For a relatively small and little known town in
Central Newfoundland, Botwood has played a major
role in the history of aviation in Canada. Covering
a period from 1920 to 1945 this town was flying
high.
World renown Australian pioneer aviator, Sidney
Cotton, based a flying operation here in 1920, from
where he did aerial surveying for the Newfoundland
government and experimented with using his three
airplanes to spot seal herds, and to deliver mail by | air.
In 1933 another famous airplane pilot, Charles
Lindbergh, and his wife, Anne, landed his plane in
Botwood harbour for refueling. He was exploring the
coast of the North Atlantic for suitable sites for
the takeoff and landing of possible transatlantic
passenger flights. His recommendation of Botwood for
this purpose was accepted by Pan Am, BOAC and their
respective governments.
By 1937 all was in readiness for these flights
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