World War II Honoree

Steve M. Pisanos

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

San Diego, California

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

GREEK BORN ARMY AIR FORCES ACE KNOWN AS THE “FLYING GREEK”, HE HAD 110 COMBAT MISSIONS AND 300 COMBAT HOURS. ON MAY 3RD, 1943 HE WAS NATURALIZED AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN IN LONDON, ENGLAND, BECOMING THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL IN HISTORY TO BE NATURALIZED OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES. AS A LIEUTENANT, FLYING HIS P-47, 'MISS PLAINFIELD', OUT OF DEBDEN, ENGLAND, WITH THE 334TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 4TH FIGHTER GROUP, HE SCORED HIS 1ST VICTORY ON AUGUST 12, 1943. WHEN HE DOWNED AN ME-109 NEAR WALCHERN, GERMANY ON JANUARY 1, 1944. HE BECAME AN ACE CREDITED WITH 5 CONFIRMED VICTORIES. ON MARCH 5TH, 1944 HE SCORED HIS 10TH VICTORY AND WHILE RETURNING FROM THAT B-17 ESCORT MISSION TO LIMOGES AND BORDEAUX, FRANCE, HIS PLANE CRASH-LANDED IN FRANCE. FOR SIX MONTHS HE EVADED THE GERMANS AND WORKED WITH THE FRENCH RESISTANCE AND THE AMERICAN OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES SABOTAGING THE GERMAN WAR MACHINE IN OCCUPIED FRANCE.