Facets of Friendship: Fort Campbell, Kentucky & Gander, Newfoundland

A story of tragedy, friendship and controversy.

edited 12/12/25

Until December 12, 1985, the people of Gander, Newfoundland barely knew of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. But 40 years ago today, a tragic event brought these communities together.

The American soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles” were based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. They had finished their 6-month peacekeeping mission on the Sinai Peninsula and had just stopped in Gander on their way home.

During the refueling at Gander International Airport, many of the soldiers purchased stuffed animals in the gift shop. Their homecoming was a few hours away.

It was cold and rainy in central Newfoundland. The DC-8's wings had been de-iced. After speeding down the long runway the plane was lifting off. It had just crossed the Trans-Canada Highway when something happened. The plane crashed onto the northern bank of the Gander Lake.

Emergency personnel rushed to the scene. They scrambled through the trees, but it was too late. The plane had crashed hard and there was nobody left to save.

There were 256 lives lost in all. Of the 248 American servicemen killed on Arrow Air Flight 1285, 236 were from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). They were "Screaming Angels" who served with the 3d Battalion, 502nd Infantry. 12 other servicemen included an agent from the Criminal Investigations Command (CID) and eleven from other Forces Command units. In addition, 8 crew members lost their lives.

News of the crash shocked and saddened the world at a time when many people were preparing for the holidays. Hearts were broken in Kentucky and across the US.  It was the deadliest airline crash on Canadian soil and the most devastating single-day loss in the history of the 101st Airborne Division.  

Decades later, the official cause of the crash - icing on the wings - remains a contentious issue among the families of those lost. You can read more about the controversy in a recent investigative article in the Evening Telegram, Newfoundland's premier newspaper.

Those who died that day were grieved not only by their family and friends. The people of Gander, and especially those who tended to the crash site and the victims, grieved as well. Eventually, the town build a memorial, knowing that many families of the deceased would eventually come to see where their beloved had died. It was a gesture to pay homage to the victims and to the mission the townspeople had completed.

In the 40 years since the crash, the Silent Witness Memorial has welcomed thousands of family members, Newfoundlanders, Americans, and others from around the world. Built on the boulder-strewn hillside that overlooks Gander Lake, its quiet solitude gives visitors pause as they remember the American peacemakers and the Arrow crew members.

Silent Witness Memorial Photo source: Trip Advisor

The centerpiece of the memorial is a statue of a soldier standing atop a boulder. He’s holding the hands of two children – a boy and a girl, each of whom holds an olive branch – a symbol of their peacekeeping mission. The statue faces southwest towards Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where The Peacekeeper, statue looks back towards Gander.

The Peacekeeper statue at Gander Memorial Park (Hopkinsville Tourism photo)

The Newfoundland statue was designed by Lorne Rostotski of St. John's, Nfld and created by Hopkinsville, KY artist, Steve Shields. In a gesture of friendship, Mr. Shields and his wife drove 2,365 miles to Gander to deliver the sculpture. It had been commissioned by Doug Sheppard, Mayor of Gander, after he had attended the dedication of the Fort Campbell memorial statue.

Like those of Fort Campbell, the people of Gander have a long military history. Ties between the town and the United States go back to World War II, when Gander's airbase housed the Air Forces of both Canada and the U.S for their missions in the north Atlantic. An additional testimony to their friendship with Americans occurred following 9/11 when the people of Gander hosted many American travelers .

Fort Campbell and its neighboring communities also respond to others in need. In addition to the over 30,000 military who serve their country, their families and the local communities support each other and honor their fallen. Residents of the area are currently building a new museum, The Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum that will open in 2026, and there's also a permanent memorial being planned that will honor Gold Star families.

This event is but one strand in the bond between the people of Canada and the U.S.A. And those many Americans who died on Arrow Air Flight 1285 deserve to be remembered. May they rest in peace.

Josette Abruzzini is an educator, writer and poet who builds bridges and nudges perspectives. She's a native Canadian, and a naturalized American citizen who visits her home province of Newfoundland and Labrador at every opportunity!