On December 12, 1985, the 101st Airborne Division experienced one of the darkest moments in its history when Arrow Air Flight 1285 crashed shortly after takeoff from Gander International Airport . The DC-8 was transporting 236 American soldiers returning from a peacekeeping deployment in the Sinai Peninsula, along with its flight crew. Moments after departure, the aircraft crashed, killing all 248 people aboard. The tragedy remains the deadliest single event ever suffered by the division and one of the most catastrophic aviation disasters involving U.S. military personnel.
In the days that followed, the residents of Gander responded with remarkable generosity and compassion. Community members welcomed grieving families and military representatives into their homes, providing shelter, meals, and emotional support during an overwhelming period of loss.
Today, the crash site stands as a place of remembrance. Each year, relatives of the victims, veterans, local citizens, and members of the “Screaming Eagles” return to honor the 248 lives lost in the disaster. These memorial gatherings serve not only as tributes to those who died, but also as enduring reminders of the deep connection formed between the 101st Airborne Division and the people of Newfoundland—a bond created through tragedy and preserved through decades of remembrance and solidarity.
Returning from a peacekeeping mission
In 1985, U.S. Army personnel deployed to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula for a six-month assignment with the Multinational Force and Observers. Among those taking part were soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, which belonged to the 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division, along with personnel from the Criminal Investigation Command and Forces Command.
As December arrived, the deployment was drawing to a close, and many of the soldiers were eager to make it home in time for Christmas. In a sign of the strong camaraderie among the troops, some reportedly surrendered their places on earlier flights so that soldiers with young children could spend the holiday with their families…