GREEKS IN FOREIGN COCKPITS (Volume Three)
By Demetrios Vassilopoulos, Kyriakos Paloulian & George Chalkiadopoulos – Eagle Aviation publications
Βefore reviewing the third (and more recent) volume of this extraordinary series, let us remind the readers about the two previous books:
Volume One
The first volume of this -now extremely popular and successful series- was released in the Summer of 2014 by the same three authors: Demetrios Vassilopoulos, Kyriakos Paloulian and George Chalkiadopoulos.
Ten chapters in total deal with the war biographies & operational action of the following pilots:
1. FRANK "FREE GREEK" ZAVAKOS
2. NICHOLAS D. SINTETOS
3. SPIROS "THE FLYING GREEK"- STEVE PISANOS
4. ROBERT "SMOKEY" VRILAKAS
5. ARTHUR "ELMER" SUGAS
6. HARRY "GREEK" CORONIOS
7. ATLEE "MAD PAPPY" MANTHOS
8. PHILIP SAVIDES
9. JOHN LOLOS
10.SPIROS "SPIKE" KARAVEDAS
Volume Two
In October 2017, three years after the publication of the first volume of ‘GREEKS IN FOREIGN COCKPITS’, the second volume was released. Inside its 520 pages we read in detail about the lives and combat careers of seven more Greek-born/Greek pilots, who fought over Europe, Mediterranean and China during the Second World War.
1. RICHARD DEMETRIADI
2. JOHN AGORASTOS PLAGIS
3. JAMES C. VOULGAROPOULOS
4. HARRY ZAVAKOS
5. WILLIAM MANOS
6. THEODORE MANOS
7. GEORGE KOURIS
Volume Three
“Life and operatiοnal action of Greek parentage fighter pilots in USN, USAAF & RAF, 1940 - 1945” is the subtitle of this new important book by Eagle Aviation publications.
This is the third volume in the series of an amazing collective work of editorial and artistic excellence, packed in 553 pages, in a 30 X 21,5 cm format.
Released in Summer 2021, we read in detail about the lives and combat careers of ten more Greek-born/Greek pilots, who fought over Europe, Mediterranean, Pacific ocean and Asia during the Second World War. Their stories are supported by photos and testimonies not seen before in Greek and international aviation history publications.
Almost four years after the publication of the 2nd Volume of their research entitled "GREEKS IN FOREIGN COCKPIT", the authors publish their 3rd Volume, continuing to honour the pilots of Greek origin who flew and fought in all theaters of WW2 with the Allied Air Forces. However, for the first time, the authors present to the Greek public both in Greece and in the Diaspora, pilots of Greek origin who operated from the decks of the aircraft carriers of the US Navy. What is also new in this volume is that not only fighter pilots are honored, but also pilots of heavy bombers and dive bombers. Through thorough research, contact with the families of the veterans, personal diaries, and reports from the Groups and Squadrons they flew, the stories of these heroes unfold in the pages of the third volume. In addition, the paintings and color profiles interactively convey the most important events of their career. Names partly known and largely unknown to this day are honored in the birthplace of their families through this edition.
From the Cypriot Panicos Theodosiou who fought in North Africa and Italy, operating together with the Greek Squadrons, the famous Jim Verinis, the first heavy bomber pilot to complete 25 missions over Europe and the co-pilot of Memphis Belle, Paul Bacalis a Japanese Navy ship-killer with radar-equipped B-24s on China front, Christos Mikronis who took part and shot down in his Wildcat during Operation Torch and US Navy almost ace, Sabe Legatos, who excelled with both Grumman fighters to the USS Yorktown reconnaissance pilot with Hellcat F6F-3P, Michael Alexatos, Frank Sarris of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, also flying with Hellcat, the Navy Cross holder Thomas Samaras, for the direct hit he achieved to the battleship Yamato flying the fearsome Helldiver and the almost ace James Sakellariades flying the mighty Corsair, who flew with Samaras from the USS Essex, the authors promise you an exciting experience of a time journey through history. A journey of acquaintance with the heroes we never learned, heroes who brought back the light of freedom in our world.
Ten chapters in total deal with the war biographies & operational action of the following pilots:
1. PANICO H. THEODOSIOU
2. CHRISTOS E. MICRONIS –“IRON MIKE”
3. JIM A. VERINIS
4. PAUL N. BAKALIS
5. SABE LEGATOS – “SAM”
6. GEORGE HANIOTIS
7. MICHAEL S. ALEXATOS – “MAD GREEK”
8. FRANK J. SARRIS
9. THOMAS D. SAMARAS
10. JAMES ‘THE GREEK’ SAKELLARIADES
Text is accompanied by 560 action photographs/images, 42 color profiles, 16 digital color paintings, oil paintings and explanatory tables of confirmed missions/victories-kills (complete with date, aircraft types, flight hours, etc.) for each pilot. Large explanatory captions also accompany all side views/profiles and art paintings. Text is in Greek and captions are bilingual (english/greek)
“Greeks in Foreign cockpits” is an admirable work of collective authorship. Narration fully absorbs the reader and features interesting historical events which unfold unknown scenes of air war drama. The authors collected information - after great effort - from pilot log books, Squadron flight records, witness statements recordings and many other sources, difficult to find and access after so many decades.
Photographic material revealed is important and worthwhile, for the Aviation History fan and the modeler wishing to access such rare to find photos and other details. Paper, printing & sewn binding are all of excellent quality, in a kind of book that will endure time and bring hours of absorbing reading.
All chapters include excellent unpublished action photos from the pilots’ personal albums. Oil paintings, pencil sketches, digital paintings and colour profiles of the aircraft flown by Greek descent pilots supplement the historical research. Once again, the extensive research by the authors has not only yielded fruit - it’s exceeded their expectations.
Maintaining the same format as in volumes A & B and having a quality upgraded cover, the much larger & heavier Volume C is quite impressive. The captions remain bilingual and comprehensive to allow english-speaking readers to enjoy the photos and artistic depictions, as well as understanding the content of the book to a great extent.
As with the first and second volume, the reader will find in Volume C many untold stories of bravery, courage and heroism, during the fierce dogfights of WW2 in European & the Pacific theater. These ten Greek descent pilots are just a fraction of hundreds more Greeks who passionately and bravely joined USAAF, RAF & RCAF, in order to fight for liberty. Their contribution to the final allied victory is as worthwhile as that of the pilots and crews of Hellenic Air Force (EVA – Helliniki Vasiliki Aeroporia) fighting over Greece and MTO. The fact that their actions and contribution have not been officially honored by subsequent and modern Greek State is where this book gives justice and corrects a huge historical oversight or even indifference.
Reading the third volume one can feel all the drama of World War Two and the passion of these pilots for flying and serving the greater cause, fighting the enemy on all Fronts and thus liberating nations suffering under Axis occupation, forced labour, atrocities & tortures. We owe them much more than a posthumous reminicence, biography or award for bravery. The authors have done a superb research, collecting and analyzing countless sources for many years. Contributing aviation artists have created some inspirational paintings & color profiles of the aircraft and the whole publication is a jewel among wartime aviation press, that help us understand our great debt to those unforgettable aviators.
It is remarkable that Volume C manages to be even better and with more surprises and revelations than volumes A & B.
We are certainly anticipating a fourth Volume (D) in the popular series, with even more Greek descent pilots stories of glory and a plethora of interesting subjects for aviation enthusiasts and scale aircraft modelers too!
The three authors are: Demetrios Vassilopoulos, Kyriakos Paloulian and George Chalkiadopoulos.
“Greeks in Foreign Cockpits” Volume Three
532 pages (A4 Format)
560 Photos with bilingual captions, 42 profiles, 8 digital paintings, 5 paintings, many tables of flights/flying hours/missions (including location, date, unit, Squadron code, etc)
Highly Recommended!
To order on-line please click here
You can also visit their dedicated website here or Facebook page here
- Currently (Winter 2021/22) only Volume C is available, as Vol. A & B are out of print. However if you search & act fast you may find more volumes! Worth every cent...
Αlso available here.
