The secret airport for celebrities - BBC REEL
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- In the early years of aviation, the Gander Airport in Newfoundland, Canada served as an obligatory stop for refueling between Europe and America.
This made the small town of Gander into an unlikely international hub, hosting celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and the Queen of England.
Theatre fans may recognise the town from the Come From Away musical, inspired by the 38 planes ordered to land unexpectedly following the 9/11 attacks.
#bbcreel #bbc #bbcnews
My parents landed in Gander after their plane lost an engine on the way to Europe from New York sometime in the 70s. They still talk about that experience sometimes, some 50 years later. Gander is just magical.
Did they ever find the Engine.?
Landed in Gander several times during my 13 years in the British army. We used to be given Canadian Dollars to spend on our stopover. Huge plates of food and plenty of beer, and we still had a pocket of cash left over. The locals were always friendly.
I remember arriving one time in a C130 Hercules. As we entered the terminal, in uniform, there were a lot of panicking Russian civilians. I'm not sure what they thought was happening.
I just hope you didn't say "No Russian."
Friendly locals always make for a good trip
Haha maybe they wanted to defect
As a NYC paramedic (FDNY) I've always loved this story. After the tragedy NYC saw the best in people from many parts of the world. All wanted to donate something to help. One that stands out to me is that Bose gave a high-end stereo/CD player to every firehouse and EMS station in the city, to help morale - and it did. That one sticks out in my memory because it's not the kind of detail that's obvious, but represents the extent of how much people wanted to help. Thanks Bose.
As an aviation buff I've aways been aware of Gander's role and how the (rather small) local population gave so much help to the large number of stranded people. It's a very special kind of donated help. I wasn't at all surprised by it though.*Thanks Gander!*
(Don't start polishing a halo for me, I worked on 9/11 but was nowhere near Manhattan. Ended up working my regular tour in my regular area - people were still spraining ankles and having strokes like any other day.)
I went through Gander on the Friday after 9/11 on my way to my hometown, St. John's, and the airport was still packed with people getting on flights. I saw Come from Away in New York. That was special. My mom and dad also met in Gander in the '40s. I have many connections to that wonderful town and its fabulous people.
I used Gander several times in the eighties while a friend was working in Newfoundland, even flying there from Heathrow when it was still Newfoundland's designated international airport. On one occasion I had enough time for a guided tour, and was shown the special RCMP desk in the international lounge, where passengers on the Soviet bloc aircraft that refuelled there on the way to and from Cuba could go to defect. Next to it was a steel door which slammed shut behind you before your KGB minder could catch you as you made your escape to the West. Eventually the Soviets decided to tackle the problem by telling passengers they were not in Canada but Iceland!
Was flying RAF UK to Central America back in 70s. Aircraft developed a problem (only stopped for fuel) so we were stuck overnight in freezing conditions wearing clothing for Central America. Locals put us all up and leant us clothing. Fond memories.
When I was traveling with my parents on a trip to Ireland passing through Gander and spending time in waiting area. I stated chatting with man sitting near us he was Louis Armstrong.
Wow how was he like?
@@ramshafatima7178 As its almost 60 years ago, my memory is vague. We made small talk,, nothing about his music
Fantastic those Newfoundlanders. What a lovely story and a reminder that in darker times people can come together to light the way for those in need. It would just be nice to see it more often.
Retitle this video pls. It’s such a great story. Title is misleading. It’s much more than secret a airport for celebs. I’ve been there and I’m certainly not a celebrity..
On the opposite side of the Atlantic, Shannon airport in the west of Ireland is the first possible stop coming in to Europe from the west. I don't think it saw the sort of regular stopovers described as taking place in Gander because Dublin and London were only slightly further, but the runway was designed to allow for emergency landings for just about everything that flew including the Concorde and space shuttle.
Indeed,
Its single runway is the longest In the country at 3.2 Kms. That makes it one of the longest in Europe.
Shannon was used for refuelling by Aeroflot during Soviet times. Was fascinating to see the bomber like planes when I landed there as a (Westerner) child in the eighties.
It did, until recently, serve as a refueling and US border stop for the LCY-JFK services that ran all-business. You could get on a plane in London, clear immigration in Ireland, and walk off the plane in New York straight into the domestic departures lounge.
Shannon deserves a video of its own. It was also the location where the first duty free shop was invented. Also, where the first modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) came into existence, inspiring the Chinese to create Shenzhen and open their country to investment & economic success.
Shannon & Prestwick (together Shanwick) control the Eastern half of the Atlantic Ocean air traffic, with Gander covering the Western half.
Let's make a Gander - Shannon flight happen.
As a Canadian there none better than our brothers and sisters from the Rock (aka Newfoundland Labrador). You do Canada proud! Much love and respect from Toronto!
Love to you Newfoundland from Vancouver.
Recognized the wall in the thumbnail right away. I was born in Gander and lived there for 13 years before moving to the mainland. Still in touch with my friends there. It’s quite the place, and I’m happy to have roots there.
This is interesting. I may want to take a gander at it one day.
I’ve flown in/out of Gander when my (ex) band Helix played there. Wonderful place and wonderful people.
My flight from London stopped to refuel in Gander in 1979. We had a two hour lay over. My girlfriends and had a great time drinking before getting back on our flight to end our college graduation European trip. Can't say I remembered much as we got a bit toasty.
"retrolicious" Love it!
I wouldn't mind taking a gander at that place. Sounds nice.
LOL Castro must have passed thru on one of his visits to see his son 😂
I was on a Virgin plane, NY to London, a man in economy had a severe heart attack so we put down Gander!
Canada is the best country and it's people the kindest
Definitely go see Come From Away next time you visit New York or next time the tour stops in your city! It is excellent.
Have been lucky to have visited this airport twice in my life both times as a quick stopover on flights from London to the states east coast one on way to Florida and … ironically 2nd time was 6 months before 9/11 on flight to New York as my sister on spur off the moment booked an weekend in nyc! both times I’ve enjoyed the lovely local ice cream and loved one off the small shops inside the terminal that sold small nhl stuff like player cards etc etc … that’s hard to get hold off in uk …normally given the choice I much prefer modern airports but loved gander completely as you could feel the history from the walls … so much that even 20 years ago it felt like going back in time to when planes from the uk could reach Gander but no further into the land off North American continent ….… I pray that they change as little of the inside off this airport as possible … I’m sure there is enough land to build any extensions needed to fit in any required modern cons … as even 20 years ago it was “behind “ but in a great way…… also whos to say Gander won’t be as needed as they were on that terrible day 20 years and counting ago?
Retrolicious is my new favorite word
- I WOULD LOVE TO SEE FOOTAGE / PHOTOS OF THERE FROM LATE 60'S / EARLY 70'S...
Wow. I am due to resume at the College of North Atlantic, next year. Hopefully I get your experience this amazing airport ❤️💙
this was the airport that was used on 911 . no flights allowed to land in the us .
Was a total shutdown. Even Bangor was closed. Prior to 9/11 flights with unruly passengers would stop there.
Now I want to go check it out
I loved stopping over in Gander on way to Florida. Such a wonderful little airport with great staff. Was fun watching people who didn’t realise how cold it could be and were dressed for Florida.
How Jerry Cramm's narration matches pitch with chord of background music at 2:30 seems like a heavenly indie song. Creepy and cool at the same time.
Lived in Gandar for 2 years as a toddler from 92-94.
Landed here on a Caledonian TriStar en route to Toronto fuel stop in the 90s .I just remember the pine trees
landed at Gander as a FO back in the day. Very chilled, hit whiskeys at the dipper (the bar) and flew our DC-8 out, both the captain and I were drunk as skunks & no one knew!
Feels like the grand Budapest hotel
Used to be a flight nurse in Saudi, we transferred patients to the states quite often, we used to stop to refuel in Gander,
Love from Montreal !
I only really knew of Gander because of Come From Away, the broadway musical based on the grounding of flights after 9/11... and Gander hosted many stranded people.
0:37 Holy crap he sounds EXACTLY like Jeff Goldblum. Just close your eyes and picture it's him.
I live in gander
Do you eat a pair of toast for breakfast?
okay, tell us more
So did frank sinatra have the person who told him he can’t skip the line taken care of?
Just a horse head in his bed, no biggie.
Great video, but those subtitles you can't click away are dreadful on a phone.
What would be amazing is that they build a museum and boutique hotel attached to the airport. I would totally make that trip and stay for a while!!
Gander is the “Come from Away” airport, but all major airports across Canada took in flights during Operation Yellow Ribbon.
Passed thro' on 8th October 1948
Air Canada Heathrow/ Toronto via Montreal.Pound of boiled sweets for
each child and 200 cigs with bottle of booze for each adult.
We love our neighbors in the Great White North 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🍁
Not a secret anymore
The only thing I think of when I think of gander is come from away
I believe the TR3-B takes off from an Underground airport in Oregon
Never knew about this airport. Wasn't covered in the 911 news
Me neither, before this year. I read an article and watched a different CZcams video about what happened here. It was a heartwarming community that stepped up. I think some was there for until 6 days or so.
@@runarandersen878 I see. Quite an interesting side story out of this 911
There were so many news stories at that time that you may not remember it but you probably saw it. There was a lot of coverage on the many planes grounded and people stranded, and I remember Gander was included because it was so remote and had such a small local population to help.
@@donjones4719 ic. Because I am not from US, our public TV news didn't provide round the clock coverage of this incident
@@SuccessforLifester What, you're not from the US and dare comment on YT? ;) :D
Yes, the joke's on me. I try (more than most) to keep aware of the international nature of YT and other forums but do get tripped up sometimes.
:45 people from the “states often”…..🙄😳
9/11 = Gander that town helped hundreds or thousands of passengers on 9/11
I want full documentary
What’s good for the Goose….
Yeah, Travolta was probably hoping for some follow up action.
This story to good to be short
Usually i remember it as a pit stop for uniteds 757's going west during the winter.
Never had the pleasure as i prefer widebody for that matter.
Oh no! It's not secret anymore...nice going BBC.
This video needs to be re-titled, great story however very misleading!
Cool story to follow but the title misleading
Welcome to the Rock!!
Strange title. Nothing secret, and not just for celebrities.
"Most people in the states don't often quit know where Gander, Newfoundland, is" I don't know ANYTHING about Canada, it wasn't in any of my history books, and I've never heard of Newfoundland, either. San Francisco Californian here.
You are American. Od course you don’t know anything about the world outside your third world shithole, Cleetus.
@@realalcibiades2909 Not too sure about third world, all these big towers here are pretty mesmerizing, Mohammed.
@@ChrisWashburn look into the petrodollar system and then talk. Suddenly those "big towers" won't seem so impressive anymore
@@FarfettilLejl Sorry, construction worker here, I love my Towers.
@@FlyBoyMT No need to be so mean.
The pavement is too hot to go barefoot. Sandals are often thefootware of choice .
Which is the background music.?
Welp. The secrets out now
wtf with this tittle gander is so much more and so is this video smh
Glad to see the place waste away.
...the grand Budapest Airport? lol
I FLEW VIA THERE AS A BABY WITH MY PARENTS!!! ...I HAVE SOME CINE 8 FOOTAGE!!!
Rouges, world leaders…..err, the same thing
Why is the music from a horror movie though?
There ARE people. Not is
cool
💙
Newfoundland is God's country. I hope I'm lucky enough to go back some day. Beautiful place, wonderful people.
Not so secret
> and the Queen of England.
Wait Anne can time travel?
Why does this video have all those captions - it’s really distracting
Probably because it's made by the BBC, maybe it's hard for some people in the UK to understand Canadian accents (just an educated guess).
It is the law in the UK to have subtitles for every content made here. It is considered a human right to have equal access to video content for both able bodied and disabled person.
@@kennethalmedilla makes perfect sense of course, but those here can’t be turned off - and that’s the base of my question - not the existence of subtitles but the fact that they are permanently embedded into the video.
@@OneMonster well yes, presumably this footage was not recorded with the sole purpose to be uploaded to CZcams, so therefore the subtitles are built in.
Lets sell celebrates
Stop calling them celebrities they are not, nothing more then elite hypocrites.
Well Stated, Sir!
As opposed to you right lol. Really full of yourself aren't you.
Maybe they can open it as a forced quarantine camp for the Canadian government, that seems to be the trend these days. Adapt!