Date of birth:

October 17th, 1923 (Huntington, West Virginia, United States)

Date of death:

October 24th, 1990

Buried on:

Arlington National Cemetery
Plot: 64. Grave: 767.

Nationality:

American

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 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. (jg) 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.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant (junior grade)

Unit:

Fighting Squadron 83 (VF-83), U.S.S. Essex (CV-9), U.S. Navy

Awarded on:

July 6th, 1945

Awarded for:

Operation Iceberg

"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."

While on defensive patrol on April 1st 1945 of Okinawa, Batten and his wingman got into a fight with 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.

Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0960

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant (junior grade)

Unit:

Fighting Squadron 83 (VF-83, U.S.S. Essex (CV-9), U.S. Navy

"For heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as leader of two carrier-based fighter planes in Fighting Squadron EIGHTY-THREE (VF-83), attached to the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), on a fighter sweep in the vicinity of the Islands of Kyushu on 19 March 1945. During this flight he initiated and pressed home an attack against six enemy fighters and in the action shot down two of them. His skill and courage in attacking against superior numbers was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant (junior grade)

Unit:

Fighting Squadron 83 (VF-83, U.S.S. Essex (CV-9), U.S. Navy

"For heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Kyushu and Okinawa. As Pilot of a carrier-based plane during the period 22 March 1945 to 26 April 1945, he participated in twenty strikes and flights over enemy territory and inflicted extensive damage to enemy airfields and installations. His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

Fighting Squadron 91 (VF-91), U.S.S. Philippine Sea (CV-47), U.S. Navy

Awarded on:

August 13th, 1953

• - Recipients of The Navy Cross, 1916 - Present, by C. Douglas Sterner
  - American Fighter Aces Abulm Published by the American Fighter Aces Association, 1979
  - Hugh Batten - Recipient -
  

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