Greece       U.S.A.

GREECE

Airmen of Greek Origin Who Flew during WWII


United States Army Air Force, United States Navy

NAME                           VICTORIES                                  AIRFORCE      UNITS                               COMMENTS

Pissanos, Spiros Nikolas          10 *   [ 10   - 0   - 2   ]             USAAF         268, 71 FS RAF; 334, 335 FS (4 FG)
Sakellariades, James Constantine   5 ♠   [  3+2 - 1   - 0   ]             USN           VBF-83

Lolos, John S.                     4     [  4   - 1   - 0   ]             USAAF         340, 341 FS (348 FG)
Legatos, Sabe                      4     [  4   - 0   - 0   ] (+1-2-0 G)  USN           VC-68, VF-12
Sarris, Frank John                 2 ♣   [  2   - 3   - 0   ]             USN           VF-37
Vrilakas, Robert A.                2     [  2   - 1   - 3   ] (+2 G)      USAAF         94 FS (1 FG)
Alexatos, Michael Stephen          2     [  2   - 1   - 0   ]             USN           VF-1
Vurgaropulos, James C.             2     [  2   - 0+1 - 3   ] (+1 G)      USAAF         75 FS (23 FG)
Kehayias, William “Bill” Vasilios  2     [  2   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         372 BS (307 BG)                     tail gunner 
Logothetis, Mingo V.               1 +   [  1   - 0+1 - 2   ] (+2 U)      USAAF         12 TRS (67 FG)
Haniotis, George C.                1 ♥   [  1   - 0   - 2   ]             USAAF         9 FS (49 FG)
Anzanos, Andrew ‘Andy’             1     [  1   - 0   - 1   ]             USAAF         570 BS (390 BG)                     turret gunner
Coronios, Harry                    1     [  1   - 0   - 1   ]             USAAF         62 FS (56 FG)
Savides, Philip                    1     [  1   - 0   - 1   ] (+1 G)      USAAF         313 FS (50 FG)
Zavakos, Harry                     1     [  1   - 0   - 1   ]             USAAF         76 FS (23 FG)
Eliades, Jordan ‘Turk’             1     [  1   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         343 FS (55 FG)

Manos, Wiulliam S.                 0 ♦   [  0   - 1   - 1   ]             USAAF         513 FS (406 FG)
Sintetos, Nicholas D               0     [  0   - 1   - 1   ]             RAF, USAAF    121, 126 FS RAF; 64 FS (57 FG)
Manthos, Atlee 'Mad Pappy'         0     [  0   - 0   - 3   ] (+1 G)      USAAF         362, 363 FS (357 FG)
Antonides, William O.              0     [  0   - 0   - 2   ] (+7 G)      USAAF         334 FS (4 FG)
Manos, William S.                  0     [  0   - 0   - 0+2 ]             USAAF         513 FS (406 FG)
Katsaros, John S.                  0     [  0   - 0   - 1   ]             USAAF         612 BS (401 BG)
Alexatos, Michael S. 'Mad Greek'   0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USN           VF-1 
Badavas, Charles A.                0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         357 FS (355 FG)
Chioles, Constantine ‘Connie’      0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         338 FS (55 FG)
Diamanti. Walker Alkiviades        0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         512 FS (406 FG)
Giftos, Vasileios C.               0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USN           VC-86
Karavedas, Spiros                  0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         310 FS (58 FG)
Kouris, George                     0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         364 FS (357 FG)
Ladas, Anthony E.                  0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         382 FS (363 FG)
Panagiote, John E.                 0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         61 FS (56 FG)
Sermos, Gus N.                     0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USN           VF-50
Soulis. Samuel S.                  0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         500 FBS, 25 FS (51 FG)
Sugas, Arthur 'Elmer'              0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         63 FS (56 FG)

Agiasottelis, George W.            0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         568 BS (390 BG)                     turret gunner 
Assimotos, Samuel A.               0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         333 BS (94 BG)                      navigator
Chirigotis, Steve                  0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         781 BS (465 BG)                     gunner, radio operator
Dascoulias, Peter J.               0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         423 BS (306 BG)                     waist gunner 
Kantjas, John N.                   0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USN           VB-19                                bomber pilot
Kozakis, Achilles ‘Achi’           0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         726 BS (451 BG)                     turret gunner 
Mugianis, Christos ‘Curly’         0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         784 BS (466 BG)                     bombardier 
Moutsos, Leon Emanuel              0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         707 BS (446 BG)                     turret gunner 
Nikolau, George A.                 0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         560 BS (388 BG)                     navigator
Phillips, Alexander                0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         407 BS (92 BG)                      tail gunner 
Pitas, James J.                    0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USAAF         410 BS (94 BG)                      turret gunner
Scopelitis, Andrew                 0     [  0   - 0   - 0   ]             USN           VB-8                                bomber pilot
Comments:
RAF : Royal Air Force
USAAF : United States Army Air Force
USN : United States Navy
G : ground victory
U : unconfirmed victory
[x-y-z] : [confirmed-probable-damaged]
 
* Some sources present that Spiros Nikolas Pissanos achieved 5 - 0 - 1 victories (Olynyk, Frank J.: USAAF (European Theater of Operations) Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft In Air-To-Air Combat In World War 2, Victory List No. 5, Published by the Author, Aurora, 1987.).
Some sources present that James Constantine Sakellariades achieved 3 - 1 - 0 victories (USN Credits for the Destruction Of Enemy Aircraft in Air-to-Air Combat World War 2, Victory List No. 2, Published by the Author, Aurora, October 1982).
Some sources present that Frank John Sarris achieved 1 - 0 - 0 victories (USN Credits for the Destruction Of Enemy Aircraft in Air-to-Air Combat World War 2, Victory List No. 2, Published by the Author, Aurora, October 1982).
+ Mingo V. Logothetis is sometimes credited with three confirmed victories and four probable (Ivie, T.: Patton's Eyes in the Sky: Usaaf Tactical Reconnaissance Missions North-West Europe 1944-1945, Classic Pubns, June 2003) but the official total appears to be one confirmed victory, two unconfirmed, one probably, two damaged and one unconfirmed damage (Olynyk, Frank J.: USAAF (European Theater of Operations) Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft In Air-To-Air Combat In World War 2, Victory List No. 5, Published by the Author, Aurora, 1987.).
Some sources present that George C. Haniotis achieved 1 - 0 - 0 victories (Olynyk, Frank J.: USAAF (Pacific Theater) Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft in Air-to-Air Combat World War 2, Victory List No. 3, Published by the Author, Aurora, October 1985).
Some sources present that William S. Manos achieved 0 - 0 - 1+1 victories (Olynyk, Frank J.: USAAF (European Theater of Operations) Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft In Air-To-Air Combat In World War 2, Victory List No. 5, Published by the Author, Aurora, 1987).

1) 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, Vth Fighter Command, 5th Air Force
2) 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, IXth Tactical Air Command, 9th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
3) 27th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, 12th & 15th Air Force, Mediterranean Theater of Operations
4) 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, VIIIth Fighter Command, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
5) 62nd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, VIIIth Fighter Command, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
6) 63rd Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, ..., Mediterranean Theater of Operations
7) 64th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, ..., Mediterranean Theater of Operations
8) 75th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, 14th Air Force
9) 76th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, 15th Air Force
10) 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, 12th & 15th Air Force, Mediterranean Theater of Operations
11) 310th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, Vth Fighter Command, 5th Air Force
12) 313rd Fighter Squadron, 50th Fighter Group, IXth Fighter Command, 9th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
13) 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, VIIIth Fighter Command, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
14) 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, VIIIth Fighter Command, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
15) 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, VIIIth Fighter Command, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
16) 340th Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, Vth Fighter Command, 5th Air Force
17) 341st Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, Vth Fighter Command, 5th Air Force
18) 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, VIIIth Fighter Command, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
19) 357th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, VIIIth Fighter Command, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
20) 362nd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, VIIIth Fighter Command, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
21) 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, VIIIth Fighter Command, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
22) 364th Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, VIIIth Fighter Command, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
23) 382nd Fighter Squadron, 363rd Fighter Group, IXth Fighter Command, 9th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
24) 513rd Fighter Squadron, 406th Fighter Group, IXth Fighter Command, 9th Air Force, European Theater of Operations
25) VBF-83 (CV-9 USS Essex) - USN
26) VC-68 (CVE-70 USS Fanshaw Bay) - USN
27) VF-1 (CV-5 USS Yorktown) - USN
28) VF-12 (Detach) - USN
29) VF-37 (CVE-26 USS Sangamon) - USN

 Spiros Nikolas Pissanos
Spiros Nikolas Pissanos
Σπύρος Πισσάνος

Republic P-47C, 42-7945 (QP-D), No. 334 Fighter Squadron, Pilot  Spiros Nikolas Pissanos.

Republic P-47C, 42-7945 (QP○D), No. 334 Fighter Squadron, Pilot Spiros Nikolas Pissanos.

P-51B

North American P-51B, 43-6798 (QP○D), No. 334 Fighter Squadron, 2/20/44-3/5/44, Pilot Spiros Nikolas Pissanos.

Robert Vrilakas
Robert «Smokey» Vrilakas


Much information kindly provided by Dimitrios Vassilopoulos and Nicholas Tselepidis.


Sources & Literature
  1. Researcher Kiriakos Paloulian
  2. Researcher Nicholas Tselepidis.
  3. Researcher Dimitrios Vassilopoulos.
  4. Freeman, R.A.: 56th Fighter Group, Osprey Aviation Elite 2, Osprey Publishing 2000. (kindly provided by Dimitrios Vassilopoulos)
  5. Ivie, T.: Patton's Eyes in the Sky: Usaaf Tactical Reconnaissance Missions North-West Europe 1944-1945, Classic Pubns, June 2003.
  6. Olynyk, Frank J.: USN Credits for the Destruction Of Enemy Aircraft in Air-to-Air Combat World War 2, Victory List No. 2, Published by the Author, Aurora, October 1982.
  7. Olynyk, Frank J.: USAAF (Pacific Theater) Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft in Air-to-Air Combat World War 2, Victory List No. 3, Published by the Author, Aurora, October 1985.
  8. Olynyk, Frank J.: AVG & USAAF (China-Burma-India Theater) Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft in Air-to-Air Combat World War 2, Victory List No. 4, Published by the Author, Aurora, October 1986.
  9. Olynyk, Frank J.: USAAF (European Theater of Operations) Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft In Air-To-Air Combat In World War 2, Victory List No. 5, Published by the Author, Aurora, 1987.
  10. Olynyk, Frank J.: USAAF (Mediterranean Theater of Operations) Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft in Air-to-Air Combat World War 2, Victory List No. 6, Published by the Author, Aurora, June 1987.
  11. Olynyk, Frank: Stars And Bars, A Tribute to the American Fighter Ace 1920-1973, Grub Street, London 1995.
  12. Paloulian, K.: Greeks in Foreighn Cockpit Part A (Fighter pilots USAAF), War & History magazine, June 2001.
  13. Paloulian, K.: Greeks in Foreighn Cockpit Part C (Bombardiers in RAF & USAAF), War & History magazine, September 2001.
  14. Paloulian, K.: Greeks in Foreighn Cockpit Part D (Fighter Pilots RAF & Supplament for USAAF), War & History magazine, December 2001.
  15. Scutts, J.: P-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force, Aircraft of the Aces 24, Osprey Publishing 1998.
  16. Βασιλόπουλος, Δημήτριος - Παλουλιάν, Κυριάκος - Χαλκιαδόπουλος, Γεώργιος: Έλληνες σε ξένα cockpit, Τόμος Α', Η Ζωή και η επιχειρησιακή δράση των ελληνικής καταγωγής πιλότων καταδιωκτικών με την USAAF και την RAF, 1940-1945, Eagle Aviation, 2014. ISBN: 978-6188137608
  17. Βασιλόπουλος, Δημήτριος - Παλουλιάν, Κυριάκος - Χαλκιαδόπουλος, Γεώργιος: Έλληνες σε ξένα cockpit, Τόμος Β', Η Ζωή και η επιχειρησιακή δράση των ελληνικής καταγωγής πιλότων καταδιωκτικών με την USAAF, την RAF και την RCAF, 1940-1945, Eagle Aviation, 2018. ISBN: 978-6188137691
  18. Βασιλόπουλος, Δημήτριος - Παλουλιάν, Κυριάκος - Χαλκιαδόπουλος, Γεώργιος: Έλληνες σε ξένα cockpit, Τόμος Γ', Η Ζωή και η επιχειρησιακή δράση των ελληνικής καταγωγής πιλότων καταδιωκτικών και βομβρδιστικων με το USN, την USAAF και την RAF, 1940-1945, Eagle Aviation, 2021. ISBN: 978-6188516502
  19. Vassilopoulos, Dimitrios: Aera! Greek Americans in New Guinea, in Flightpath, Volume 30, Number 3, February - April 2019.
  20. US Official claims during ww2, War & History Magazine, June 2001.

  21. Vassilopoulos, Dimitris - Paloulian, Kyriakos - Chalkiadopoulos, George: Greeks In Foreign Cockpits, https://www.greeks-in-foreign-cockpits.com/.
  22. Aces of World War II, http://www.acesofww2.com/.
  23. At a P-40 base in Italy near the front lines at Christmas by Bob Vrilakas (94th) and John Mullins (94th), http://www.1stfighter.org/warstories/Vrilakas.html.
  24. Capt. Robert "Smokey" Vrilakas, http://www.geocities.com/amyjo1.geo/vrilakas.html.
  25. Gleize, Jean-Paul: Aces, http://www.igleize.fr/aces/homeaces.htm.
  26. Haulman, Danial (Editor): USAF Wartime Aerial Victory Credits, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL, http://www.au.af.mil/au/afhra/avc.asp.
  27. Magnus, Allan: Air Aces Home Page, http://users.accesscomm.ca/magnusfamily/airaces1.htm.
  28. Mansolas, Yiannis - Mansolas, Angelos: Spiros Steve Pisanos "The Flying Greek", http://imansolas.freeservers.com/Aces/Pisanos_english.html.
  29. Steve Pisanos, WikipediA, the free encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Pisanos.
  30. Spiros Pisanos, The 4th Fighter Group Association, http://www.fourthfightergroup.com/resource/pisanos.html.

Index

Copyright © Jan Josef ŠAFAŘÍK
Generated: Thu Dec 23 02:48:32 PM CET 2021