Known as “The Flying Greek,” Steve Pisanos served courageously in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Born in Athens, Greece, in 1919, Spiros Nicholas “Steve” Pisanos, came to America in 1938, unable to speak English. In October 1941 he joined the British Royal Air Force in a squadron comprised of American volunteers flying Spitfires. In October of 1942, Pisanos was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces and on May 3, 1943 was naturalized as an American citizen in London, England, becoming the first individual in American history to be naturalized outside the continental United States.

In March of 1944, while returning from his 10th victory, Steve experienced engine failure in his P-S1B and crash-landed south of Le Havre, France. For six months he evaded the Germans and worked with the French Resistance and the American OSS sabotaging the German war machine in occupied France.

Col Pisanos served with Air Defense Command from 1959 to 1964, and then served at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe from 1964 to June 1967. In the Vietnam war, Pisanos was given command of the 457th Tactical Airlift Squadron and he served in this position until he returned to the United States in October 1968.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in Vietnam. As his citation read: “Lieutenant Colonel Steve N. Pisanos distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force near Cung Son, Republic of Vietnam, on 6 December 1967. On that date, Colonel Pisanos made a tactical emergency airdrop to a besieged patrol of special forces personnel in danger of being overrun by a superior hostile force. After overcoming extremely adverse weather conditions and mountainous terrain to locate the patrol, and overruling the patrol commander’s warning not to attempt the drop due to hostile activity, Colonel Pisanos, in complete disregard for his personal safety, airdropped the needed supplies to the patrol. His unusual skill and determination was directly responsible for the preservation of the special forces unit, which was subsequently rescued. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Pisanos reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”

In December 1973, after a distinguished thirty years of service in the United States Air Force, he retired with the rank of Colonel. Steve Pisanos died on June 6, 2016, and was buried at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, California.