| 1912 |
Born August 10 in York, Nebraska |
| 1928 |
Got his first airplane ride as part of a barter agreement between a pilot and farmer |
| 1930 |
Earned his commercial license |
| 1934 |
Landed in Seward, Alaska as a stowaway with $300 in his pocket and in four days was flying for a living for Les Plumb's Anchorage Airways. Also flew for Star Airways and Marsh Airways. |
| 1935 |
Formed Bethel Airways with partner John Littley |
| 1936 |
Bethel Airways went out of business after both of its airplanes crash |
| 1937 |
Founded Ray Petersen's flying service using a Ryan B1 Brougham |
| 1939 |
Married Marie Antoinette (Toni) Schodde |
| 1947 |
Northern Consolidated Airlines is formally approved by the CAB after Petersen merges his air service with several other pioneering airlines |
| 1952 |
Petersen implements the first pension plan for the airlines industry |
| 1968 |
Wien Alaska Airlines merges with Northern Consolidated creating Wien Consolidated |
| 1969 |
Peterson becomes Chief Executive Officer of Wien Consolidated |
| 1979 |
Petersen leaves the airline business |
