North Atlantic Aviation Museum preserves and presents stories and artifacts highlighting Gander’s role in developing Trans Atlantic Aviation.

Gander was chosen to construct an airport in 1935 because it is close to the great circle route between New York and London.

The exhibit, covering the period from 1935 to 2001, provides a rich narrative of Gander’s short but fascinating history.

Learn about Gander’s role as an important strategic base during WWII, how the town earned the nickname “Crossroads of the World,” why Gander was known throughout the Eastern Bloc, and finally, hear the story of Gander’s unexpected role in the days following 9/11.

Most of the streets in Gander are named after famous aviators.

Photo: facebook.com/NAAMGander

Gander was the site of a major aircraft accident, Arrow Air Flight 1285, in 1985. 256 people, most American soldiers, were killed in the disaster, probably caused by ice contamination on the wings. The Arrow Air Crash was the worst air disaster ever on Canadian soil.

The Silent Witnesses Memorial was erected in response to the desires of the many families of the Arrow Air Crash victims throughout the United States.

The memorial depicts an American soldier standing atop a massive rock holding the hands of two civilian children. The children, a boy and a girl, each hold an olive branch. Behind them rise three tall staffs, each bearing a flag: Canadian, American and Newfoundland.

Photo: Douglas Sprott, flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0