Three individuals were inducted into the EAA Warbirds Hall of Fame in 1997. Jeff Ethell, Rudy Frasca and Sue Parish.
Jeff Ethel
Jeff Ethell was born to fly military aircraft. His father was a fighter pilot at California’s March Air Force Base when Jeff was born in 1947. Soon, young Jeff was interested in Warbirds. He learned to fly from his dad in a Navion and a T-34. When a preflight physical revealed his 20/40 vision would prevent him from entering flight training at the Air Force Academy, Jeff pursued civil flight training instead. He soloed at age 18 and went on to obtain his commercial, instrument, multi-engine, CFI and unrestricted High Performance Piston Engine letter of authorization to fly all types of World War II aircraft. During his illustrious career, Jeff logged over 5,000 hours in more than 215 different types of aircraft.
An ordained Baptist minister, Jeff majored in English and history during his collegiate studies. He received research grants from the National Air and Space Museum to research and write books about various military aircraft from the museum’s collection, including the Messerschmitt 163, F6F Hellcat and P-38 Lightning. The books were so successful Jeff took future projects on the open market.
By 1973, Jeff received clearance to fly with the military services in all types of front-line combat aircraft. Several years later, he received the call sign “Fighter Writer” in recognition of his writing and flying abilities. He would ultimately fly everything from World War II fighters and bombers to todays high-tech jets.
Jeff was recognized as one of the World’s leading authorities on warbird aircraft as well as on weapons effectiveness and battle strategy. At last count, he had written 64 books and more than 1,000 magazine articles. He served as editor of EAA’s Warbirds magazine from 1980 to 1992 and as a contributor until the time of his death. Jeff’s writing ability and on-screen talent were showcased on ABC’s “Wide World of Flying”; Speedvision’s “Roaring Glory”; A&E’s “First Flights” hosted by Neil Armstrong; the Discovery Channel’s “Wings” Series; “Top Guns Over Moscow” on the PBS Series NOVA; and countless others. He also received special recognition from organizations that ranged from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Order of Daedalians and American Fighter Aces to the National Warplane Museum, EAA and the EAA Warbirds of America. Prior to his death, Jeff fulfilled a lifelong dream of piloting a P-38, the type in which his father had flown more than 50 years earlier.
Rudy Frasca
Rudy Frasca has been involved with aviation since he soloed in 1945 at age 14. In his 50-plus years of active flying, he has logged more than 13,000 hours in a great number of types of aircraft. His personal collection of Warbird aircraft has included a P-40E, SNJ, T-34, FM-2 Wildcat, MK. 18 Spitfire, Fiat G46, SE-5 replica, AT-6 “Zero” look-alike and a host of others. Several have appeared in movies such as “Midway” and “1941.”
Rudy’s interest in Warbird aircraft has spanned almost all his flying career. An EAA member since 1956 and a charter member of EAA Chapter 29 in Champaign, IL, Rudy has been heavily involved with Warbird activities since the organization was officially chartered in 1968. He has participated in every EAA Convention with flying or static Warbird aircraft since 1969. During that time he has also participated in other Warbird events and activities across the country on a regular basis.
Rudy has served the EAA Warbirds of America in virtually every capacity since those early days. He has held every elected Warbird office, including a term as president in 1975. He has also contributed to EAA’s Warbirds magazine as well as other publications that have featured his military aircraft. Rudy has been a major sponsor of exhibits and activities relating to the EAA Air Adventure Museum, most notably the Flight Simulation exhibit. He has also been a generous contributor to other EAA projects.
Currently, Rudy continues his work as founder and president of Frasca International, which manufactures more flight simulators than any other company in the world. Frasca International, which ships to clients in 75 countries, is the only company capable of producing a complete line of simulators for single engine, multi-engine, fixed wing and helicopter training.
Rudy is also the owner/developer of the Frasca Air Museum, which showcases aircraft, engines, simulators and artifacts, and Frasca Field, a 470 acre complex that includes comprehensive FBO services, services as a site for numerous air shows, open houses and displays.
A member of the Illinois Hall of Fame and the Chanute Hall of Fame, Rudy organized and sits on the board of directors of the Illinois Military Hall of Fame. He has passed along his passion for Warbird aircraft to family members who continue Rudy’s selfless contributions to the aviation and Warbird communities.
Sue Parish
Perhaps the best way to get Sue Parish to do something is to tell her she can’t. Known to tens of thousands of air show enthusiasts as the pilot of “that pink P-40,” Sue has been proving naysayers wrong since she was a child. But it was a passion for horses and a subsequent fall from one of her mounts that proved to be a turning point in her life.
While mending a broken ankle from the fall, Sue accepted an invitation to a local airport. Her first flight was in an Aeronca Chief, during which she learned the true meaning of the word “horsepower” (or lack of). Later, when her family moved to Phoenix, Sue flew Luscombes, Taylorcraft and a Stinson at Sky Harbor Airport, all before the age of 20.
With World War II raging in Europe, Sue longed to join Jackie Cochran and become a Women’s Airforce Service Pilot (WASP). Initially denied entry because of her youth, Sue became even more determined and, in short order, obtained her Private ticket, Instrument rating, Commercial license and an Instructor’s rating – and forwarded her new credentials to Jackie Cochran. Following her 21st birthday and a successful flight physical, Sue entered the WASP lass of 44-W-6 in 1944 and began training in a PT-17 at Sweetwater, Texas. She completed Instrument School at Bryant, Texas and became a “back to service” test pilot, checking out aircraft following maintenance and repair.
After the war, the returning flood of combat pilots made it difficult for Sue to find work with the airlines. After a stint as a Red Cross Motor Corps driver, she met and married Preston “Pete” Parish, a former Marine aviator, who encouraged her aviation interests. They owned several Bonanzas before purchasing a Stearman, a Texan and a Wildcat. When a P-40 Warhawk became available, Sue purchased it and had it restored to airworthy condition. With its “desert pink” paint scheme, a legend was born.
Sue is co-founder and past president of the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, whose collection includes her air show Texan, the pink P-40, a pink T-34 and that 65 hp Aeronca Chief. She has also served on numerous boards of directors, including the EAA Warbirds of America, Kal-Aero, the 99s, Jackson Space Center, Kalamazoo Civic Auditorium and Kalamazoo Civic Players. Her adventurous and pioneering spirit complement her affinity for the arts as both a performer and patron.