Major Norman Ricketts receiving the Order 
of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II, 
for commendable contribution in development 
of Trade and Tourism of the Commonwealth.



THE FOUNDER OF INTERNATIONAL 
AIR BAHAMA

36 years ago, in 1968, Major Norman Ricketts 
was recognized as the only man in the world to found 
and operate two scheduled Atlantic Jet airlines. 


The first was International Air Bahama 
(Airline Code: IW and call sign: Airbahama) 
and the second International Caribbean 
Airways (Airline Code: IQ and call sign: 
Caribjet). 
He negotiated the route rights himself and was 
the pioneer of the virtual airline concept.

Small countries, like the Bahamas, owned air 
rights and could grant licenses. 



Map over Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. 
New providence is one of 700 islands in the 
Bahamian Archipelago.



These could be of great economic benefit but 
the cost of forming and maintaining their own 
carrier was prohibitive. In 1966 Norman Ricketts 
pioneered a solution – the virtual airline – 
and so IAB was founded and licensed as a Bahamian 
International Air Carrier. The concept was the 
use of outsourcing to stabilize direct costs 
and ensure a swift start to reliable operations 
and a greater chance of achieving economic 
success. 


 

Jake in memorial

John "Jake Jacobs, Don Torres, 
Joan Armaly and unknown. 
Elisabeth in engine photo.





To adopt the idea it required the authorities 
in the Bahamas and elsewhere to accept 
this pioneering innovation. Now this is acceptable 
practice in world aviation circles.



SIR ROBERT NEVILLE

The start of IAB was very simple. In 1965 

Sir Robert Neville, a General and the former 
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Bahamas, 
was visiting the Bahamas in the company of 
Norman Ricketts. The gentlemen had both served 
in the Royal Marines and were old friends. 
Sir Neville wanted to help the Bahamas´ tourism 
progress so he persuaded Norman Ricketts 
to start an airline with a direct line to Europe. 



So Norman Ricketts founded International Air 
Bahama – IAB.




Adela Adderley Osterloh, Gun Vidal 

and Angelina van Oortmarssen

1965 International Air Bahama formed as a 
company and Norman Ricketts became the sole owner.



1966-7 Licenses issued both by the Bahamas 
and Luxembourg to operate a scheduled service – 
Nassau – Luxembourg – Nassau. 

Norman Ricketts 
negotiated all the route rights with respective 
governments and from his private funds financed the 
purchase of a new DC-8 stretch aircraft from Douglas.  
Which was later changed into a lend – lease arrangement 
with Executive Jet Aviation using a new 707 – 320 c 
Boeing registered H525 and regulated by the US FAA 
(Federal Aviation Agency).



1968 Agreement signed between International Air 
Bahama and Executive Jet Aviation to operate the route 
under a virtual undertaking which left all management 
under Norman Ricketts as Chairman and Chief Executive 
Officer.



Norman Ricketts owned all the shares in the 
controlling company. When he was ready with the 
structure in place he was approached by several 
contenders who wanted to engage with him in the 
airline venture. 


Among them was Steedman Hinckley of 
Overseas National Airways, a former US marine officer. 
Norman Ricketts, himself a 
British Royal Marines Commando Officer, then 
was approached by Executive Jet Aviation who made 
the best offer. 




Henry Hilderman in memoriam

Everett Terry, Henry Hilderman, Emmett Hays
 and Larry Swartz



International Air Bahama Cockpit Crew


Norman Ricketts was much taken with the 
Company Chairman, General Curtis Lesslays 
who once commanded the US Strategic Air 
Command and offered the finest air crews. 





J D Stone in memoriam


JD surrounded by Betty Frieders Kunziger, 
Mia McCreery Topping, Gunilla Key-Crawford, 
on the left, Gudrun Johansson Federico and 
Margie Ave Torres on the right side.





Bill McDonald in memoriam


Tex Davis, Bill McDonald, 
Gunilla Kay Crawford, JD Stone 
and Gus Bacon.




Richard Rogers in memoriam