Born in Athens, Greece on November 10, 1919 Spiros Nicholas "Steve" Pisanos, the son of a subway motorman, came to America in April 1938, as a crew member on a Greek Merchant ship. Arriving in Baltimore, Maryland and unable to speak English, Steve found his way to New York City, where he worked in bakeries and restaurants. As he earned money he started flying lessons at Floyd Bennett Field. He earned a private pilot's license and, although still a Greek national, in October 1941 he joined the British Royal Air Force sponsored by the Clayton Knight Committee in New York City. Steve began his military flight training at Polaris Flight Academy in Glendale, California. Upon graduation, Pilot Officer Pisanos was transferred to England where he completed RAF Officers Training School at Cosford, England and OTU (Operational Training Unit) at Old Sarum Aerodrome in Salisbury. Pilot Officer Pisanos was posted to the 268 Fighter Squadron at Snailwell Aerodrome in Newmarket flying P-51A's. He later transferred to the 71 Eagle Squadron. Pilot Officer Pisanos was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces. On 3 May 1943, Lt. Pisanos was naturalized as an American citizen in London, England, becoming the first individual in American history to be naturalized outside the Continental United States. After having followed a short career with Civil Aviation as a pilot of 4-engined airliners with TWA, he returned to USAF due to his jet flying experience as a Captain. Pisanos attended the USAAF Flight Performance School (now the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School) and graduated with class 45D. Major Pisanos was tasked with testing advanced jet fighters, namely the F-102 Delta jet with which he often flew at the supersonic speed of Mach 1.5 at an altitude of 50,000 feet. He continued serving with units testing new weapons development. He also served in Vietnam and near his career as a Colonel, a member of JUSMAAG, helped the Hellenic Air Force to integrate the F-4E fighter. In 1974, he retired and now (2009) lives in San Diego, California, with his wife Sofia.