19501959

N90665 aircraft : Convair 240 (msn 65) later exported to Brazil (1959)

Lady Murphy, wife of Bahamas Governor Sir William Murphy, Christening of Pan American Airways (PAA) Convair 240 named "Clipper Bahamas" at Nassau on Monday, June 14, 1948. See: Sarasota (Florida) Herald Tribune, June 15, 1948, Page 8, "New Air Service." news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19480615&... Now, here's where things get interesting. . . Another photo in this group of photos shows the Clipper Bahamas: Note the fleet number, "659", on the doors for the nose landing gear. This number was usually composed of the last three digits of the registration number for Pan Am's CV-240 fleet. In this case, "Clipper Bahamas" would have the registration NC90659 (N90659). However, see this photo of the Christening of the Pan Am Convair 240 named "Clipper Cuba": Although not as apparent, "Clipper Cuba" wears "659" on the nose gear doors as well. We do know that Clipper Cuba wore the registration NC60659 (N60659, c/n 34) and was delivered to Pan American Airways on April 28, 1948. It was not uncommon for Pan Am change the "Clipper" name of aircraft for various reasons. I suspect that "Clipper Bahamas" was a name of temporary convenience for NC60659 (c/n 34) for public relations and promotional reasons as it began its new service to the Bahamas. Of course, the same could be said for the use of the name "Clipper Cuba". . .

Pacific Beach, looking North