CV-12 Uss Hornet activites

RobertN · Dec 17, 2003

Took 15 Webelos and accompanying parent to the USS Hornet for the overnight program this last weekend. Was that ever just a fine time!

We styed the night on the old carriar, which is now a museum. It is docked at the old Alameda Naval Air Station.

We arrived at the ship, had an orientation, stowed our gear, and then had chow in the mess hall. Afterwards, we got to tour the whole ship. On this particular night, they had engine rooms and Special Weapons open; those are usaully closed to visitors. Turns out, Special Weapons was for Nuclear warheads... We toured the bridge, flight deck, ready rooms, hangar bay, ect.

We stayed the night in the crew quarters. After breakfast in the messhall, we got to explore the rest of the day Sunday. They also gave us passes for a flight simulator.

On the way home, a few of us drove by the USS Midaway. It is at Jack London Square. It is being prepper for tow to San Diego, where it will be another museum.

While on theHornet, I got to talk to a Docent I had "met" by email. One of his flight partners knew him from the time they flew F9F Panthers and Cougars off the USS Phillipine Sea. It was cool to talk to him about flying off carriars in the first carriar based jets. I had met his buddy at the air museum in Palm Desert. Julie had also flown from the USS Hornet. While on the Hornet he flew F4U Corsiars.

It was a great expierience. All of the kids enjoyed themselves, and learned a bit too. I have a feeling we will do it again next year as second year Webelos!

MossRoad · Dec 17, 2003

Wow! What a great treat for the kids. Sounds like a good time was had by the leaders, as well. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

WVBill · Dec 17, 2003

A great experience. Good to see they're using those old ships for something other than scrap metal.

I lived on the USS Midway (CV-41) for eleven straight months in 1971/72 - at the time, we set the record for longest Navy ship deployment. Flew EKA-3's based out of Alameda. We left Alameda in April of '71 and returned in March of '72, as I recall.

Are these museums run by the Navy or by private enterprises?

Docsknotinn · Dec 17, 2003

How cool is that ! Sounds like big fun. Scouting is a great program. I'm glad they have survived. Dave

F350Lawman · Dec 17, 2003

That sounds like apretty great trip for the kids..and dads /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I bet you guys were more into it than the kids. Real nice that the let it be an overnight visit.

My father served on the USS Oriskany, where he ran the catapualt and arresting gear. Sadly the Oriskany will be sunk early next year. It is going to be a reef off of Florida

RobertN · Dec 17, 2003

As museums, they are run privately. It took a while to get the Hornet ready as a musuem, mostly because of funding. The Hornet already had parts removed before it was pulled from dismantling. It needed lots of painting and safety work. Some ships, like the one in NYC, get funding through things like endowments.

Interestingly, the Hornet gets the bulk of its funding through its over nite program. Regular ticket sales are just a small part of its income.

We went by the USS Midway. They do have some tours, but I do not think as extesive as the Hornet. It is, just temoporarily in Alemeda. It's scheduled to move to San Diego later this month. The docents did not comment on the condition of the Midway, but I think it is in better shape than the Hornet was when the Navy donated it as a museum.

The program let us see most of the ship. At 6'2", I came close to hitting my head a lot. Some areas were short ceilinged(?).

It would be really cool if one of these could go on short cruises. It would cost soo much to get one running though.

RobertN · Dec 17, 2003

Ya, we had a few parents who were hard to keep settled down, they were so excited!

r0GuE · Dec 17, 2003

( I lived on the USS Midway (CV-41) )

I sailed through Baltimores inner harbor (5 ?ish) years ago. I am 98% sure it was the Midway being cut up. The deck was flat, no superstructure and part of the deck was off. I was told it had a long journey to get there because of asbestos problems. Nobody wanted to cut it up.
It's a shame they did, but what are ya gonna do...

WVBill · Dec 17, 2003

Again, great to see that someone has come up with a way to preserve these venerable old ladies.

Do they have any of the aircraft aboard?

( At 6'2", I came close to hitting my head a lot. Some areas were short ceilinged(?). )

Do they still have the "knee knockers" or did they remove them for safety/comfort sake?

What kind of accomodations did you have for your overnight stay?

I was an officer so I lived in bunk rooms where we had no more than maybe 12 people in bunks that were two high. Enlisted quarters had bunks that were three to four high in the same amount of vertical space and crammed 30 or 40 of them into a single berthing space. I often marvel that prison cells are much more comfortable than the quarters our enlisted sailors must live in. It's not for mis-treatment it's just the only way to stuff 5,000 people, 100 or so airplanes and all the other necessary "stuff" onto a ship.