CV-12 Uss Hornet activites

[RobertN]

The USS Midway is sitting in Alameda. She has a complete superstructure. The Uss Hornet docents said she was being painted, and would then be towed to San Diego. She will then be a museum similar to the Hornet

www.midway.org/

 

[RobertN]

The USS Hornet has a number of aircraft aboard, plus some nose/cockpits. Of note:
* TBM Avenger
* F9F Panther
* FJ-2 Fury
* HUP-1 Retriever
* A-4 Skyhawk
* TA-4J Skyhawk (Trainer)
* US-2B Tracker
* F8U-1 Crusader
* F-8 Nose/Cocpit
* F-14A Tomcat
Space Artifacts
* Apollo Space Capsule (Water Egress Training Module)
* Mobile Quarantine Facility (Apollo 14)

Not sure what the "Knee-knocker" is/was???

We bunked in the enlisted bunkrooms. We were stacked three high. Aluminum fram with canvas cover, and about 2" thick mattress. We were in torpedo bunking. Yes, they were stacked kind tight. There was room in the aisle, but the vertical room was short between bunk.

Check out these two sites.
www.uss-hornet.org
www.midway.org

Note you could get a ride on the Midway from Oakland/Alameda to San Diego, and also across San Diego bay. It'll be the last time she "sails". She will be towed; she won't be under her own power.

 

[r0GuE]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The USS Midway is sitting in Alameda. She has a complete superstructure. The Uss Hornet docents said she was being painted, and would then be towed to San Diego. She will then be a museum similar to the Hornet

www.midway.org/ )</font>

Haha! It's that 2% that always gets me.. Anyone in the MD area know what they cut up there a few years back? I remember my brother saying that it was a big controversy regarding the asbestos...

 

[WVBill]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Not sure what the "Knee-knocker" is/was???
)</font>

They're the bottom lip of the hatchways along the passageways (see attached picture from the Hornet web-site). If you didn't "meet" them in your stay aboard, you did much better than I during my first couple of days. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Eventually, I learned to pick my feet up. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

The ship appears to be superbly restored. I will definitely put a visit to either the Hornet or Midway on my "must see" list for my next trip to the West coast!

 

[bcarter]

As far as I know there are a bunch of these floating museums around. I have first hand experience with the battleship USS Massachusetts in Fall River MA. In addition to the battleship, they have a destroyer, a submarine, and several PT boats. They also do the "sleep over" thing for scout groups.

I believe that there is a similar set-up in North Carolina and in Florida but I don't remember the names of the ships. If my memory is indeed correct, they do overnight trips for scout groups as well.

Spending a night on one of these ships certainly gives you a new appreciation for what our military goes through in defense of our county! They had my un-ending gratitute before but seeing first hand how they lived and worked...gratitude just doesn't seem like enough.

The USS Massachusetts is maintained by a group called "Tin Can Sailers" (I think). Ex Navy folk who volunteer their weekends to work on these ships. We met one of these guys who had been stationed on the Massachusetts during WWII and who had worked in the area where we were berthed (Warrant Officer's Mess). He was more that happy to chat with us and was absolutely facinating to listen too...

I'd highly recommend a trip to one of these museums if you get the chance...

 

[RobertN]

Looking in the Scout magazines, there are a few floating museums that advertise overnites. There's not much out West, besides the Hornet. Sounds like the Midway might do a similar program.

Not only was it very interesting, it was really a deal. The overnite, with dinner, breakfast, activities, simulator ride, was only $50/ea.

Yes, the docents were great. Many had been either on the Hornet, or similar carriars.

 

[Golfgar4]

I think the same thing is or already has been planned for the U.S.S. Wisconsin. I believe that it is supposed to be moored in Norfolk, Virginia. Now let me see, Virginia sounds kind of like Wisconsin, right?? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Here is the U.S.S. Wisconsin website if anyone is interested. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[dmccarty]

North Carolina has the USS North Carolina in Wilimington.
Alabama has the USS Alabama in Mobile as well as a bunch of
WWII aircarft and submarine. Course I saw USS 'bama when
I was little kid so that was a few decades ago. I was on the
USS North Carolina a few years back. They where resurfacing
the wooden deck so they where selling the old wood. Bought a
junk of the old deck for a few bucks. Cheap piece of history!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I would love to get on a longer tour to see more of the ship....

Later,
Dan McCarty

 

[BobReeves]

Brings back memories, good and bad. I was attached to VA-216 abord the USS Hancock CVA-19 from 62 to 66. Slept right under the cats, one deck down from the flight deck. A carrier flight deck can be a pretty exciting place at night.

 

[B7500]

Very cool.
I was stationed on her sister ship CVA-43 the Coral Sea '69-'70. We had a nine month cruise to Viet Nam that I will never forget.
Nothing I ever did was ever better for me then being able to proudly serve this great country of ours.
-Terry