List of World War II aces from Greece

This is a list of fighter aces in World War II from Greece. For other countries see List of World War II aces by country

A

*Andreas Antoniou : Greek Squadron Leader, fought during the Greco-Italian War 1940-41, scoring 6 victories. Served with the 22 Greek Fighter Group. Flown with PZL P-24.

P

*Spiros (Steve) Nikolaou Pisanos : Born in the Kolonos suburb of Athens in 1919. While a Greek immigrant to the United States he enlisted in the RAF as volunteer. Fought with RAF and USAF, credited with 10 kills in USAF 4th Group (European Theater) - Changed nationality to US when the RAF Eagle Squadron he was serving with merged to the USAF 4th Group. A very close friend and later best man of the ace Don Gentile, they shared quarters in the 4th Group. Took part as escort to the first Berlin bombing. In March 1944, due to an engine failure he fell over France and was rescued by the French Resistance, staying with them as information agent and street fighter until Paris was liberated. Back to USA he was given a test pilot post and flew with the first jet, the P-80. For a while served as civilian transport pilot with TWA on 4 engine airliners. Back to the USAF, he served continually on various posts. He received 33 citations. Retired in 1974 as Colonel, he is still alive in 2006. Flown with Spitfire V, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt type C and P-51 Mustang B. He is writing a book titled "My adventure in USA".
*Ioannis Agorastos (John) Plagis : As a Greek immigrant in Rhodesia, he was accepted into the Royal Air Force due to the war. Fought with RAF, credited with 19 victories. Changed nationality to British and stayed with RAF until 1953 as Group Leader. He committed suicide later. Flown with Spitfire V (Malta), Spitfire IX (Europe), P-51 Mustang III and Gloster Meteor

V

* Vassilios Vassiliades of Michael (father name) : Known by his colleagues also as "Vass". A Greek from the island of Chios born in 1920. He was a student in UK at the time war broke out and unable to return home he volunteered to the RAF. Credited with 11+1/2 victories was awarded the DFC, DFM medals. Fought over Europe (France, D-Day, Germany). Died near the very end of the war (25/03/45), shot down over Germany during a ground attack. His death is mentioned in the book "The Big Show (Le Grand Cirque)" written by the French ace Pierre Clostermann with whom he occasionally shared a plane based in Volkel, Holland. He flew the P-51 Mustang III and Hawker Tempest. Eventually he became the highest scoring Greek ace that kept his nationality until the end. He is also the only Greek pilot to have his name engraved on the Runnymede RAF Memorial Monument on the 266th panel of the peristyle (This monument is found few kilometers before Windsor along the river Thames, about 20 km southwest from London).

External links

* [http://jpgleize.club.fr/aces/ww2gre.htm List of Greek Aces]
* [http://imansolas.freeservers.com/Aces/The%20Greek%20PZL%20fighters.html The Greek PZL fighters]
* [http://imansolas.freeservers.com/Aces/Greeks%20in%20Spitfires.html Greeks in Spitfires]
* [http://imansolas.freeservers.com/Aces/Pisanos_english.html Spiros Pisanos 'The Flying Greek']
* [http://imansolas.freeservers.com/Aces/John_Plagis.html Plagis Yiannis - Greek language]
* [http://imansolas.freeservers.com/Aces/Vassiliades%20Vassilios.html Vassiliades Vassilios]