4X-ALE     Curtiss C-46                                                          (c/n 33452)

                               

                                     In the early days of the creation of the state of Israel an embargo was placed by the West
                                     on Israel and the Middle East on  machines deemed to be arms.  The fledgling El Al, there-
                                     for was bound to glean its fleet from other sources.         This ex USAAF C-46D-10-CU
                                     had been civlianized as XB-JIM.  It then went to LAPSA of Panama as RX-132 before
                                     being acquired by Intercontinental Aerea de Cuba as CU-T-449.  The fledgling El Al bought
                                     it in 1950 where it was registered 4X-AQD, although it appears to have conducted some
                                     refugee flights as CU-T-449. In 1952 it was reregistered 4X-ALE by which time the state
                                     had been recognized with some legitimacy. It 1956 it, along with sister ship 4X-ALF were
                                     sold to AAXICO airlines of Miami Beach.   J.M.G. Gradidge photographed both of them
                                     at Heathrow whilst they were en route.  -ALE became N10012.   It later went to Cordova
                                     Airlines and was then absorbed by Reeve Aleutian. in 1962.  On February 2, 1971 on a
                                     flight from Anchorage the C-46  nosed up on touchdown on an ice covered lake.
                                     The nose section, including cockpit, broke off when the plane broke through the ice.