![[Pronasko Picture]](PronaskoS_01.JPG)
Stefan Pronasko
1904 - 1986
Automotive and aerospace engineer
by Artur Zygmont
Stefan Pronasko (1904-1986) led a miraculous life. Born in Warsaw, Poland, he finished technical schools in his native country and received further schooling at the Fiat Motor Company in Turin, Italy. This launched him on his first career as a technical manager of automotive facilities in Poland and Czechoslovakia. Pronasko also helped Fiat to modify its racing cars with such advancements as better fuel economy and automatic window washers. He was also part of Fiat's racing team at the rallies in Monte Carlo before World War II.
The War changed Pronasko's life as it did so many others. He was in the Polish Army in 1939 and, after Poland's defeat, managed to get to France via Sweden, to fight again. After the French defeat in 1940, Pronasko joined up with Polish forces in North Africa and saw duty in Egypt and Central Africa. Taking advantage of his mechanical automotive skills, he was sent to Canada, in 1944, to operate and improve a laboratory for testing engines for airplanes for trans-Atlantic flight.
In 1949, Pronasko immigrated to the United States and worked for General Motors and Ford. He supervised Ford's automotive test facility. In 1957 he switched from automotive engineering to aeronautical engineering joining Rocketdyne in Canoga Park, California where he worked for 18 years. During that time he advanced to Senior Research Engineer and supervised the building of a Rotary Test Facility, which is still in use. He also improved dynamometers for rocket engines. During his aerospace career, he was consulted by Werner Von Braun, America's leading rocket scientist and helped NASA solve a serious problem. NASA awarded Pronasko a Meritorious Award.
After Pronasko retired he invented and patented a directionally driven automobile. His untimely death left this project uncompleted. Nevertheless he had a remarkable career in both the automotive and aerospace worlds.
From: "Polish Americans in California, Vol. II," National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association, California 1995.
Stefan Pronasko
Research engineer
Born Nov. 25,1904; (deceased Aug., 1986); married Maria; child: Dorota.
Education: Technical College, Warsaw, Poland; trained by Fiat in Torino, Italy.
Career: Fiat's employ in Poland; Well known in European car racing; National Research Council, Ottawa, Canada, 1944; General Motors, Detroit, Ml, 1949; Ford Motor Company, Detroit, Ml 1952; Research engineer, Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, CA. (testing rocket engines, solving fuel problems).
Military: Veteran World War II, fought in Poland, France, Egypt.
Author: Patent for Directionally Driven Electric Automobile.
Honors: Meritorious Disclosure Award from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
From: "Polish Americans in California, Vol. II," National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association, California 1995.