The induction of pioneering World War II aviator Nadine Ramsey into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame on November 10 marks a significant milestone in the effort to preserve the stories of extraordinary Americans whose contributions have often gone underrecognized. Ramsey was among the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) who flew military aircraft during World War II, including the formidable P-38 Lightning, at a time when women faced substantial barriers in military aviation.
The recognition came about through a serendipitous encounter. According to Dr. Raquel "Raqui" Ramsey, Nadine's sister-in-law, Ben Sauceda, Executive Director of the Kansas Aviation Museum, attended a film premiere featuring Nadine's story and encouraged her to submit a Hall of Fame nomination. She did, and Nadine was selected. For Raqui, it was a reminder that a single person encountering a story can carry it somewhere unexpected.
Raqui has devoted more than two decades to preserving the legacies of Nadine and her late husband, Col. Edwin P. Ramsey, 26th Cavalry (PS). Ed Ramsey led what is widely recognized as the last mounted cavalry charge in U.S. Army history during World War II before joining guerrilla resistance forces in the Philippines. His experiences were documented in Lieutenant Ramsey's War and later in the documentary NEVER SURRENDER: THE ED RAMSEY STORY, with Raqui as executive producer.
Ed encouraged Raqui to research Nadine's life, insisting his sister possessed more courage than he did. 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.
The Hall of Fame induction carries special meaning because it recognizes a woman whose achievements helped expand opportunities for future generations of female aviators. The occasion will bring together Ramsey family members, including Barbara Stunz, 105, a cousin of Ed and Nadine, and Col. Edwin P. Ramsey, Ed's son, and his wife, Monica. For Raqui, now 80, the recognition reinforces a lesson from years of preserving history: the work does not 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 open an entirely new door. That is precisely what happened with Nadine's nomination.
