Aviation

Aviation - The Prop was a daily newspaper of sorts published by the USAAF in Gander during the last half of the war. They also published a magazine, as did the RCAF. The following is an article published on June 12, 1945. As far as I can determine the author is W.K. Chancey.

"All towns along the main line of the railway were, in the days of responsible government in Newfoundland, a series of political footballs, and their construction, or prospective construction, the subject of much ballyhoo forming strong planks in the political platform of the party or parties seeking election.

"Promises to put the 'Grand' in Grand Falls, the 'Hum' in the Humber, where the Corner Brook Mills operate today, have to a great extent been lived up to, but the promise to 'put a gang on the Gander' did not materialize in so far as a paper mill being erected in the Gander area

"For quite a few years prior to the discussion relative to putting 'a gang oft the Gander, the writer spent a vacation each summer fishing the waters of the Gander River in the company of other ardent disciples of Isaac Walton. Fishermen of the present day, such as Sergeant George Harper, and others who may visit the stream this summer, may be interested to know the home of the larger fish where the big ones seldom, if ever get away; that is, Long Rattle, Nut Brook, Bridge's Angle, Fourth Pond Chute, and Joe Batt's Pool;

"Quite a few years ago when the writer feared 'a gang on the Gander' might result in spoiling this splendid stream for fishing purposes, he wrote some doggerel verses which may be of interest to PROP readers. The persons mentioned in these lines were skillful canoe-men, guides and fish wardens, and doubtless some of them are available for hire at the present time. One Mic-Man river-man responded equally well whether hailed as 'Jack', or 'Joe'.

"And so, brethern, this scribe may be new to a section of the Gander area, but the memories of what he did on the Gander River more than a decade ago with the aid of a 'Jack Scott' or 'Silver Doctor' fly, prompts him to toss your query right back to you, 'You're new on the Gander, ain't ya?' .

There follows, the doggerel, as a lenient editor, may happen to miss his aim for the waste paper basket":

THE GANG UPON THE GANDER

"Oh' that gang upon the Gander" is the song they sing to me,

Of a hustling, and a bustling, and a town that is to be,

And I recall the old time gang to the gang I used to know.

Old Billy John and Jimmy John and Smoky Jack (or Joe).

Just a gang of boatmen? Maybe, but I tell you mister man

One could feel it just like a baby, like a corny "also-ran"

As he smoked before the campfire in the night upon-the -shore,

'While "those children of the forest, babbled of the forest's lore.

How they seemed to know the language of the loudly wailing loon,

As she swam before his consort up: the river or lagoon;

And the habits of the rabbits were an open book, I know;

To Billy John, and Jimmie John, and Smoky Jack. (or Joe) .

No scenery could: be grander to a lover of the wild.

Than the view along the Gander when the dawn awoke and smiled

And the birds sang greetings as the morning mist did fade,

To the sun that rose in splendor on the pools where salmon played.

0h! That sunset over Bear Cliffe, when the grandeur for the key,

Nature with a gentle movement locked the door of day on me,

On the "Cubbie" fat and chubby, and his mother old and slow;

On Billy John, and Jimmie John, and Smoky Jack (or Joe).

How those days upon the Gander simply thrilled me through and through,

When I was the sole commander of a sixteen-foot canoe.

And the music that inspired me was a madly hissing reel

While Jim packed speckled beauties in a most capacious creel.

Yes! A mill upon the Gander may be humming very soon.

And the humming and the drumming will drive off the wailing loon.

All the salmon and the sea-trout and the feathered friends may go

And "Billy John" and "Jimmie John" and "Smcky Jack" . . . (or Joe),

Next week: Before the Wrights