Shell Oil Finally Leaves Gander

Shell Oil, probably one of the oldest corporate companies associated with Gander airport, recently had it’s last oil tanks removed from the airport property. Rod Hayden, the first Shell manager came to Botwood first and then on to Gander when the airport first opened. He was the only civilian American before and during the early war days. He lived three houses down the road from Charlie Blackie’s residence on Chestnut St. and was the unofficial US Consul for Gander.  Americans of note were invited to his house when ever they visited Gander. Peter Blackie remembers Gene Autry, who was a copilot on a Liberator tanker, once visited  there. Shell Oil, as many older Gander residents can remember, was a major employer during the airports heyday.