Robert L Astrella
Military
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
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

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Reconnaissance

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Reconnaissance
![Photographic officers of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group look through camera lenses infront of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Esten Illustrated.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 8 Jul 1943.' [stamp] and '273528.' [Censor no.]. A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-380976.jpg?itok=zrxuKlZU)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Reconnaissance
Aircraft
Places

- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Boston, Massachusetts | 17 September 1921 | |
Died |
12 July 2007 |
Revisions
Associated images from the Freeman Collection taken by Robert Astrella
Updated bio and Associated images
+ Obituary: http://forum.armyairforces.com/Robert-Astrella-and-others-still-with-us…
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self