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Raymond Ingvard Petersen

An Alaskan bush pilot and frontiersman by way of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Nebraska, Ray Petersen has a historical spirit that is unique--for a corporate president, or anyone else. In 1958 and '59, when Northern Consolidated Airlines purchased three Fairchild F-27s, Mr. Petersen decided to name them for pioneer Alaskan pilots, one of whom was Carl Ben Eielson.

Petersen came to Alaska in 1934, formed his own flying service, then spearheaded four intra-territorial carriers into Northern Consolidated, following World War II. In April, 1968, the pioneer carrier, Wien Alaska, was merged into Northern, establishing Wien Consolidated Airlines, of which Petersen is chairman. An old tie to the Badger state had them marked in earlier astrological charts! Ray began his career as an operations manager at a small county airport in Janesville, Wisconsin, the state of Wien's birth. 

[[image -- drawing of small propeller]]

Raymond Ingvard Petersen: born York, Nebraska, August 10, 1912.

[[image No. 110 - black & white photograph of Ray Petersen and the F-27 named "Carl Ben Eilson,"]]

[[image No. 111 - black & white photograph of Ray Petersen and Hubert Wilkins]]

[[caption]]Ray Petersen and F-27 "Carl Ben Eielson," at Anchorage airport (110). Eielson, the brilliant and heroic Alaskan aviation pioneer, lost his life in a rescue attempt of 1929, seeking a ship with 15 passengers. He served Hubert Wilkins (111, right) during explorer's 1926 and 1927 Arctic expeditions, and 1928 Antarctic expedition. Eielson first came to Alaska in 1922.[[/caption]]

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