Nicolau - Post

George Nicolau

Can you imagine a 19 years old man, navigating a B-17 Flying Fortress, heavy bomber? How did this young Greek - American airman felt when he lost his leg during his fourth mission from German anti-aircraft fire? War is cruel but from the war ashes, great men born. Men righteously called as being members of the GREATEST GENERATION. One such man is also George Nicolau, 93 years old today. His story will be the opening story for the Bombardiers - Navigators subpage. More to follow.

https://www.greeks-in-foreign-cockpits.com/pilots-crews/bombardiers-and-navigators/george_nikolau/

Nicolau 1
Verinis unveiling - Post

Unveiling James Verinis

Having come in for the good concerning the writing of the Volume 'C' of 'GREEKS IN FOREIGN COCKPITS', it is time to start slowly unveiling its contents. As you probably understand from the photo, the first pilot who will be covered within its pages is none other than the famous Jim Verinis, Co-Pilot of 'Memphis Belle' and Captain of 'Connecticut Yankee' B-17s. The authors have been in touch with the famous pilot's family for many months now and keep receiving a wealth of personal and career information that will be presented for the first time in Greek as well as international literature.

Given the opportunity of officially unveiling the refurbished 'Memphis Belle' at the National Museum of US Air Force, at Wright-Patterson AFB, James children not only attended the event, but they also had a huge surprise for us. In the photograph, Jim Verinis' son, Jim Verinis Jr, holding the Volume 'A' of our series in his hands, having as a background the famous B-17. It is a great honor for us since even in such a way, a part of us attended the event, even though, mentally and through the dozens of articles published, it was as if we had attended the exhibit ourselves. However, the honor is even greater, since the Verinis family, in particular, the brothers Jim and Steven and Verinis granddaughter, Arielle, trusted us and embraced our effort to honor this great Greek-American in Greece, his ancestor's birthplace. We hope that we will be worthy of their expectations.

Verinis 1
Verinis 3
Kozakis - Post

Achilles Kozakis

Today we are very honored to present to our site, one of our best friends in the net. Achilles Kozakis, was an Emerson turret nose gunner, flying with 451st BG B-24 Liberators of the 15th AF. He is a proud man, born American, with Greek blood, a truly a remarkable personality. If you didn't make him a friends request, so far, do it know. You will be surprised by his spirit and his will to pass his experiences to the new generations. As Achi usually says, we wish all of you "Sto Kalo” (Farewell in Greek). Thank you for your service sir.

https://www.greeks-in-foreign-cockpits.com/pilots-crews/gunners/achilles_kozakis/

Kozakis 9
Agiasotelis - Post

George Agiasotelis

As promised we are starting to add more airmen of Greek parentage, not only pilots, who flew during WW2 and other conflicts. Today we present you a short story of a Greek American ball turret gunner who flew 26 missions with 390th BG, B-17s and acted as a co-pilot when their bomber severely damaged and half of the crew bailed out under captains orders. He chooses to stay and helped him to split-s their bomber in order to put out the engine fire through the dive. They were lucky to live and fight again over Europe. You can read more about his story at the following link:

https://www.greeks-in-foreign-cockpits.com/pilots-crews/gunners/george_agiasottelis/

G.W.Agiasottelis 2
Aviation Bookshop - Post

Find us in Av.Bookshop

newlogo

We would like to inform our friends outside Greece that our second volume is available from one of the most wellknown bookstores worldwide, THE AVIATION-BOOKSHOP. We would like to thanks Simon Watson for his trust and we urge you to buy from his bookstore as its cost effective for those living in Europe and US. We will also update our eshop page in our website. We hope that with Simons help we will give a better option for our friends in Europe and US.

Please follow the link https://www.aviation-bookshop.com/asp/releases.asp

Greetings from Greece.

interview post

Interview

INTERVIEW IN WWW.WW2WRECKS.COM

Do you want to know about our bigining and our passion for aviation history?

Just click read on the interview one of our researchers, Dimitrios Vassilopoulos, gave to Pierre Kosmidis, owner of the www.ww2wrecks.com. 

English Version:

http://www.ww2wrecks.com/portfolio/greeks-in-foreign-cockpits-pilots-of-greek-descent-flying-with-the-usaaf-and-the-raf/

Greek Version:

http://www.ww2wrecks.com/portfolio/%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BD%CE%B5%CF%82-%CF%83%CE%B5-%CE%BE%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE%B1-%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%BA%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%84-%CE%B7-%CE%B6%CF%89%CE%AE-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9-%CE%B7-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%87/

COLOR---Lambros 40Α

Theodore Lambros

THEODORE LAMBROS

Dear friends, we added Theodore Lambros, short biography in Fighter Pilots section. With him, we finally presented all the pilots covered in our two volumes and from now on new biographies will be added covering not only pilots but bombardiers, navigators, and gunners. As you will soon discover this website will not act as an advertisement for our book but will supplement them. More photos from unknown airmen of Greek heritage as well as unique profiles of the planes they flew will be added. Our aim is to create a place where every Hellenic Parentage airmen can be easily found here, in a big database. We hope that you will enjoy our new venture!  

https://www.greeks-in-foreign-cockpits.com/pilots-crews/fighter-pilots/theodore-lambros/

Photo: Greeksinforeigncockpits via Lambros family, colorized by Markos Danezis

Plagis - Post

John Plagis

JOHN AGORASTOS PLAGIS

Dear friends we added John Agorastos Plagis, short biography in Fighter Pilots section. The unique feature of this biography is that except two very small paragraphs in the begging and the end, the text was written by him, in a letter we have the honor to posses in our collection. Visit his subpage in the following link and take a look in some great photos and profiles while serving with the No. 64 Squadron. Our team believes that while reading the profiles caption many things about his personal Spitfires during his duty with the No. 64 Squadron will be clarified....enjoy.   

https://www.greeks-in-foreign-cockpits.com/pilots-crews/fighter-pilots/john-agorastos-plagis/

Photo: Greeksinforeigncockpits via Jill Plagis, colorized by Markos Danezis

Manos Family Post

Meet Manos Family

Today we received photos and commentary from William S. Manos family. We are very honored who trust us his archive and memoirs in order to tribute him in Greece and make his story known to his fatherland. Especially to his fellow villagers of Roeino, Arcadia Region. Their words warmed our hearts and strengthen us in order to continue our research for all these unknown heroes to Greece. We can only feel grateful for their contribution and we are happy to know that the book met their expectations.

MANOS
manos 2
20171224181428_IMG_2538

Hello, Dimitrios

Words can’t express how thankful we are for the wonderful gift you have given my sister & I, our children, our granddaughter and the generations that are to come. This book is indeed a keepsake, a treasure, and will always be a part of our family. We truly had no idea how much detail you would touch on our father, William Stanley Manos Sr. 406th Fighter Pilot when you first contacted us stating that you were interested in adding and writing a chapter about him. All we knew was the book was to be about World War II, Fighter Pilots of Greek Descent. We were honored to have been asked, and quite honestly kept our excitement minimal, and kept a “let's wait and see mentality,” as we expected it to be a small mention. We waited with anticipation, upon receipt, we were speechless; WOW, what a BOOK, what a BEAUTIFUL and WONDERFUL BOOK!!!

Dimitrios, you have discovered so many things about our father that we did not know about, and for that, we are extremely thankful. What’s also exciting is that people that have read the chapter on our father have contacted us to ask questions about finding his wrecked P-47 Thunderbolt. We couldn’t be more excited to see what comes from this. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU, Dimitrios for all your hard work and dedication you have poured into this book, it means so much not just to our family, but so many others. We wish you the best in all your future endeavors and discoveries.

Best, William Stanley Manos Jr. (64) (Son of William Stanley Manos Sr.); Cathy Sue Manos (63) (Spouse)
Our Children:
(Son)William Stanley Manos III. (39); Brandi Marie Manos (37) (Spouse); Brooklyn Alexandria Manos (1) (Grand Daughter); (Daughter) Ashley Marie Davlin (33); Jared Davlin (35) (Spouse)
My Sister:
Debra Ann Manos (65) (Daughter of William Stanley Manos Sr.)
Her Child:
(Son) Nickolas George Manos (36)

Follow his short bio and veterans and relatives comments on the links below:

https://www.greeks-in-foreign-cockpits.com/pilots-crews/fighter-pilots/william-s-manos/

https://www.greeks-in-foreign-cockpits.com/comments/veterans-relatives/

 

Notes
406th FG Thunderbolts Photo via http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/3879 - Roger Freeman Collection FRE7432
William Manos colorized picture by Markos Danezis
Bentwaters - Post

'GIFCs' & BCWM

Bentwaters Aviation Society Meeting Book Presentation 14th Dec 2017-0006...2
Bentwaters Aviation Society Meeting Book Presentation 14th Dec 2017-0009...

During our research for the top Greek Ace, John Agorastos Plagis, we tried to contact various individuals researchers, as well as museums. Knowing that John Plagis, became one of the two Acting Flying Wing Commanders in Bentwaters Wing during the opening months of 1945, we tried to establish a connection with the museum located there. Unfortunately, the Museum named as ‘Bentwaters Cold War Museum’ or BCWM, and as such, they couldn’t provide us with information regarding the WW2 History. However, these fine gentlemen, namely Andrew Horex and Simon Gladas, running the BCWM, proved more than willing to help us in our project and also to know more about the Bentwaters WW2 history and the famous Greek Wg.Cdr. Needless to mention that we donate a copy of our B’ Volume to the museum for all they have done for us and most important for their ethical support!

These days we also gathered all the information we have about Bentwaters in WW2, especially Operations Record Books of Bentwaters Wing as well as Plagis Logbook extracts from that period and mailed them for the museum archives. The BCWM regularly organize sessions for its members and enthusiasts, covering many subjects concerning its Cold War history. To our surprise, Simon Cladas honored us by presenting the book to their members and sent us pictures from their meeting!

We encourage our followers to take a view of their lovely website, and for the lucky ones, to visit.

http://www.bcwm.org.uk

UK, Mustang Mk III, KH479, SK-B, John Plagis, No 165 Squadron, early 1945
Before John Plagis was assigned a personal Mustang Mk.III to lead the Bentwaters Wing over Germany, escorting RAF Bombers, he flew four missions using this No. 165 Squadron Mustang Μk.III (SK-B/ΚΗ479). Plagis qualified on type on December 12, 1944, while flying with No. 126 Squadron. Until his promotion to Wing Commander, he had 6 1/2 hours flying North American’s fighter. (Copyright Gaetan Marie)
The wing and squadron commanders of the Bentwaters Wing, several of them established aces, gather for a photograph in early 1945. Even though the conflict in Europe was in its final stage, sadly, not all of these men would survive the war. They are, from left to right, Sqn Ldr Tony Drew (CO of No 118 Sqn ), Sqn Ldr Barry Gale (CO of No 165 Sqn), Sqn Ldr Peter Thompson (CO of No 129 Sqn), Wg Cdr Johnny Plagis (Bentwaters Wing leader), Wg Cdr Mike Donnet (Andrews Field wing leader), Sqn Ldr ‘Jas’ Storrar (No 234 Sqn CO), Sqn Ldr R E Green (No 64 Sqn CO) and Maj Arne Austeen. (D.Vassilopoulos Collection via Jill Plagis, caption by Andrew Thomas)
0086a photo
Donate-button

Please consider making a donation to Greeks in Foreign Cockpits to support our work !

Design & hosting by Bravo Bravo Aviation

© 2017-2024 Dimitris Vassilopoulos - All Rights Reserved