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The U.S.S. Hornet is a historic aircraft carrier that has been converted into a museum. The ship stands ready for visitors to explore. She is filled with exhibits, including aircraft, and offers a glimpse into history. The ship served in World War Two and the Viet Nam War. She was also the ship that recovered the first astronauts who walked on the moon.

This World War Two Era Essex Class aircraft carrier was commissioned in 1943 and designated CV-12. CV-12 Hornet was named after the previous carrier CV-8 Hornet, which was a veteran of the Battle of Midway and the Doolittle Raid. CV-8 was sunk on October 27, 1942 in the battle of Battle of Santa Cruz. CV-12 had an outstanding war record. Her aircraft destroyed 1,410 Japanese aircraft and destroyed or damaged 1,269,710 tons of enemy shipping.

She was briefly decommissioned in the late 1940s. However, she was retrofitted to accommodate jets in the early 1950s and returned to service. She went on to serve in the Viet Nam War. The Hornet later became the Prime Recovery Ship for the Apollo 11 Mission.

Now the Hornet has been converted to a museum. Visitors can roam her flight deck where aircraft would take-off and land. They can wander through her hanger deck where aircraft were stored, repaired, maintained, and readied for missions. Throughout the ships are a variety of exhibits.

Knowledgeable docents can be found throughout the ship and provide guided tours of areas that are otherwise not open to the public. Some areas of the lower decks are available for self guided exploration, while examining others will require accompanying a docent’s tour. Tower access requires a docent guide.

Some of the many exhibits are dedicated to aircraft, life aboard the ship, and the Apollo Missions. One exhibit describes the contributions of Americans with Japanese ancestry who served during WWII .

Some access requires going up and down ladders, so the museum is not for the non-ambulatory. I suggest allowing at least two to four hours to explore the museum.

There is a flight simulator on the flight deck which we did not have enough time to during on our visit.

Occasional parties and dances, typically with live big band music, are held on the hanger deck. Overnight family visits are also available. Check their website for a schedule of events.

The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the gates closing at 4:00 pm. The adult admission price is $14. The admission is discounted for children seniors, and military.

The location of the museum has historic significance. In 1942 the earlier aircraft carrier CV-8 Hornet spent time in this same area Alameda. In Alameda land based medium bombers were loaded aboard. And then the ship departed for the Doolittle Raid. The Doolittle Raiders shocked Japan by delivering an attack on Tokyo and other home cities. It proved a moral boost for the United States.

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