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Last updated on January 29, 2008

The Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation’s goal is to create and maintain a world-class museum with an emphasis on 20th century history, especially naval aviation and lunar space exploration (sea, air, and space). A State and National Historic Landmark, Hornet is a significant community asset that supports a wide range of community activities. These include patriotic events, youth outreach, and educational programs and exhibits.

History:
The USS Hornet(CV-12)was commissioned on November 29, 1943. Her incredible exploits during World War II earned her the Presidential Unit Citation and
nine battle stars. During the 14 months she was in harm’s way, she never tied up at a pier.During that time, her pilots and crew destroyed over 1,400 enemy planes and sank 73 enemy ships. She was attacked 59 times but never suffered a major hit. Hornet is one
of the most decorated ships of WWII, having participated in nearly every major action in the latter-stage Pacific Theater of operations.
In the 1950’s, Hornet was modernized and re-designated
as attack carrier CVA-12.However, she was too small to
handle the high performance jet aircraft then entering
the fleet, and was reassigned as an anti-submarine
warfare carrier, CVS-12, in 1958.
Her illustrious career culminated with the flawless recoveries of Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 in the Pacific
Ocean. On July 24, 1969, the Apollo 11 command module
“Columbia”, and the first humans to walk on the moon, parachuted into the ocean.
Under the gaze of President Nixon, the Hornet helicopters and crew recovered the astronauts, command module and 46 pounds of moon rocks. Once
the astronauts were quarantined in a special trailer on the ship, 500
million TV viewers worldwide watched as the President welcomed
Buzz Aldrin,Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins back to earth.
Because of this perfect performance, she was also selected to recover
Apollo 12, one of the most successful space missions ever flown.
Hornet retrieved the all-Navy astronaut crew of Pete Conrad,Alan
Bean, and Dick Gordon and the command module“Yankee Clipper”
on November 24, 1969.
Like many of her sister WWII aircraft carriers, Hornet was retired
from service in 1970 . For 25 years, she quietly waited for her next assignment while silently tied up in the mothball fleet in Bremerton, Washington.
In 1991, Hornet was designated a National Historic Monument, and in 1997 she opened to the public at the former Alameda Naval Air Station.

Contact people:

Gene Brown, Volunteer Manager, (phone), (email) Pete Sutherland, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (510) 521-8327

Address:

Pier 3, Alameda Point PO Box 460 Alameda, CA 94501 (See a map)

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

Directions:

From 880 or 980 follow signs to Alameda via the Webster Street Tube (tunnel). Upon exiting the tube, follow Webster Street to Atlantic Avenue and turn right. Follow Atlantic Avenue through the gate into Alameda Point (formerly Naval Air Station Alameda). Turn left on Ferry Point and proceed along the water towards the cluster of large ships. The USS Hornet has a flat top and airplanes or helicopters parked on top. Free parking is available across the street from the USS Hornet. From Walnut Creek   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: BART West Oakland,   Walk distance (in minutes): -   Nearest Bus Stop: AC 60, 15 minute walk

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