Author Topic: USS Hornet Aircraft Carrier (Read 521 times)

Cabin4 · « **on:** February 18, 2009, 06:22:16 PM »

Went on a tour today of the USS Hornet which is docked at the old Alameda pier near Oakland Ca. Anyone who has not been on board an aircraft carrier, this is a great tour. I've been on a few of these big ol ships and this one is pretty cool. Well worth the tour. They have guided portion and a unguided portion where you can go off an explore the ship on your own. Amazing how big they are and yet the new Nimitz class carriers are 2 to 3 times larger with a crew of 6,000. Amazing.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2009, 09:33:15 AM »

I found some pictures of her. Beautiful ship. Dale

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2009, 09:34:03 AM »

Here is another. Dale

leesecw · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2009, 10:02:27 AM »

Yup I second that. Ive been on the Yorktown at Patriots Point SC. I would recommend that to anyone withing reach to go see

Oldshooter · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2009, 11:37:13 AM »

Yes the big flat tops are magnificent, We have one in Corpus Christi and when my son was a boy scout we went down and stayed the night aboard. It is the Lexington, an old girl but in good shape! It was a grand experience.

My father was a Quarter Master on board a Jeep carrier in WWII. They carry the Initials CVE, I asked him what that meant, He said " Combustible...Vulnerable.... Expendable. They were not nearly as comfortable as the big flattops but they got a few licks in he said, and took a few also

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2009, 12:21:18 PM »

I spent enuff time aboard carriers that I think it will a long time before I go aboard for a tour of one And then it would prolly be showing someone else around

But they are grand ladies and don't regret a minute I was aboard one.

beerbelly · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2009, 03:01:17 AM »

The Lexington's last station while still active was Pensacola FL. I use to see her quite regularly while sailing down there. I hated to see them put her out to pasture, but she was getting old.
Beerbelly

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2009, 03:39:00 AM »

Quote from: beerbelly on February 21, 2009, 03:01:17 AM

The Lexington's last station while still active was Pensacola FL. I use to see her quite regularly while sailing down there. I hated to see them put her out to pasture, but she was getting old.
Beerbelly

I was probably on deck watching you watch me ride her out once or twice,

Skunk · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2009, 05:20:01 AM »

Fun thread here Cabin.

Boarding the Hornet must have been an excellent trip into History. Another ship of that era was the USS Wasp (CV-7). I'm especially fond of the Wasp because I have a very dear family member who served on her. Uncle Bud was aboard the USS Wasp when it got torpedoed and sunk on September 15, 1942 while on duty in the Guadalcanal. Uncle Bud was one of the last sailors off the Wasp that day as she was sinking because he was busy helping the more injured men to safety.

The USS Wasp received two battle stars for her World War II service.