Bob's Gander History
by  Robert G Pelley


Messages and New Articles
Book Recommendation!

"North Atlantic Crossroads: The Royal Air Force Ferry Command Gander Unit, 1940-1945"
By Darrell Hillier

About the Book

Gander was a bustling hub of aviation during the Second World War
as thousands of bombers passed through on their way to Britain.
In North Atlantic Crossroads, the challenges and hazards of transatlantic ferrying come alive.
 Tales of search and rescue, aircraft salvage, medevac missions, and VIP visits highlight the activities
of the Ferry Command Gander unit, notably the work of its aircraft maintenance department,
headed by the incomparable John Joseph “Joe” Gilmore.
Postwar, the boom in commercial air travel transformed Gander,
setting the airport on its way to becoming the crossroads of the North Atlantic.

Tentative book launch date 31 July 2021 at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum.

Anyone interested in purchasing a copy ($19.95) can pre-order by contacting Darrell at aviationcrossroads@gmail.com

For more information visit https://crossroadsoftheworld.ca/



16 nov 2020
During the war years, Gander Lake was an important area for flying boats and seaplanes, both for local uses or those to transiting for example to Europe or Russia.   This aviation activity on a large lake meant equally have a fair amount of nautical goings-on.
Wartime Gander Lake
26 Dec 2020
Was Gander always called  Gander?  Did civilians and the military give it the same name?  Did the Americans give the same name as did the Canaians and British forces?
Did name change over time?
The many names of Gander Newfoundland
21 Jan 2021
Hockey and just plain skating was popular in old Gander. But where did people go?  Was it just on the ponds? Did they just have open-air rinks?  Or was it something more classic?  In any case, if it was Gander, it wasn't ordinary!
Rinks in old Gander
06 March 2021
For the longest time Gander was a busy airport.  In wartime it was imperative to keep the runways open for obvious military reasons.  After the war, civilian carriers took up the load. Help was needed when a large aircraft could not be towed or moved with its own power.
Paul Bunyan to the rescue.
01 May 2021
On this website we have looked in detail at major airlines such as Pan American World Airways, Trans World Airlines and Trans Canada Airlines (Air Canada).  Now is the time to look at one of the shorter lived airline companies.

American Overseas Airlines in Gander
09 May 2021
The original construction of the airport during the late 1930s has been fairly well covered.  The present article has for objective to add other details, especially with respect to the early runway lighting and aids to landing.
Gander 1940: Technical details
30 May 2021
Sometimes the nicest things are the smallest.  Sometimes they come from unexpected places. This is certainly the case with this item.
A Wonderful wartime artifact
09 July 2021
A lot has been written about the very early history of Gander. But it nice to see a short article written by an "outsider" with a professional eye who comes upon Gander for first time.  It is even better when another professional takes the time to summarise it all.
Gander 1941