Sue's love affair with aircraft began after her uncle Dick took here to Austin Lake Airstrip and a meeting with Irving Woodhams during 1941. Flying in a 65-hp Aeronca Chief this relatively new mode of transport would become Sue's passion. Continuing her flying Sue's ambition was to become a member of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during the Second World War led by Jackie Cochran. Denied entry to the WASPs for being to young Sue spent the next two years earning a private license, commercial license, instrument rating and instructors rating and after each new rating Sue would make sure Jackie knew of her latest achievements.
Finally at the age of 21 Sue joined the WASPs and after finishing her training in a Stearman PT-17 Sue graduated and was sent to the Instrument School and after finishing this her role was to teach pilots back from Combat to learn how to fly using new instruments that had been added to newer planes. Perhaps the most dangerous role Sue fulfilled was flying newly repaired aircraft to check they were safe and testing new aircraft. As World War 2 ended the WASPs were disbanded and Sue began unsuccessful attempts to gain a job as a pilot, however this would simply be a break from aviation.
In 1948 she married ex US Marine Air Corps pilot Preston 'Pete' Parish and they would go on to have five children before in 1959 Pete announced he had purchased half an interest in a 35C Bonanza, a single engined aircraft. The aircraft purchases soon came thick and fast and included the plane that had eluded Sue when she was a WASP, a Curtiss P-40 and despite retiring her P-40 in 1993 Sue continued to fly in a T-34 Mentor.
Logging more than 7,000 flying hours Sue passed away in 2010.
Finally at the age of 21 Sue joined the WASPs and after finishing her training in a Stearman PT-17 Sue graduated and was sent to the Instrument School and after finishing this her role was to teach pilots back from Combat to learn how to fly using new instruments that had been added to newer planes. Perhaps the most dangerous role Sue fulfilled was flying newly repaired aircraft to check they were safe and testing new aircraft. As World War 2 ended the WASPs were disbanded and Sue began unsuccessful attempts to gain a job as a pilot, however this would simply be a break from aviation.
In 1948 she married ex US Marine Air Corps pilot Preston 'Pete' Parish and they would go on to have five children before in 1959 Pete announced he had purchased half an interest in a 35C Bonanza, a single engined aircraft. The aircraft purchases soon came thick and fast and included the plane that had eluded Sue when she was a WASP, a Curtiss P-40 and despite retiring her P-40 in 1993 Sue continued to fly in a T-34 Mentor.
Logging more than 7,000 flying hours Sue passed away in 2010.