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Military
Staff Sergeant Robert Astrella of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group with the signboard of the 22nd Photographic Laboratory at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: 'Mount Farm.'
P-47 Thunderbolts including (serial number is 44-20230) at Mount Farm in August 1944. The black nose bands on the aircraft indicate they have not been assigned to a unit, and are likely on a delivery flight from Burtonwood. 44-20230 flew with the 53rd FS, 36th FG and more than likely retained the black nose bands throughout her tenure with the Squadron. 53rd airplanes flew with either bare cowlings or black nose bands, while her sister 36th FG squadrons flew with red (22nd FS) or black/yellow (23rd FS). They are likely being prepped to cross the channel to join up with the 36th on the continent. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: 'Mount Farm.'
A Spitfire Mark XI of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Handwritten on slide casing 'Spitfire XI Mount Farm.'
An F-5 Lightning of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group takes off at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: "Mount Farm R. Astrella"
Jim Wicker and Major Robert R. Smith of the 22nd Photographic Squadron, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group with an F-5 Lightning at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Handwritten on slide:" Jim Wicker (L) & Maj Robert R Smith 22PS R. Astrella 122 22/4/44"
A B-25 Mitchell aircraft (serial number 253357) nicknamed "Miss Nashville" (prior to the stripping of her black paintwork) of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Handwritten on slide case:"7PG Mount Farm R. Astrella"
A Mark XI Spitfire (serial number MB950) nicknamed "Upstairs Maid", of the 14th Photographic Squadron, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group taxies past a Cletrac at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Handwritten on slide case:"Spitfire XI Mount Farm Astrella" Photo has been reversed, note national insignia on wrong wing.
A P-51, Mustang of the 27th Photographic Squadron, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group taxying at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissace Group. Handwritten on slide:"P51 27 PS at Mount Farm R. Astrella"
A P-51, Mustang of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Handwritten on slide:"P51 7PS Robert Astrella"
A Mark XI Spitfire, (serial number MB946) of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group landing at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographioc Reconnaissance Squadron. Handwritten on slide:"MB946 Mount Farm R. Astrella"
Staff Sergeant Robert Astrella was a keen photographer, he photographed the aircraft that visited Mount Farm, and like many airmen he used his leave to travel to historic sites around Britain. His colour photographs are a rich record of Britain at war – through his lens the airfields bustle with aircraft and activity, the thatched cottages appear sleepy and pubs busy with American uniforms. In 1998 he donated some of his impressive photographic record of the war to the Imperial War Museum and Roger Freeman. Astrella died 12 July 2007.
Good Conduct Medal/ Presidential Unit Citation/ Croix de Guerre w/ Palm & 6 Battle Stars
Group
Based for the majority of their service at Mount Farm, Oxfordshire, the 7th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) took over three million intelligence photos during the course of 4,251 sorties over occupied Europe. The Group was awarded a Distinguished...
Military site : airfield
Originally a grass airfield satellite for the RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at nearby RAF Benson, Mount Farm was built in 1940-1941. It had three concrete runways, 49 dispersals (24 concrete pan type plus 25 PSP squares), and eight blister...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Boston, Massachusetts | 17 September 1921 |
| Died | 12 July 2007 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 March 2015 10:05:52 | Emily | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated images from the Freeman Collection taken by Robert Astrella |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 30 September 2014 14:43:40 | Emily | Changes to biography, awards, events, place associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
Updated bio and Associated images |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:23:41 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self |
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