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- San Antonio Light, Texas, Wednesday, January 2, 1957
Guests Arrive in Costume
At Maj. Hen. and Mrs. Harold H. Bassett?s New Year?s eve party in their Kelly AFB quarters, the 40 guests came in costume to represent authors, titles or characters of books.
A buffet supper was served at midnight, the table being adorned with fruit and red tapers.
Mrs. Bassett and the general?s mother, Mrs. Arch Bassett, Albion, Ill., will leave Jan. 7 for the west coast to be joined by Gen. Bassett in February, when they will fly to his new assignment in Formosa. Stops will be made en route in Honolulu, Mrs. H.H. Bassett?s home town, and in Japan.
1920 Federal Census of Albion, Edwards County, Illinois (15 Jan 1920)
Archibald Bassett - 42 - M - IL-IL-EN - Head - Proprietor Flour Mill
Clara - 37 - F - MO-IL-EN - Wife
Harold H. - 12 - M - IL-IL-MO - Son
Franklin L. - 5 - M - IL-IL-MO - Son
(Living at 320 Fourth Street)
1930 Federal Census of Perris, Riverside County, California
Bachelor Officer Quarters
Harold H. Bassett - 23 - M - IL-IL-MO - Lieutenant Army
Biography, United States Air Force
Major General Harold H. Bassett
Retired October 1959
Major General Harold Huntley Bassett was born in Albion, Illinois in April 1907. After preliminary schooling in Albion and two years at St. John's Military Academy, Delafield, Wisconsin, he entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1925. Upon graduation in 1929 he was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers but went directly into flying training and upon completion thereof was transferred to the Air Corps. After approximately five years of squadron officer duties in Hawaii and at Randolph Field, Texas, General Bassett took the course in meteorology at the California Insitute of Technology, Pasadena, California, and, in 1937, when the Air Weather Service was first organized, he commanded one of the three original weather squadrons.
Leaving the weather service in 1940, he was again assigned to Hawaii where he performed administrative and staff type duties; however, he was selected to participate in the first mass flight of B-17's from the mainland to Hawaii and, for his part therein, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Shortly after the outbreak of the U.S.-Japanese hostilities in World War II, General Bassett was assigned to the Naval War College as a student. Upon completion of this course he returned once again to the Weather Service, where he remained - in Washington and Europe - until shortly after the end of the war. For his services during this period, General Bassett received the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster and the Bronze Star Medal.
Upon his return to the United States in 1947, General Bassett attended the National War College and then spent the following three years in the Joint Staff.
In 1951 he was assigned to the recently organized U.S. Air Force Security Service as deputy commander and in 1953 succeeded to the command of that organization - a position he held until 1957 when he became deputy commander, Taiwan Defense Command. There were two promotions during this period; to brigadier general on September 5, 1952 and to major general on October 27, 1954.
Returning to the United States in November, 1958, General Bassett was assigned as commander, Air Weather Service, Headquarters Air Weather Service, Military Air Transport Service, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
The Beacon
St. John's Military Academy
Delafield, Wisconsin
Vol. 27, #1
Oldest Living Alumnus Turns 100! (Includes pictures)
On April 1, 2007, Major General Harold Bassett S'24 USAF (Ret.) celebrated his 100th birthday. The gala celebration took place in the ballroom at the residence of the General's assisted living facility in San Antonio, Texas. Academy Director of Alumni Gary Richert presented General Bassett with a plaque from the Corps of Cadets with best wishes and the hopes of many more birthday celebrations to come. The General graduated from West Point in 1928 and was visited by representatives from his college alma mater (picture included). John G. Minniece S'50 of Houston, also visisted the General to honor him on such a momentous occasion (picture included).
Express-News
7 October 2007
Harold H. Bassett (includes picture in uniform)
Major General Harold H. Bassett was born April 1, 1907 in Albion, Illinois and died in San Antonio, Texas on Thursday, October 4th at age 100. He is survived by his grandsons Michael Hill of Weston, Texas and Russell Hill of Sherman, Texas; granddaughter Heidi Hill of San Francisco, California and nephew John Bassett of Geneva, Illinois. He was predeceased by his wife Anita Bassett and daughter Frances Hill. He was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and his military service was in the Army Air Corps and USAF where his assignments included command of the Air Weather Services and the USAF Security Service. Burial will be at the family plot in Albion, Illinois. You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.poterloring.com. Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1907 - 2007 (100 years)