WWII Pilot Flew Over Normandy in ’44—Now Son Wants You to See Photos
Summary
A Colorado man named Michael Savino shared photos and stories about his father, Frank V. Savino, who was a World War II reconnaissance pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Frank flew missions over Normandy in 1944, taking important photos that helped plan the D-Day invasion. Michael later connected with the family of his father’s lost wingman by researching wartime records.Key Facts
- Frank V. Savino was a Second Lieutenant and pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
- He flew a P-38 Lightning plane used for photo reconnaissance missions, which means taking pictures of enemy positions from the air.
- Frank’s squadron, the 30th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, took photos that helped plan the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944.
- Michael Savino inherited a collection of these wartime photos, some showing Utah Beach before D-Day and others honoring fallen airmen.
- Frank lost his wingman, Lt. Vernon J. Razak, on his first mission when Razak did not exit clouds they flew through.
- In 2011, Michael identified Razak by researching squadron history and contacted Razak’s family to learn more.
- The 30th PRS played a key role in gathering intelligence for the Allies in Europe from 1943 to 1945.
- Frank rarely talked about his wartime experiences due to the reserved nature of his generation.
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