Date of birth:

November 20th, 1900 (Soturac, France)

Date of death:

October 6th, 1985 (Paris, France)

Nationality:

French

He was a military officer and engineer

25th August 1939 : mobilised as air reserve captain in the 21st régiment d''aviation in Nancy
22nd June 1940 : sail via Pointe de Grave to England to join the Free French Forces in London
As a pilot, he took part of the air operations in North Africa, East Africa, Middle East. Après-guerre, il retrouve sa profession d''ingénieur en Afrique puis en France et occupe des fonctions honoraire
8th August 1940 : commander of a bombing squadron in Odiham, il prend le 8 août 1940 le commandement October 1940 : sent qith his squadron to Takoradi in Ghana.
24th December 1940 : reinforced with 1 squadron, creation of the FFL Groupe réservé de bombardement no 1. 1941 - 42 : took part of the bombing of the Italian troops to support FFL operations led by general LECLERC in KOUFRA.
March-April 1941 : Campaign in Sudan. Ethipia and Erythrea to bomb ennemy lines of communication and convoys.
July 1941 : promoted chief of Free French Air Forces in Middle East
August 1941 : promoted lieutenant-colonel
December 1941 : promoted full colonel
May 1942 : sent to the Free French liaisons general services
September 1942 take part in the délégation en Afrique du Sud du Comité national français.
End 1942 to 1st April 1943 : special operations in Western Africa
April 1943 : appointed to the staff of general CATROUX in Algiers
October 1943 : Campaign of the liberation of Corsica as deputy commander of the Air Arty Brigade.
1944 : deputy commander of the Ari command in Corsica then staff member of the Air Arty Brigade.

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• - Ordre de la Libération
  - Interview de Monsieur Astier de Villatte et retour des corps des aviateurs tués à Koufra
  - Jean Astier de Villatte - Les Francais Libres