The North Atlantic Aviation Museum first opened its doors in 1996. It houses artifacts and information from the 1930’s to 2001. The town of Gander has some interesting history with WWII and their airport. Since airplanes were now used in wars (II) and they couldn’t make a transatlantic flight without refueling, Gander became the place to refuel. It was a popular stop for any flight making a transatlantic flight. Many stars and other famous individuals also made stops at the Gander airport on their way to Europe.
On 9-11, Gander would do the most important thing one town could do, take care of their neighbors. Meaning, as soon as the planes crashed into the twin towers all planes that had USA destinations were not allowed to land there. They were all diverted to other airports outside the USA or sent back to where they originated from. The traffic control tower in Gander had an immense job. They had to keep all those flights around Gander in the air until they had room on the ground for them to land and to be sure another event wasn’t going to occur. At the end of the day, 39 civilian planes and 3 military planes landed at the Gander airport. In one day Gander’s population rose by over 6,700. Once the planes landed, the passengers were kept onboard from 5 1/2 hours – overnight. What the passengers didn’t know was that the town was preparing for them. They had set up places for the passengers to stay. They were organized by airplane. They called all the passengers doctors and had their prescriptions filled. Arrangements for the pets to be taken care of had been made. An all call for clothes, toiletries, food, and anything else the passengers might need was put out to the locals. Even cell phones and calling cards were provided to the passengers. What I didn’t realize was that the passengers were not allowed to take ANYTHING with them from the planes – not even their cell phones since no one knew if there were more terrorists out there. Locals opened their homes for stranges to stay with them. Churches gave up their Fellowship Halls for the passengers and even school gymnasiums and local libraries set up sleeping accommodations. No one knew how long the 9-11 passengers were going to need to stay. The entire time the passengers stayed in Gander they were taken care of like royalty. After given the all clear to go back to their planes none of the planes were allowed to continue to their original destination, the USA. They all had to return to where they began their journey. Again, Gander had a big feat of getting all 42 planes back into the air. For a four runway airport they did it as efficiently as possible. Gander still receives thank you notes for their help in the 9-11 bombings. We only hear about the bombings and what happened surrounding that event specifically. It was very enlightening to know that while I was still teaching in my classroom, towns and airports all over were experiencing the same thing due to the 9-11 terrorist event. These places had been called to action. I’m not sure if other towns stepped up like Gander did
After more planes had been developed, the jet had become the plane of the future. It did not need to stop for refueling since it was more more fuel efficient , so flights to the Gander airport had steadily declined. Gander is still an International airport, just a smaller load of planes land there these days.
Zoom Zoom and I would like to add our personal “Thank you” to the town of Gander for how they stepped up on 9-11. Your town knows exactly how to treat a neighbor and I know those stranded there were especially grateful. As most of us alive on 9-11 we know exactly where we were and what we were doing when we first heard of the tower strikes. It’s not a memory we like to pull up from our archives but somehow it creeps up there. Those memories are there so we never forget. Unfortunately that day marked a huge change in the world. Never forget.
Of course Zoom Zoom found something to play with. 
Go Top Gun! 
Flight simulator. 
Each time we enter a museum I think what will I learn. I learned that doing the right thing is only as hard as you want it to be. Again, Ganger, you are a top notch town, thank you for following the “Golden Rule.”
