United Air Lines  Boeing 377 Stratocruiser   NC31231          (c/n  15971)
      
                               

                                     In 1949, United acquired a fleet of seven Boeing Stratocruisers, specifically for the Hawaii to main-
                                     land routes.  Passengers loved them - they were fitted with a full cocktail bar aft.  This was the last
                                    one (delivered in January of 1950) and was named "Mainliner Kano".   Unfortunately for UAL,
                                    these magnificent airliners were costly to operate and only profitable on long international segments.
                                    As a result, the fleet was sold to BOAC in 1954, this one becoming  G-ANUC.       The nice color
                                    image below is from the William T. Larkins collection, and may depict the ill fated N31230 which
                                    crashed into San Francisco Bay on 9 December 1951 after stalling during crew training.