Curtiss C-46 Commando

Also known to the men who flew them as "The Whale". The C-46 served a similar role as its brother the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, but was not quite as famous or as heavily produced. The Navy/Marine Corps version was known as the R5C.

This aircraft had a patented fuselage conventionally referred to as a "figure of eight" 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. Production models were unpressurized, but retained the figure eight fuselage configuration. The C-46 could carry more cargo higher than other Allied aircraft, and was used to carry cargo over the Himalayas.