August 2019
“China Doll” was one of 234 C-46Fs built at the Curtiss plant in Buffalo NY. Delivered in July 1945, she was used as a military transport and glider tow plane until the early 50’s. The Commemorative Air Force acquired the plane in Feb 1978 and joined the SoCal Wing in Camarillo in 1982. She was named “China Doll” to honor the Asian theater transport flights of her sister ships. Based on a pressurized airliner design, the C-46 Commando was built by Curtiss-Wright and used primarily as a military transport aircraft. Entering service in 1941, the type continued in U. S. Air Force service in a secondary role until 1968. This example was acquired from the Arizona Aerospace Foundation/Pima Air & Space Museum. Nikon D500 w/18-200 mm