Deanie Parrish

Marie Odean Bishop Parrish (February 25, 1922 – February 24, 2022), known as Deanie Parrish (sometimes spelt as Parish)[1] was a US air force pilot who served as a WASP pilot during WWII. She was known for being one of Florida's first female air force aviators. She joined the air force aged 21, and after earning her wings, worked as an engineering test pilot at Greenville air force base.[2] She later retrained to tow target planes during training exercises.[3]

Deanie Parrish
Woman standing in front of an aeroplane wearing a flight suit
Parrish as a WASP on the flightline at Tyndall Air Force Base in the early 1940s
Born(1922-02-25)February 25, 1922
Avon Park, Florida, U.S.
DiedFebruary 24, 2022(2022-02-24) (aged 99)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationWomen Airforce Service Pilot
Years activeWASP 1940–1944

She married a career USAF pilot and had two daughters. She spent much of her life after the WASP's were disbanded as a hospital volunteer.[4] In later life she worked to commemorate the efforts made by female pilots towards the war effort during WWII.[5][6]

Her work directly resulted in the Women Airforce Service Pilots being awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 2010, she accepted the award on behalf of the 1074 WASP aviators.[7][8] Deanie was inducted into the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2015.[9] Parish has been highly influential in the efforts to get the work of the WASP's recognised, and has organised several websites, written books and created initiatives to achieve this.[10]

Parish receiving the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of the WASP's on 10 March 2010

The medal ceremony on capitol hill was attended by over 200 surviving WASP personnel.[11] The award comes 65 years after the service was disbanded. The WASP's (known as "fly girls")[12] were volunteer pilots who flew military aircraft around America during the second world war to allow more USAF pilots to fly frontline missions in Europe, they were recognised as a military group in 1977, and their contribution to the war effort recognised with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010.[13][14][15] The medal was presented by congressional officials and accepted by Deanie Parish on behalf of the WASP's.[16]

Parrish died on February 24, 2022, one day before her 100th birthday.[17]

References
  1. "Duty Badges". www.af.mil. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  2. "WASP shares her World War II experiences > U.S. Air Force > Display". www.af.mil. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  3. "Women In The Wings". Baylor Magazine, Winter 2009-10 | Baylor University. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  4. "WASP Deanie Bishop Parrish". www.wingsacrossamerica.us. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  5. "Women Airforce Service Pilots World War II, Dec 2 2014". C-SPAN.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  6. "Deanie Parrish | Unsung Heroes". www.unsungheroeseducation.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  7. "Female WWII Pilots: The Original Fly Girls". NPR.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  8. "WWII Female Pilots Honored With Gold Medal". NPR.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  9. "Deanie and Nancy Parrish | Women in Aviation International". www.wai.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  10. "Wings and WASP". wings1944.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  11. "Defense.gov News Article: First Female Military Pilots Get Congressional Gold Medal". archive.defense.gov. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  12. "At emotional Capitol ceremony, WWII 'fly girls' finally honored". mcclatchydc. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  13. Kevin Bohn and Ed Hornick. "Women fliers honored 65 years after World War II service". CNN.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  14. "First Women Airforce Pilots Get Gold". ABC News. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  15. "Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII to be Honored with Congressional Gold Medal". www.businesswire.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  16. "Pelosi, Reid, Boehner, McConnell to Hold Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony to Honor the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi". Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  17. Godlewski, Meg (2 March 2022). "Legendary Aviator Deanie Parrish Dies at 99". Flying Mag. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
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