WWII Aviator Nadine Ramsey Inducted into Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame

When Dr. Raquel "Raqui" Ramsey learned that pioneering World War II aviator Nadine Ramsey would be inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame on November 10, she was overcome with emotion. Nadine was her late husband's sister, but to Raqui, she was also part of a remarkable chapter of American history that deserved to be remembered. For more than two decades, Raqui has devoted herself to preserving the lives and accomplishments of her husband, Col. Edwin P. Ramsey, 26th Cavalry (PS), and his sister Nadine. The induction represents another meaningful development in a mission that began with a promise to keep their stories alive. What makes the recognition especially remarkable is how it happened: Ben Sauceda, Executive Director of the Kansas Aviation Museum, attended a film premiere featuring Nadine's story and encouraged Raqui to submit a Hall of Fame nomination. She did, and Nadine was selected.

Col. Edwin P. Ramsey holds a distinctive place in American military history. During World War II, he led what is widely recognized as the last mounted cavalry charge in U.S. Army history before joining the guerrilla resistance against Japanese occupation forces in the Philippines. His experiences were documented in Lieutenant Ramsey's War and later brought to film through the documentary NEVER SURRENDER: THE ED RAMSEY STORY, with Raqui serving as executive producer. But Ed wanted his wife to tell another story: he encouraged her to research Nadine's life, insisting that his sister possessed more courage than he did. Nadine was among the pioneering Women Airforce Service Pilots who flew military aircraft during World War II, including the formidable P-38 Lightning. Raqui spent three years researching and writing Taking Flight: The Nadine Ramsey Story, co-authored with Tricia Aurand. Nadine's experiences were also brought to the screen through the documentary TAKING FLIGHT: THE NADINE RAMSEY STORY, which premiered on November 16, 2025, at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, where Raqui was photographed alongside actress Jacqueline Bisset.

Raqui spent 50 years in education, including a lengthy career with the Beverly Hills Unified School District. Following Ed's death and her retirement, she became an author, historical researcher, archivist, and executive producer, working with museums, military organizations, and educational institutions to introduce new audiences to these remarkable lives. She also helped establish scholarships, preserve historical artifacts, and organize screenings. Nadine's November 10 induction in Wichita carries special meaning because it recognizes a woman whose achievements helped expand opportunities for future generations of female aviators. The occasion will bring together members of the Ramsey family, including Barbara Stunz, 105, a cousin of Ed and Nadine, and Col. Edwin P. Ramsey, son of Ed Ramsey, and his wife, Monica Ramsey. For Raqui, now 80, these developments reinforce something she has learned through years of preserving history: the work does not necessarily end when the person who began it steps away. A museum can introduce the story to another audience. A student can discover a book. Someone attending a screening can recognize its importance and open an entirely new door. That is precisely what happened with Nadine's Hall of Fame nomination.