Aviation pioneer from Kalamazoo to be honored

WASHINGTON D.C. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A well known philanthropist and aviation pioneer from Kalamazoo will be honored Wednesday in Washington for her fighting spirit.

Suzanne Parish will be awarded a Congressional Gold Medal at the U.S. Capitol for her service in the Women Airforce Service Pilots or WASP during World War 2.

Parish was one of about 1,100 civilian female pilots trained to fly fighter planes, bombers and transporters. She also tested planes, new navigation equipment and other instruments.

Those WASP pilots helped revolutionize the role for female pilots, especially in the military.

Parish is also one of the co-founders of the Kalamazoo Air Zoo.