BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF CAPTAIN H. BURT BASSETT

Captain Henry Burt Bassett attended Davidson College and the University of Florida where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. Captain Bassett entered Flight Class 158, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida on 15 October 1940 as an aviation cadet. After successful completion of training, he was commissioned an Ensign on 1 July 1941. His first duty station was NAS, Corpus Christi, Texas as a flight instructor and ground school instructor.

Following duty at NAS, Corpus Christi, Texas, Captain Bassett was assigned to Composite Squadron TEN as Executive Officer. During the years 1944 and 1945, he led torpedo bomber strikes against land and sea targets in the Pacific Island campaign against the Japanese operating from the decks of escort carriers. In November 1945, he was assigned to duty as Communications Officer, NAS Key West, Florida.

Captain Bassett attended general line school, Newport, Rhode Island as a student and graduated in 1949, followed by an assignment in Composite Squadron TWELVE at NAS, Quonset Point, Rhode Island as Operations Officer.

A tour of duty beginning in June 1951 as Executive Officer of Naval Reserve Officers Training Unit, Vanderbilt University, was followed by an assignment as Commanding Officer, Air Anti Submarine Squadron THIRTY TWO at NAS, Quonset Point, Rhode Island in October 1953. In February 1955, he was assigned as navigator of USS Siboney, as anti-submarine aircraft carrier operating with the Atlantic Fleet.

After this came a tour of shore duty as Communications Officer, Staff, Chief of Naval Air Training, NAS Pensacola, Florida and in 1958, an assignment as Assistant Plans Officer, Staff, Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic. In August 1960, Captain Bassett attended the National War College, Washington, D.C. as a student and graduated in June 1961.

On June 28, 1963, Captain Bassett assumed command of Fleet Airborne Electronics Training Unit, Atlantic Fleet. In mid-summer 1965 he became Commanding Officer at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Then in June 1967, Captain Bassett reported to the Bureau Of Naval Personnel, Washington, D.C for duty as Director, Naval Manpower Information System.

Captain Bassett has the Distinguished Flying Cross; three air medals and the Presidential Unit Citation. He also wears the American Defense, Asiatic Pacific Campaign with four stars, Philippine Liberation, Philippine Unit citation, National Defense, American Theater, World War II Victory and Navy Occupation Medals.