Gander's Story

Now the fall season is here, I have decided to pay more attention to this account. First let me thank all those who took the chance on reading my book which went on sale earlier this past summer. To bring you up to date, I have just completed a manuscript for a new book. The contents will will deal with my some of my personal aviation experiences over a 35 year period. I am presently waiting to hear back from Flanker Press if they will consider publishing another book from myself. I will be making further comments on the contents of this new project in the coming weeks, if publication will take place.

Now available at Amazon in Kindle format or paperback

VOCM will be interviewing me Wed. morning at 10:00 with reference to the book "Gander: The Airport That Became a Town".

According to Flanker Press, we are just days away for the release of my book "Gander: The Airport That Became a Town". Soon to be available, so keep a look out at the book stores & kiosks

These images show Gander’s first aerial advertising bill-board. When the Eaton’s department store was built in the new town c. 1958, they placed the name of the store on it’s roof top in order for passengers on flights landing/departing on Gander airport’s Runway 14-32 (now R13-31)), to view the stores name. Eaton’s was located very near the Royal Bank, and was destroyed in a fire Dec. 4, 2004.

Here is a photo quiz. This is a photo from 1959. This is the official opening of the first service station in the new town of Gander. The location is on the corner of Caldwell St. & the TCH(before it became the TCH). The new owner was Bill Benett. The service station was originally operated by Imperial Oil but later became the present-day Irving Oil station. The trees you see in the background is the location for the new Hotel Gander, not yet constructed

With the release date of my book fast approaching, I am sure there are those who are reflecting on wishing for more details being available on some of those close to each of you and your families during this time period. To get a glimpse of this information, I refer to you a page on my website where there is a collection of year books for the Amalgamated/Hunt Memorial/Gander Academy from 1950-1963, named The Flight, here at http://www.ganderairporthistoricalsociety.org/_html_4658/Yearbooks.htm . Unfortunately, I do not have information on the year books from the St. Joesph’s school.

To read more about this USAAF airlift at Gander read and to view some great photos of WWII Gander http://www.ganderairporthistoricalsociety.org/_html_war/USAAF.Summer.45.htm

After VE Day May 8, 1945, USAAF bombers & crews flooded back in a massive airlift to the US via Gander. Hangar 12 was the transient terminal. The Gander USAAF Transient Service served 90,697 meals & housed 7,994 officers & 19,068 enlisted men, between May 26 through July 31

Gander’s story will be available from Flanker Press, to be on the shelves June 13 under the title “Gander: The Airport That Became a Town”. Just in time for a Father’s Day gift. The book will be available for purchase at Chapters/Indigo stores, Amazon, as well as directly through Flanker Press. Of course it will also be available at your favourite bookseller. The book’s front & back cover shown here.

Just a few years ago there was a big fuss about travel restrictions due to the Covid epidemic. Here is a flash back to the 1950’s and the restriction requirement at Gander due to the Smallpox outbreak. Published in New York newspapers: " It is again emphasized that passengers transiting Gander or entering the United Staes must have a valid smallpox vaccination certificate in their possession. This is extremely important as Gander will not allow a passenger to deplane if he does not have the certificate. The United States requires the passenger to be quarantined."

To give a better idea of what the old town looked like, there is a slide show that shows a birds eye view of the military bases at Gander from a digital presentation, later populated by civilians in the airport town of Gander http://ganderairporthistoricalsociety.org/_html_war/Digital.htm Also look for links on this web page to see an aerial view as well. The attached photo is the Army side and the Railway Station area