Robert L Astrella

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.'

Object Number - FRE 5376 - Staff Sergeant Robert Astrella of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group with the signboard of the 22nd Photographic Laboratory at Mount Farm....

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

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

A Mosquito (Z, serial number MM 345) of the 25th Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: '25 BG Mosquito Z.'

MM345

  • Aircraft Type: Mosquito
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 802nd Reconnaissance Group (SP) 653rd Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Boston, Massachusetts 17 September 1921

Died

12 July 2007

Revisions

Date18 Mar 2015 10:05:52
ContributorEmily
Sources

Associated images from the Freeman Collection taken by Robert Astrella

Date30 Sep 2014 14:43:40
ContributorEmily
Sources

Updated bio and Associated images
+ Obituary: http://forum.armyairforces.com/Robert-Astrella-and-others-still-with-us…

Date27 Sep 2014 18:23:41
ContributorAAM
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self

Robert L Astrella: Gallery (190 items)

Mosquito PR Mark XVI, MM364, at Mount Farm, Oxfordshire, on being handed over to the USAAF.Image by Robert Astrella

Object number: COL 369 - Mosquito PR Mark XVI, MM364, at Mount Farm...

Mosquito PR Mark XVI, MM364, at Mount Farm, Oxfordshire, on being handed over to the USAAF.Image by Robert Astrella

Object number: COL 370 - Mosquito PR Mark XVI, MM364, at Mount Farm...

The George Hotel and High Street in Dorchester, Oxfordshire. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group . Written on slide casing: 'Dorchester, (near Mount Farm) Oxon.'

Object number: FRE 10515 - The George Hotel and High Street in Dorchester...

A thatched cottage in Drayton St. Leonard, Oxfordshire. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group . Written on slide casing: 'Drayton St. Leonard, Oxon.'

Object number: FRE 10516 - A thatched cottage in Drayton St. Leonard...

Corporal Robert Brud of the 303rd Bomb Group, cleans the propeller of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'The Holidays He Missed. 23 year-old Robert Brud, of 4618 N. Melvina Avenue, is a corporal in the Air Corps. In private life he was with the Howard Radio Corporation of Belmont Avenue. "I hope you enjoyed your holidays" he sends word to his parents and sisters. "I'm busy here, but fine." O.P.S. Robert cleaning props. 47a.' On reverse: Current Affairs

Object number: FRE 4168 - Corporal Robert Brud of the 303rd Bomb Group...

Two P-47 Thunderbolts of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: 'Mount Farm.'

Object number: FRE 5358 - P-47 Thunderbolts including (serial number is 44...

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.'

Object number: FRE 5359 - A Spitfire Mark XI of the 7th Photographic...

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"

Object number: FRE 5360 - An F-5 Lightning of the 7th Photographic...

Vehicles and base buildings at Mount Farm, home of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Handwritten on slide case “Astrella Mount farm”

Object number: FRE 5361 - Vehicles and base buildings at Mount Farm, home of...

An F-5 Lightning of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group at Chalgrove. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Handwritten on slide case: "Chalgrove? R. Astrella"

Object number: FRE 5362 - An F-5 Lightning of the 7th Photographic...

An F-5 P-38 Lightning of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group takes off at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: " 423709 R. Astrella Mount Fm"

Object number: FRE 5363 - An F-5 P-38 Lightning of the 7th Photographic...

The nose art of an F-5 Lightning nicknamed "Dot + Dash" of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing:"F-5 DOT DASH R IM138"

Object number: FRE 5364 - The nose art of an F-5 Lightning nicknamed "Dot +...