USS Essex

USS ESSEX

World War ll

Part 1

Buccaneer

USS ESSEX

Newspaper

Coming Soon

November 25th, 1944 KIA

Coming Soon

"Captain Hugh N. Batten was born in Huntington, West Virginia on October 17, 1923. He entered the Naval Aviation Cadet program in 1942 and received his wings and commission in December 1943. Batten checked out in F4F Wildcats and F6F Hellcats and in December 1944 joined Fighting Squadron 83 (VF-83) which would go aboard the USS Essex in early 1945, as a part of the famed Carrier Task Force 58."

"Batten flew his first combat mission on March 19, 1945 and as the formation passed over Kure Naval Base 25 to 30 enemy fighters were sighted. Batten and his wingman, Lt. (j.g.) Samuel Brocato, tied into a formation of Jack fighters and using mutual support tactics managed to down two of them apiece. His next action came on April 6, 1945 off Okinawa. While on defensive patrol, Batten and his wingman got into a formation of Zekes headed for the fleet. Using the tactics that had proven so successful previously, he and his wingman Brocato each downed four of the enemy fighters earning a Navy Cross for both pilots. Final combat came for Batten and Brocato on July 28th when they teamed to destroy two Tonys over an airfield in central Kyushu, Japan."

"Hugh Nash Batten was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery, section 64, site 767."

Navy Cross Citation reads: "The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Hugh Nash Batten (NSN: 0-326456), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron EIGHTY-THREE (VF-83), attached to the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action against the enemy on Combat Air Patrol over our Task Force operating in the vicinity of Okinawa on 6 April 1945. During this flight Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Batten initiated an attack against nine enemy fighters and shot down four of them. His courage and skill in pressing home an attack against forces greatly superior in number was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

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