In May of 1945, the Soviet Union received a single Curtiss C-46 Commando for evaluation as part of the Lend-Lease program. Though the aircraft (No. 43-47271) arrived in Fairbanks, Alaska on April 28th, 1945, for delivery to the VVS via the Alaska-Siberia route, the C-46 was not passed to Soviet hands until May 15th, just after Germany’s surrender. Nevertheless, in preparation for the Soviet Union’s eventual declaration of war against Japan, the US continued to supply the Red Army with aircraft and other war materiel. Before the VVS would agree to take deliveries of C-46 transports, a single aircraft was required for testing at the Soviet Air Force Research Institute (NII VVS). By the time the evaluation had been carried out, Japan had capitulated, and Lend-Lease deliveries ceased. Soviet engineers were typically impressed with the C-46’s abilities as a transport aircraft, and in early 1946, the NII VVS used the Commando to transport test pilots to Berlin and other airfields around Germany to evaluate the Arado Ar-234 jet. (From VVS Air War: Russian & Soviet Aviation)
“The Soviet Union requested the supply of 120 C-46s under the 4th Lend-Lease Protocol, but this request was rejected. Eventually, a single aircraft was delivered for evaluation in spring 1945.” (Van der Voet)
“USAAF s/n 43-47271; modified with R-2800-75 engines by the Louisville factory; in olive drab c/s with light grey undersides; ferried from Fairbanks to Moscow via ALSIB 28apr45/15may45; underwent trials with the NII VVS in summer 1945; used by the Soviet Aeronautical Commission inspecting aircraft and rocket factories and research institutions in Eastern Germany in 1946, undertook several flights to Berlin and Ribnitz-Damgarten mar46/apr46 (carried e.g. Ar 234 parts from Ribnitz-Damgarten to the Soviet Union); probably wfu 1946.” (Van der Voet)
Van der Voet, A. (2017, March 15). Foreigners . Retrieved March 02, 2018, from http://www.oldwings.nl/st/: