The Commemorative Air Force is mourning the loss of Col Ronnie Gardner, a CAF Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2020) whose aviation career spanned over five decades and left an enduring impact on the warbird community. Gardner, who passed away on May 2, 2025, was a highly accomplished pilot, instructor, and mentor known for his quiet humility and deep dedication to preserving aviation history. After earning his degree from Texas Tech in 1967, he began instructing U.S. Air Force pilots and later f