USS Hornet 

Description

One of two ships named Hornet to fight in the second world war, and the 8th US naval vessel to bear that name, the Essex-class aircraft carrier CVS-12 USS Hornet is now a museum open to the public.  Commissioned in November 1943, she remained in service until June 1970, seeing extensive combat in the second world war and Vietnam.

In addition Hornet also played a role in the Apollo program.  In 1966 she was the main recovery ship for AS-202, an unmanned Apollo capsule used for flight testing.  On July 24, 1969 Hornet recovered astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin at the end of the Apollo 11 lunar mission.  Hornet similarly recovered Apollo 12 astronauts Charles Conrad, Jr, Alan L. Bean, and Richard F. Gordon, Jr. on November 24, 1969.

Hornet includes several aircraft on her flight deck and hangar deck.  There's also an exhibit on the Apollo program and the part Hornet played in it.  The AS-202 Apollo capsule she recovered is on display, along with an Apollo quarantine trailer, a Gemini capsule, and a moon rock (a breccia, encased in plastic).

A note to history buffs:  the Hornet that launched the famous Doolittle raid was CV-8, this ship's predecessor.  CV-8 was sunk in battle in 1942.

Main Web Site

http://www.uss-hornet.org/

Location

707 West Hornet Avenue, Alameda, CA

Drive Time

from Ames (per Google maps):  56 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes, depending on traffic

Public Transit

Hours

7 days a week, 10 AM to 5 PM (the admissions gate closes at 4 PM)

Occasionally closed for private events.

Cost

$14 general admission

$12 with student ID

Groups of 15 or more get $2 off their admission.

Free to museum members.