World War II Through My Father's Eyes: Photo Album of Donald Krasno, USAAF 4th Photo Technical Squadron, Italy 1944-1945

By Sue Schoenfeld

Donald Krasno (1921–2005) served in World War II in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Fifteenth Air Force, 5th Photo Group Reconnaissance, 4th Photo Technical Squadron, as a Photo Laboratory Technician in Italy from 1944–1945. While in Italy, he took hundreds of photos and collected even more. This book features 175 photos selected from his album of over 500 photos of life in post-Liberation Italy—fellow soldiers, officers, and townspeople in San Severo, Rome, Venice, and beyond. There are aerial reconnaissance photos and closeups of a variety of reconnaissance aircraft. The photos give a rare insight into World War II in Italy, but also honor my father’s vision. He clearly had in mind a story to tell—of the horrors of war and the strength of spirit of those who fought it, lived it, and prevailed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sue Schoenfeld
• Release date: Apr 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370045938

Sue Schoenfeld

Sue Schoenfeld was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and now lives in Mitzpe Ramon, Israel. She is a digital publisher and web designer, www.websthatsell.com.

Book preview

WORLD WAR II Through My Father’s Eyes

Photo Album of Donald Krasno,

USAAF 4th Photo Technical Squadron,

Italy 1944–1945

Sue Schoenfeld

Copyright 2018 by Sue Schoenfeld

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

www.donaldkrasno.com

Mitzpe Ramon, Israel

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to www.smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

Corporal Donald Krasno, Italy, 1944

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

Epigraph

Album

Appendix A – Org Chart

Appendix B – Airfield Map

Bibliography

DEDICATION

In loving memory of my two gifted creatives. Grandfather and grandson channeled beauty, love, and light. May their memory be a blessing.

Don Krasno zl with grandson, Dan Schoenfeld zl, in 2004

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Liberated in 1944, the southern Italian town of San Severo played an important role in support of the Fifteenth Air Force servicemen who were stationed at nearby airfields. The fact that they could walk to town (or pile into a Jeep), wander around on market day, buy ice cream, and meet locals, was, I’m sure, a comfort to my father and his fellow soldiers. To the people of San Severo, thank you.

Saverio d’Incalci, of San Severo, saw some of my father’s photos that I had posted online. He messaged me and asked where specific photos were taken, people’s names, events depicted…but I had few answers. I’m so thankful he is a man of action. He immediately wrote back, I will help you. Two years ago, we began to collaborate. I sent copies of photos to Saverio and he surprised me time after time by replying with exact locations, names, and events…in photos over 70 years old. Once we got going on the project, he began to create composite now and then images that were both beautiful and incredibly helpful. I’ve included them on my father’s website—they are amazing.

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