Margaret Ringenberg (née Ray; June 17, 1921 – July 28, 2008) was an American aviator, who had logged more than 40,000 hours of flying time during her career.[1]
Margaret Ringenberg
Margaret at the controls of a fighter during World War II.
She became interested in flying as an eight-year-old when she saw a barnstormer land in a field near her family's farm.[2] She trained at a flight training school and had her first solo flight in 1941 as a 19-year-old.[2] Ringenberg began her aviation career in 1943 during World War II when she became a ferry pilot with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).[2] Although WASP pilots were not allowed to fly combat missions, they served grueling, often dangerous duties, such as ferrying, test flying, and target towing. The WASP corps was disbanded at the end of 1944. Ringenberg went on to become a flight instructor in 1945 and flew as a commercial pilot and instructor for the rest of her life.[1] After the war, she answered phones at an airport.[2]
She began racing airplanes in the 1950s.[2] She raced in every Powder Puff Derby from 1957 to 1977, every Air Race Classic since 1977, the Grand Prix and the Denver Mile High and many others, garnering over 150 trophies for her accomplishments.[1] She completed the Round-the-World Air Race in 1994 at age 72,[2] and in March 2001 at the age of 79 she flew in a race from London to Sydney.[1]
In 1999, she received the NAA Elder Statesman in Aviation Award in a presentation ceremony in Washington, DC.
Margaret Ringenberg was married to banker Morris Ringenberg in 1946.[2] He preceded her in death in 2003.[3] They had two children and five grandchildren.[3] All of her children have flown with her in races and all have been in the winner's circle with her to receive trophies.[3]
Books
Tom Brokaw devoted a chapter to Margaret Ringenberg in his book The Greatest Generation.[2] During an interview with Brokaw she said, “I started out flying because I wanted to be a stewardess—you call them flight attendants nowadays—and I thought ‘what if the pilot gets sick or needs help? I don’t know the first thing about airplanes’ and that's where I found my challenge. I never intended to solo or be a pilot. I found it was wonderful.” Following her death, Brokaw said, in a telephone interview "Margaret was one of my favorites".[4]
Ringenberg's autobiography Girls Can’t Be Pilots, written with Jane L. Roth was published by Daedalus Press in 1998. (ISBN0-9661859-0-0). It was illustrated with several photos from her career both as a WASP and as an air racer. In addition to her autobiography, Ringenberg's daughter, Marsha Wright, wrote a biography of her mother in 2007 called, "Maggie Ray: World War II Air Force Pilot (ISBN0-9790446-8-5).
^ abcMittman, Don (2004-04-21). . Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
^. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2005-11-25.
Further Information
Paluso, Philip. Wings for Maggie Ray. [Fishers, IN]: Medium Cool Pictures, 2012. ISBN9781618944443
External links
Library of Congress interview
January 07, 2023
margaret, ringenberg, née, june, 1921, july, 2008, american, aviator, logged, more, than, hours, flying, time, during, career, margaret, controls, fighter, during, world, bornjune, 1921fort, wayne, indianadiedjuly, 2008, aged, oshkosh, wisconsinoccupation, avi. Margaret Ringenberg nee Ray June 17 1921 July 28 2008 was an American aviator who had logged more than 40 000 hours of flying time during her career 1 Margaret RingenbergMargaret at the controls of a fighter during World War II BornJune 17 1921Fort Wayne IndianaDiedJuly 28 2008 aged 87 Oshkosh WisconsinOccupation s AviatorAuthorSpokespersonSpouseMorris Ringenberg Contents 1 Career and accomplishments 2 Books 3 Death 4 References 5 Further Information 6 External linksCareer and accomplishments Edit Ringenberg in her flight suit She became interested in flying as an eight year old when she saw a barnstormer land in a field near her family s farm 2 She trained at a flight training school and had her first solo flight in 1941 as a 19 year old 2 Ringenberg began her aviation career in 1943 during World War II when she became a ferry pilot with the Women Airforce Service Pilots WASP 2 Although WASP pilots were not allowed to fly combat missions they served grueling often dangerous duties such as ferrying test flying and target towing The WASP corps was disbanded at the end of 1944 Ringenberg went on to become a flight instructor in 1945 and flew as a commercial pilot and instructor for the rest of her life 1 After the war she answered phones at an airport 2 She began racing airplanes in the 1950s 2 She raced in every Powder Puff Derby from 1957 to 1977 every Air Race Classic since 1977 the Grand Prix and the Denver Mile High and many others garnering over 150 trophies for her accomplishments 1 She completed the Round the World Air Race in 1994 at age 72 2 and in March 2001 at the age of 79 she flew in a race from London to Sydney 1 In 1999 she received the NAA Elder Statesman in Aviation Award in a presentation ceremony in Washington DC Margaret Ringenberg was married to banker Morris Ringenberg in 1946 2 He preceded her in death in 2003 3 They had two children and five grandchildren 3 All of her children have flown with her in races and all have been in the winner s circle with her to receive trophies 3 Books EditTom Brokaw devoted a chapter to Margaret Ringenberg in his book The Greatest Generation 2 During an interview with Brokaw she said I started out flying because I wanted to be a stewardess you call them flight attendants nowadays and I thought what if the pilot gets sick or needs help I don t know the first thing about airplanes and that s where I found my challenge I never intended to solo or be a pilot I found it was wonderful Following her death Brokaw said in a telephone interview Margaret was one of my favorites 4 Ringenberg s autobiography Girls Can t Be Pilots written with Jane L Roth was published by Daedalus Press in 1998 ISBN 0 9661859 0 0 It was illustrated with several photos from her career both as a WASP and as an air racer In addition to her autobiography Ringenberg s daughter Marsha Wright wrote a biography of her mother in 2007 called Maggie Ray World War II Air Force Pilot ISBN 0 9790446 8 5 Death EditRingenberg died in her sleep of natural causes on July 28 2008 while attending the Experimental Aircraft Association annual airshow 2 She was representing the WASPs References Edit a b c d Featured Speaker Margaret Ringenberg Cincinnati Section American Chemical Society 2001 12 05 Archived from the original on 2008 12 04 Retrieved 2008 07 29 a b c d e f g h i Obituaries in the news Associated Press 2008 07 28 Retrieved 2008 07 29 dead link a b c Mittman Don 2004 04 21 Female Flight Pioneer Adds Speedway Lap To A Life Of Speed Indianapolis Motor Speedway Archived from the original on 2012 02 16 Retrieved 2008 07 29 The Journal Gazette Fort Wayne IN Archived from the original on 2011 05 22 Retrieved 2005 11 25 The International Conference on World War II Brief biographyFurther Information EditPaluso Philip Wings for Maggie Ray Fishers IN Medium Cool Pictures 2012 ISBN 9781618944443External links EditLibrary of Congress interview Story about Margaret Ringenberg Indy 500 experience in 2004 Story of Margaret Ringenberg s 1994 around the world air race Air Race Classic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Margaret Ringenberg amp oldid 1105476543, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
