Gone West: Sue Parish

BK · **Joined:** Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:23 pm **Posts:** 594

bipe215 wrote:

I remember Tullahoma '79, all the guys were making low passes during the Warbird part of the show, Sue was pulling up and doing aileron rolls. Grandma outflying the guys!

Steve G

I also attended the Tullahoma Fly-in. As someone said the pink P-40 stood out among the other warbirds. This was the first time I had really seen warbirds in person as the military airshows in my hometown were all jets (not that there's anything wrong with that). Somewhere I have photos I took with a cheap camera.

Obviously, it had a big impact on me, here I am 30 years later still enamored with planes and pilots. Thanks to Sue and the other guys that flew that day.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu May 13, 2010 9:56 pm

Very very sad. A true legend.

P51Mstg · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:36 am **Posts:** 1202

Met her back in Kalamazoo in 1982.... She was shooting touch and goes in the P-40. She was kind enough to chat with me. We talked on and off over the years. She was a sweet lady and in her day I believe she was the Corporate Pilot for UpJohn Pharm... At that time she would have been one of the few, if not the first female corp pilot for anyone. Simply one hell of a woman. We'll all miss her.

Mark H

hang the expense · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 1:25 am

A very sad day.RIP

John Ceglarek · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 6:54 am

Rest in peace Sue.

GARY HILTON · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 7:56 am

There goes another Hero...RIP Sue..

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 8:29 am

Blue Skies Sue.

Truly one of the most famous contemporary female Warbird pilots there ever were.

Django · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 9:48 am

Godspeed...

Wish I had the opportunity to meet her. She sounds like a neat lady.

bluehawk15 · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 10:52 am

That really sums her up very well, a neat lady!

kalamazookid · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 1:44 pm

Here's a link to the story the Kalamazoo Gazette ran today, complete with a couple photos:

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/05/well-known_aviator_and_air_zoo.html

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 5:19 pm

Is her T-34 at the Air Zoo as well? That is a wonderful museum that she was a part of starting.

Chunks · **Joined:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:02 am **Posts:** 361

As I recall, she insisted it was desert tan, not pink...fond memories...

Chunks

John Ceglarek · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 7:54 pm

Yes, the Airzoo has Sue's T-34, as well as her P-40 and an AT-6 that also has the WASP emblem on it.

John

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 8:12 pm

I remember seeing Sue fly the P-40 at Oshkosh in the late 80's. God's speed.

Steve · **Joined:** Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:35 pm **Posts:** 80

Sad to hear. She was in a class of her own.

Steve

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Gone West: Sue Parish

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