Restoration of the Mighty Hornet

Thanks to the efforts of private citizens and volunteers from the IUOE Local 3 in Oakland, Calif., the USS Hornet will be turned into the first aircraft carrier museum on the West Coast. It took 3 1/2 years for the Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation to gain ownership of the Hornet which was destined to be dismantled. The ship was towed from the Bremerton Naval Shipyard (Seattle, Wash) to the now former Alameda Naval Air Station. It is expected that the restoration work will take 5 years.

Sheeding Crane and Rigging of San Francisco donated two 160 ton Americans cranes and a volunteer group went to work in replacing the carrier's 52 ton aircraft elevator to the side of the ship.

Originally built at a cost of $68 million the Hornet was commissioned November 29, 1943. She has a proud history including sinking 73 enemy ships, downing 1,420 enemy aircraft, and surviving 59 kamikaze attacks in WW2.
The Hornet served in Korea and Vietnam with distinction. Among many memorable moments was the recovery of the Apollo 11 spacecraft near Hawaii on July 24, 1969. On her deck can be seen the painted footprints of Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin and Michael Collins after their return from the moon. The USS Hornet was retired from duty in June 1970.

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restoration photo courtesy of Steve Moler,
background info courtesty of International Operating Engineer vol 141,
Hornet photo and story courtesy of Vicki Dodge whose father, William H. Dodge served on the Hornet.

Links

USS Hornet ( CV12 ) Museum

A Brief History of the US Navy Aircraft Carriers
USS Hornet (CV 12)