| Notes |
- Raleigh/Durham/Cary/Chapel Hill News Observer
(includes picture)
Commander (CDR) Charles A. Bassett, U.S. Navy, Ret., 89, of Chapel
Hill, died on October 12, 2004 at the home of his son.
CDR Bassett was born November 20, 1914 on a ranch in Las Vegas, New
Mexico, two years after the territory became a state. He was one of eig
children, born to Guy Bassett and Helen Olsen Bassett. He was the last
surviving sibling. After attending the University of New Mexico at
Albuquerque, he enlisted in the Navy and entered flight school. He was
commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, November 1, 1941. A career officer
and naval aviator, he retired as a Commander.
CDR Bassett was a World War II veteran. He served at sea and on
numerous Naval Air Stations. He had two tours of duty in the South Pacific.
His first tour of Duty began when he reported to a seaplane squadron on
Christmas Day 1941, at Pearl Harbor. During his first tour he flew search and
destroy, and rescue missions near Pearl Harbor and at Midway. Following the
Midway battle he rescued a downed B-17 crew. On his second tour, he flew B-
24's based at Guadalcanal, where the squadron provided scouting and bombing
support.
After the South Pacific, CDR Bassett was assigned to an anti-submarine
squadron, based in England. He completed 45 missions on that assignment,
including D-Day patrol over the English Channel. Later, he was assigned to the
U.S. Naval Forces France and served as the staff pilot. He was in Paris on V-E
Day. The remainder of his career consisted of various duties both on shore and
at sea. The two assignments he remembered most fondly were his duty on the
carrier, USS Yorktown, while it was ported in Japan. The other, when he was
stationed at the U.S. Naval Station on Kwajalein Island, the gateway to atomic
testing in the South Pacific. His family was privileged to accompany him
there. CDR Bassett made a few footsteps in history.
CDR Bassett is survived by his son, Charles R. Bassett of Chapel Hill
and wife, Maryann; five grandchildren, Crista Lantz of Charlotte and her
husband, Jim, Sarah Phillips of Raleigh and her husband, Todd; Laura Bassett
of New York, Andrew Bassett of Chapel Hill, and Carrie Bassett of Buffalo, NY.
He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Catie and Maddie Lantz and
Joshua Phillips.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Catherine McBirnie
Bassett and his son, William Jay Bassett.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Burial will ta
place at St. Matthew Catholic Cemetery, Durham, North Carolin
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Bassett's memory may be made
to UNC Hospice, Pittsboro, NC.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1914 - 2004 (89 years)