George J. Savino was born in 1930 in Brooklyn, NY. He joined the Air Force in 1948 and served until 1952. George requested to attend the Photography Program upon entering the Air Force. After completing the program, he was stationed at a base in Dayton, Ohio where he was assigned as a Base Photographer.
The Korean War began in June of 1950. In July of 1950, he was sent to Korea and was assigned to the Air Division called “Combat Cargo”. His division had a newspaper called The Airlift Times and he became the Staff Photographer. His unit airdropped paratroopers and supplies such as weapons and small canons that were towed by jeeps to the areas they were needed. His unit was a part of the first operation to airdrop a bridge.
George took many photos during the time he served in Korea, some of which gain national recognition. His commanding General selected one of his photos to be on the cover of Time magazine. A photo George took of a young Korean orphan walking up a ramp into a cargo plane to be evacuated from a warzone was on display in a Korean War Exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
George proudly served his country for four years in the Air Force and his photos documented the people who fought in the war and whom it affected.