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Steve Pisanos
| Colonel Steve Pisanos (deceased) Born Nov. 10, 1919, in the Athens suburb of Kolonos, Spiros Nicholas 'Steve' Pisanos, the son of a subway motorman, arrived in America in April 1938 as a crew member on a Greek merchant tramp steamer. Arriving in Baltimore speaking no English, he worked in a bakery and hotels to earn money for flying lessons at Floyd Bennett Field. In August 1940, he settled in Plainfield, New Jersey, and continued flying lessons at Westfield Airport. He earned a private pilot's license and, though still a Greek national, in October 1941 he joined the British Royal Air Force sponsored by the Clayton Knight Committee in New York City. Pisanos began his military flight training at Polaris Flight Academy in Glendale. Upon graduation, Pilot Officer Pisanos was transferred to England where he completed RAF Officers Training School at Cosford, England, and OTU (Operational Training Unit) at Old Sarum Aerodrome in Salisbury. Pisanos was posted to the 268 Fighter Squadron at Snailwell Aerodrome in Newmarket flying P-51A's. He later transferred to the 71 Eagle Squadron, one of three Eagle squadrons in the RAF, comprised of just 244 American volunteers flying Spitfires at Debden RAF Aerodrome. When the USAAF 4th Fighter Group absorbed the American members of the Eagle Squadrons in September and October 1942, Pisanos was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Flying his first mission in his P-47 'Miss Plainfield' out of Debden Aerodrome with the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, Lt. Pisanos, 'The Flying Greek,' scored his first shootdown on May 21, 1943, when he targeted a German FW-190 over Ghent, Belgium. By Jan. 1, 1944, he had become an ace with five confirmed downings. On March 5, 1944, he obtained his 10th shootdown and while returning from that B-17 escort mission to Limoges and Bordeaux, France, Pisanos experienced engine failure in his P-51B and crash-landed south of Le Havre. For six months he evaded the Germans and fought with the French Resistance and the American OSS, sabotaging the German war machine in occupied France. Lt. Pisanos returned to England on Sept. 2, 1944, following the liberation of Paris. Because of his exposure and knowledge of the French Resistance operations, Pisanos was prohibited from flying additional combat missions because the Air Force could not risk him being captured. Upon returning to the United States, Capt. Pisanos was assigned to the Flight Test Division at Wright Field, Ohio. He attended the USAF Test Pilot School and served as a test pilot at Wright Field and Muroc Lake, California, testing the YP-80 jet aircraft, America's first operational jet. During his Air Force career, Pisanos graduated from the University of Maryland, attended the Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College. Pisanos also served tours of duty in Vietnam (1967-68) and with NORAD before retiring from the USAF with the rank of colonel in in December 1973. Colonel Steve Pisanos died on 6th June 2016. |
  Devastating Thunder by Brian Bateman. |   Victory for Red Section by Brian Bateman. |   Greek Victory by Brian Bateman. |   Victory for White Two by Brian Bateman. |
Items Signed by Colonel Steve Pisanos (deceased) |
  | Devastating Thunder by Brian Bateman. (P) SOLD OUT | P-47D Thunderbolts, affectionately called 'Razorbacks' flown by Col Steve 'Spiro' Pisanos and his wingman of 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, wreaking havoc on a German BR52 supply train over northern France in early 1944. ...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
  | Greek 'Fire by Brian Bateman. (P) Price : £450.00 | Spiros 'Steve the Greek' Pisanos in his Mk.Vb Spitfire EN783 XR-K during his time with No.71 Sqn RAF, one of three American Eagle squadrons within the Royal Air Force. ...... | |
| | Victory for White Two by Brian Bateman. Price : £80.00 | May 21,1943. Steve Pisanos flying P-47 QP-D in White Section, on an escort mission to Ghent, shoots down an FW-190 near Belgium. Flying wing to Captain Andrews, Pisanos took over once Andrews temporarily spun out of control pursuing the 190, wh...... | |
| | Victory for White Two by Brian Bateman. (AP) Price : £85.00 | May 21,1943. Steve Pisanos flying P-47 QP-D in White Section, on an escort mission to Ghent, shoots down an FW-190 near Belgium. Flying wing to Captain Andrews, Pisanos took over once Andrews temporarily spun out of control pursuing the 190, wh...... | |
| | Victory for White Two by Brian Bateman. (P) Price : £250.00 | May 21,1943. Steve Pisanos flying P-47 QP-D in White Section, on an escort mission to Ghent, shoots down an FW-190 near Belgium. Flying wing to Captain Andrews, Pisanos took over once Andrews temporarily spun out of control pursuing the 190, wh...... |
| | Greek Victory by Brian Bateman. Price : £100.00 | Steve Pisanos, flying P-47 QP-D, is depicted pulling away swiftly after a victory over an FW-190 in late December 1944 over northern Germany. This was Steve's fourth victory, one victory short on an ace, which would come later in the P-51. ...... | |
| | Greek Victory by Brian Bateman. (AP) Price : £125.00 | Steve Pisanos, flying P-47 QP-D, is depicted pulling away swiftly after a victory over an FW-190 in late December 1944 over northern Germany. This was Steve's fourth victory, one victory short on an ace, which would come later in the P-51. ...... | |
| | Greek Victory by Brian Bateman. (P) Price : £410.00 | Steve Pisanos, flying P-47 QP-D, is depicted pulling away swiftly after a victory over an FW-190 in late December 1944 over northern Germany. This was Steve's fourth victory, one victory short on an ace, which would come later in the P-51. ...... | |
| | Victory for Red Section by Brian Bateman. Price : £100.00 | Steve Pisanos, flying P-47 QP-D in Red Section, shoots down a German Me-109 near Sittard, Gemany. Here we see the 109 trailing smoke and banking down as Steve has hits near the engine and cockpit of the enemy combatant. Claim one Me-109. ...... |
