Page 15 - Aerotech News and Review, Sept. 7 2018

GREEK, from 14
short ceremony was held that ended with special emissary from the U.S. Depart- ment of Justice Dr. Henry Hazard ex- tending his hand, looking in the lieuten- ant’s eyes and saying, “Gentlemen, may I present to you Lt. Spiro Pisanos, who for the first time ever has just been natu- ralized as a U.S. Citizen on foreign soil.”
As the crowd from the small gath- ering started to thin out, three men lingered behind and congratulated the young flier and new U.S. citizen. One was Walter Cronkite, the other Edward
R. Murrow -- but the one chance meet- ing that would reach all the way back to his youth and dreams of flying as a young boy in Greece was Ben Lyon. An American actor now living in London, Lyon was the star of Howard Hughes’ World War I epic film, Hell’s Angels.
Ben congratulated the young lieuten- ant and said he admired his flying with the RAF early on. He invited Steve to his home for a small get-together in his honor, which he gladly accepted. Once there and after meeting all the guests,
The movie, starring Ben Lyon, that inspired the young Greek. Pisanos would later meet Lyon in London.
Celebrate the new year in a Chevrolet.
www.RanchoMotorCo.com
Call us today at (760) 955-8200
Sales • Service • Parts • Detail • Body Shop
Sales: Mo-Sa 9a-9p, Su 10a-7p Service/Parts: Mo-Fr 7a-7p, Sa 8a-4p
Body Shop: Free Estimates. We Come to you
CIV-MIL
Courtesy photograph
uted so much to your love of flying. My God, you certainly accomplished your boyhood dream, first as a fighter pilot in the RAF and now a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. What a great achieve- ment on your part!”
I finish off this story of our War Eagle Field student who flew our skies and went on to become an accomplished Ace, with a bit about his meeting with a young writer for Stars and Stripes that we previously mentioned -- Walter Cronkite. Cronkite had written an ar-
September 7, 2018 Aerotech News and Review www.aerotechnews.com ........ facebook.com/aerotechnewsandreview
15
Courtesy photograph
Second Lt. Steve Pisanos, sporting his new uniform after leaving the RAF for the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Courtesy photograph
Second Lt. Steve Pisanos, newly minted U.S citizen and American fighter pilot, with his P-47 Thunderbolt.
he said, “You know Mr. Lyon, we have met before.” “We have? Where?” Lyon asked, puzzled. “Must have been in Hol- lywood or New York City.” “No,” said the lieutenant, “it was in Athens, Greece, my birthplace, and then again in a small theater in a small town in the desert southwest while I was in training! Hell’s Angels played a part in my decision to become a military aviator and inspired me while in training.”
“How amazing,” said Lyons, “to hear that my Howard Hughes movie contrib-
• MAXIMUM OF 144 PLAYERS
• TROPHIES for First, Second, Third,
and Last Place Teams
• CLOSEST TO THE PIN (par 3’s only)
• LONGEST DRIVE (male and female)
• LONGEST PUTT
• PUTT CONTEST (challenging)
• BEST DRESSED TEAM
ticle about Steve for Stars and Stripes. Departing town after the interview and leaving aboard a crowded train, a shiny new P-47 Thunderbolt buzzed his train and sent people ducking for cover. The plane came back for a second pass and wagged its wings, and Walter realized it was his new Greek pilot friend wish- ing him good-bye. Funny, I wonder if he learned those buzzing techniques chas- ing jackrabbits and dodging Joshua trees here in the Antelope Valley.
Until next time, Bob out ...!
Register at EAFBCIVMIL.org
for more information contact Tricia Granger at t.granger@qic.com
SEPTEMBER 28, 2018
MUROC LAKE GOLF COURSE
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE
SHOTGUN START, BEST BALL SCRAMBLE 8 AM
• $100 PER PLAYER (Golf, Cart and Lunch only)
• $130 ALL IN PER PLAYER (Golf, Cart, Lunch, all contests and rescue card)
• $50 PER PLAYER ACTIVE DUTY ONLY