8/11/11 - Gander - 69 miles

The airport history in Gander is very interesting. Nearly all of Gander's streets are named for famous aviators. The airport opened in 1938 and with the threat of war in Europe, Gander became a strategic post. To new to appear on maps, the air base remained shrouded in secrecy as some 20,000 North American-built fighters and heavy bombers were transported overseas. Throughout the 'Jet Age' of the 50s and 60s, virtually every transatlantic flight required a refueling stop at Gander. One of the articles we saw read: "Gander has faithfully served the world, welcoming visitors of all nationalities, from refugees to royalty, including 6,700 unexpected guests who dropped by on September 11, 2001, to spend a few days with us".