curtiss-Wright). Pan American Airways took over the American interests in 1933 and CNAC established the first air routes in China. Early in WW II it pioneered the famous route over the Hump (the Himalayas) between China and India, supplementing the USAAF effort from 1942, operating DC-3's, C-47's, C-53's and later C-46's. After the war the airline received DC-4’s, but on 18 June 1949, the airline became under the control of the PLAAF and all operations were halted on 17 August 1949, the fleet was flown to safety in Hong Kong. Special thanks to Martin S. Best, David Carter, Ruud Leeuw, Jack Mckillop and Matt Miller for their assistance.