This picture is of Steve Pisanos in the cockpit of a P-80 at Wright Patterson AFB.  It is a hand signed 4”x6” photo.

 

WWII Ace Col. Steve pisanos (deceased) Eagle Squadron & 334TH FS, 4TH FG, 8TH AF. Steve had a great amount of success flying his trusty mount P-47 THUNDERBOLT "Miss Plainfield". Steve was roommates with Don Gentile and boy did he had some great stories to tell! STEVE PISANOS - When the United States entered World War II and started establishing air bases in England, the pilots in 'Eagle Squadron' were the only combat experienced American pilots in Europe. A decision was made to integrate them into the official USAF units. However, the pilots had developed strong links between them and preferred to stay in the same units with their present composition as pilots of the newly established 4th FG. Pisanos' lack of American citizenship prevented him from joining a purely American combat unit. At the same time, the Greek government, exiled in London, was recruiting him for one of its new squadrons created in N. Africa. Pisanos' colleagues decided the solution was to convince the United States to grant him citizenship under the name of Steve Pisanos, which it did on May 3, 1942, with the help of his commander Colonel Chesley Peterson. Pisanos became the first naturalized American citizen while on foreign soil. The 4th FG started flying the new P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. Pisanos was flying in the QP-D plane with serial number 27945 and the emblem of 'Miss Plainfield' painted as a nose-art. He scored his 2 first victories over NE Belgium escorting US Bombers while he had another 2 non-confirmed ones almost at the same time. He became wingman in his team and was soon to raise to the grade of the Flying Lieutenant. He had participated in numerous sorties in a variety of fighter tasks mainly over NW France, achieving another 4 official air kills against Messerschmitt 109 and Focke Wulf 190 fighters. Back in New Jersey people who knew him and heard the news of his successes prompted the local press to write an article. The title of the first one was 'The Flying Greek'. This was a title to influence him some 60 years later and name his book after it. Until then he had 6 confirmed and 2 probable air victories. The 4th FG received the new Mustang P-51 fighters, in early 1944. On a mission over Southern France, on the May 5, 1944, when he escorted bombers to Bordeaux, he flew the QP-D Mustang P-51B type serial number 36798. There he has scored another 2 official kills against Me109 fighters. On his return his spark plugs, however, coming mainly from those used for the Spitfires and not always as reliable as the new American parts, were burned and had to belly-land his plane between Le Havre and Évreux in France. On this very mission, on the same day, Chuck Yeager was downed as well albeit near the Pyrenees and was thus able to escape to Spain. STEVE PISANOS - was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross w/ 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal w/ 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart. He is one of the original "DEBDEN BOYS". 

 

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