{"id":7563,"date":"2023-01-16T12:00:47","date_gmt":"2023-01-16T11:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?p=7563"},"modified":"2023-01-09T04:03:36","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T03:03:36","slug":"a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"<b>A gray ghost in the San Francisco Bay Area<\/b>: Visiting the USS Hornet Sea, Air &#038; Space Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The north western tip of Alameda Island, located across the bay eastward from San Francisco (California), is an ideal location for a ghosts movie.<\/p>\n<p>Former host to <strong>Naval Air Station Alameda<\/strong> (NAS Alameda), the area was only partly redeveloped into housing facilities after the base&#8217;s closure in 1997 and most of its facilities still remain in place and remain abandoned or have been recycled into a variety of civilian businesses.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7649\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7649\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7649\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7649\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7649\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-30-022_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-022_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"China Clippers\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Alameda Naval Air Museum pays tribute to Pan American&amp;#8217;s original San Francisco sea planes base, operating there 1935 through 1939 for trans-Pacific services to China (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-022_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7649\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-022_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"China Clippers\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-022_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-022_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-022_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7649\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Alameda Naval Air Museum pays tribute to Pan American&#8217;s original San Francisco sea planes base, operating there 1935 through 1939 for trans-Pacific services to China (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p>In addition to the Alameda Naval Aviation Museum, an A-4A Skyhawk gate guardian behind NAS Alameda old entry point and a lonely A-7 Corsair II plynth-mounted at West Atlantic Avenue between Orion and Corsair streets, the area is host to mythical aircraft carrier, <strong>USS Hornet (CVS-12)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The eight United States Navy (USN) ship to bear the &#8220;Hornet&#8221; name, CVS-12 is also known as the <strong>&#8220;Grey Ghost&#8221;<\/strong>, both because of its operational call sign and due to over thirty volunteers and staff members experiencing unusual presences and sounds on board since the vessel was berthed at NAS Alameda pier 3 in 1995.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7644\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7644\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7644\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7644\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7644\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-30-011_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-011_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1672431429&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Skyhawk\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Misterious A-4A Skyhawk 142200\/NH-312 &amp;#8220;Mayor Ralph Apezzato&amp;#8221; (actually ex BuNo 139921?) guards the former NAS Alameda gate (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-011_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-7644 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-011_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Skyhawk\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-011_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-011_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-011_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7644\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Misterious A-4A Skyhawk 142200\/NH-312 &#8220;Mayor Ralph Apezzato&#8221; (actually ex BuNo 139921?) guards the former NAS Alameda gate (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p>As a result, USS Hornet ghosts have been the subject of frequent media coverage and dedicated expeditions, from \u201cMy Ghost Story\u201d (Biography Channel&#8217;s \u201cShip Of Lost Souls\u201d, 2012) to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gC9OsON96yc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;All aboard the USS Hornet, the most haunted ship in America&#8221; (Localish, 2019)<\/a><\/span> to countless written reports and testimonies and the museum&#8217;s trademark <strong>&#8220;History Mystery Tours&#8221;<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>USS Hornet is dead&#8230; long live USS Hornet!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Some authors, however, theoretize that Hornet&#8217;s ghosts come not from CVS-12 itself but from its predecessor, short-lived <strong>Yorktown-class carrier CV-8<\/strong>, which was sunk in battle by Japanese torpedo and dive bombers during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands on 10\/26\/1942.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7646\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7646\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7646\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7646\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7646\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-30-033_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-033_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Carriers and seaplanes tenders\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Modern signs remind us of the usage given to piers south of NAS Alameda for aircraft carrier operations since World War II. Notice naval air stations facilities and hangars on the distant background (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-033_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7646\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-033_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Carriers and seaplanes tenders\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-033_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-033_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/12\/2022-12-30-033_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7646\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Modern signs remind us of the usage given to piers south of NAS Alameda for aircraft carrier operations since World War II. Notice naval air stations facilities and hangars on the distant background (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Its short-lived combat record during World War II included launching lieutenant colonel James Doolittle&#8217;s (himself a native of Alameda!) famous raid on Tokyo, the Battle of Midway, the Buin-Faisi-Tonolai raid as well as the capture of Guadalcanal and earned it a well-deserved name revival when <strong>Essex-class carrier CV-12<\/strong> was commissioned on 11\/29\/1943.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike its predecessor, whose career spanned only one year and seven days, CV-12 remained operational for nearly three decades and went on to log an impressive service career, both in combat in two United States foreign wars, the space race and miscealeous duties.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7658\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7658\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7658\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7658\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7658\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-27-107_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-107_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Island\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Hornet&amp;#8217;s weather seasoned island is decorated with several campaign pins, including nine Battle Stars and one Presidential Unit Citation earned in WW2, and the US presidential seal after Richard Nixon embarked for Apollo XI&amp;#8217;s return to Earth (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-107_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-7658 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-107_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Island of the USS Hornet\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-107_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-107_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-107_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7658\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Hornet&#8217;s weather seasoned island is decorated with several campaign pins, including nine Battle Stars and one Presidential Unit Citation earned in WW2, and the US presidential seal after Richard Nixon embarked for Apollo XI&#8217;s return to Earth (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p>In its original configuration, Hornet fought the last 16 months of <strong>World War II<\/strong> recording an impressive combat log: Her aircraft downed 1,410 Japanese aircraft, destroyed or damaged 1,269,710 tons of enemy shipping and scored the critical first hits in sinking Japanese super battleship Yamato.<\/p>\n<p>Also launched the first carrier aircraft strikes in support of the liberation of the Philippine Islands and the first air strikes against Tokyo after the 1942 Doolittle Raid and, having been 59 times under air attack, she was never seriously damaged&#8230;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7660\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7660\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7660\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7660\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7660\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-27-022_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-022_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,768\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"WW2 Vet\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;VT-17&amp;#8217;s TBM-3 Avenger 69375\/14 &amp;#8220;Miss June&amp;#8221; illustrates one of the units earning Hornet its latest WW2 decorations during the final push against Japanese territory (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-022_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7660\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-022_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"WW2 Vet\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-022_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-022_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-022_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7660\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>VT-17&#8217;s TBM-3 Avenger 69375\/14 &#8220;Miss June&#8221; illustrates one of the units earning Hornet its latest WW2 decorations during the final push against Japanese territory (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p>After the great war and 4.5 years in mothballs, the carrier was recomissioned in the early 1950s and became a specialized <strong>attack carrier<\/strong> (CVA-12) after undergoing a US $50 million renovation process fitting her with more powerful catapults and arresting gear, a strengthened flight deck, a new streamlined island, new ammunition lifts and numerous other improvements facilitating adoption of new jets and heavy attack bombers that placed her at the forefront of aircraft carrier technology.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Cold War &amp; Vietnam<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In the late 1950s, a new renovation gave Hornet her final configuration and pennant number as a specialized <strong>antisubmarine warfare support carrier<\/strong> (CVS-12), incorporating and angled flight deck, an enclosed hurricane bow and helicopters and piston-engine aircraft into its flying wing.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7662\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7662\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7662\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7662\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7662\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-27-188_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-188_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Transition\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Three aircraft types illustrating Hornet&amp;#8217;s evolution from a WW2 general purpose to attack to ASW support carrier (foreground to background): Agressor TA-4J Skyhawk 159137\/SE-00, US-2B Tracker 136691\/NV-12 and Marines FJ-2 Fury 132057\/WF-5 (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-188_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-7662 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-188_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Transition\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-188_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-188_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-188_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7662\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Three aircraft types illustrating Hornet&#8217;s evolution from a WW2 general purpose to attack to ASW support carrier (foreground to background): Agressor TA-4J Skyhawk 159137\/SE-00, US-2B Tracker 136691\/NV-12 and Marines FJ-2 Fury 132057\/WF-5 (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Little over a decade after WW2, Hornet was again involved in (near) combat action when Chinese anti-aircraft gunners shot at two of <em>Hornet\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0aircraft but, other than minor damage, both aircraft returned to\u00a0<em>Hornet<\/em> safely to complete one more of its many Western Pacific tours.<\/p>\n<p>Fast forwarding to the second half of the 1960s, the vessel performed three <strong>Vietnam combat tours<\/strong> (in 1965, 1967 and 1968), its air wing performing search and rescue, helicopter support for strike aircraft, submarine tracking, anti-submarine warfare and surveillance duties.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7665\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7665\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7665\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7665\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7665\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-27-209_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-209_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1672955188&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Retriever\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Piasecky HUP-1 124915\/UP-8 from HC-1 Pacific Fleet Angels squadron (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-209_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7665\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-209_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Retriever\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-209_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-209_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-209_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7665\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Piasecky HUP-1 124915\/UP-8 from HC-1 Pacific Fleet Angels squadron (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Hornet was also involved in the search for survivors of the &#8220;Hainan Incident&#8221;, when a Cathay Pacific Douglas DC-4 airliner was shot down by two Chinese La-7 Fin fighters in 1954, and a historical Hollywood Hills fire that devastated the Los Angeles suburb in 1961, her two diesel generators being used to feed electricity into the Southern California power grid.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"vc_separator wpb_content_element vc_separator_align_center vc_sep_width_100 vc_sep_pos_align_center vc_sep_color_blue vc_separator-has-text\"><strong>Space Age pioneer<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Her last and most notorious peace-time duties, however, saw Hornet participating in the United States space program as a spaceships recovery vessel, starting in 1966 with a suborbital space flight by Apollo AS-202, an unmanned capsule that was recovered 300 miles north of Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7668\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7668\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7668\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7668\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7668\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-27-207_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-207_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Apollo Sea King\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;With five black cones on the nose, HS-4 Black Knights&amp;#8217; Sikorsky SH-3H 148999\/66-E recalls its Apollo 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 recovery flights (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-207_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7668\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-207_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Apollo Sea King\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-207_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-207_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-207_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7668\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>With five black cones on the nose, HS-4 Black Knights&#8217; Sikorsky SH-3H 148999\/66-E recalls its Apollo 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 recovery flights (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Three years later, she was again designated the primary recovery ship for the first two missions to reach the moon: <strong>Apollo XI<\/strong> (Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Mike Collins, 07\/1969) and <strong>Apollo XII<\/strong> (Pete Conrad, Alan Bean and Dick Gordon, 11\/1969).<\/p>\n<p>In 1970, Hornet&#8217;s operational career came to an end after an S-2E Tracker performed the carrier&#8217;s last arrester landing in February and the ship was finally decommissioned at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (Washington) in June.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7670\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7670\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7670\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7670\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7670\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-27-048_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-048_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C731&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,731\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"NASA MQB\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;With Apollo XIV&amp;#8217;s unused mobile quarantine facility, the museum illustrates the habitats where astronauts spent their first few days back on Earth. Notice sign used to mark Armstrong and Collins first steps on the carrier after returning from the Moon (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-048_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C731&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-7670 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-048_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C731&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"NASA MQB\" width=\"1024\" height=\"731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-048_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-048_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C214&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-048_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C548&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7670\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>With Apollo XIV&#8217;s unused mobile quarantine facility, the museum illustrates the habitats where astronauts spent their first few days back on Earth. Notice sign used to mark Armstrong and Collins first steps on the carrier after returning from the Moon (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Almost two decades later, Navy ordered <em>Hornet<\/em> stricken from the Naval register and, still berthed at Puget Sound, it was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Alameda ghosts &amp; relics<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In 1998, <em>Hornet<\/em> was donated to the <strong>Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation<\/strong>, relocated to Alameda and opened to the public at today&#8217;s USS Hornet Naval, Air &amp; Space Museum, becoming a California State Historic Landmark one year later.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7673\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7673\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7673\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7673\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7673\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-27-129_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-129_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Viking\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Foreign to Hornet&amp;#8217;s history, Lockheed S-3B preserves special markings worn while commander Muzzafar &amp;#8220;Shaka&amp;#8221; Khan was commanding officer, VS-31 Topcats, when the squadron was decomissioned in 2008 (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-129_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-7673 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-129_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Viking\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-129_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-129_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-129_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7673\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Foreign to Hornet&#8217;s history, Lockheed S-3B preserves special markings worn while commander Muzzafar &#8220;Shaka&#8221; Khan was commanding officer, VS-31 Topcats, when the squadron was decomissioned in 2008 (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p>The author visited the museum before the 2022 end of year amidst a cold, cloudy, rainy and windy storm front which added ambient sensibility to the carrier&#8217;s spooky fame.<\/p>\n<p>While no spectre showed-up during our three-hour evening tour, exhibits from the Second World, Korea and Vietnam wars and the Apollo program provided more than adequate entertainment for an aviation buff and &#8220;via satellite&#8221; witness to the 1969 lunar landings.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7676\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7676\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7676\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7676\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7676\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-30-052_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-052_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C731&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,731\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Corsair II\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Fully armed with bombs and air-to-air missiles and painted in colorful 1960s and 1970s livery and markings, VA-304 squadron A-7B 154362\/ND-400 recalls the last NAS Alameda commanding officer, captain L. J. Dodge, and his executive officer, commander K. L. Hilleman (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-052_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C731&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7676\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-052_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C731&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Corsair II\" width=\"1024\" height=\"731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-052_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-052_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C214&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-30-052_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C548&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7676\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Fully armed with bombs and air-to-air missiles and painted in colorful 1960s and 1970s livery and markings, VA-304 squadron A-7B 154362\/ND-400 recalls the last NAS Alameda commanding officer, captain L. J. Dodge, and his executive officer, commander K. L. Hilleman (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Destination: Alameda<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>As noticeable in this <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Alameda_2022_f2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pista 18&#8217;s inventory<\/a><\/strong><\/span> logged during the visit, Alameda Island was host to a total 17 aircraft: Two gate guardians on the ground and 13 complete airframes plus two nose sections on display at the aircraft carrier itself (all but two dutifuly kept under cover inside the carriers hangars).<\/p>\n<p>Aircraft on display show a representative sample of World War II through to Gulf War participants and the types operating from USS Hornet&#8217;s throughout its multifaceted career as a generic, attack, ASW support and spaceship recovery carrier.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7681\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7681\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7681\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7681\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7681\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-27-034_edited\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-034_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Historical fleet\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;This large-size Richard Radigonda canvas inside CVS-12&amp;#8217;s main hangar illustrates all aircraft types operating in both USS Hornet carriers: From naval fighters and torpedos bombers and Doolittle&amp;#8217;s B-25 Mitchells of WW2 to first-generation shipborne jets from the Cold and Vietnam wars to Sea King helicopters from the Space Race to Tracker and Tracer twins from the carrier&amp;#8217;s last operational years (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-034_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7681\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-034_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Historical fleet\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-034_edited.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-034_edited.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/01\/2022-12-27-034_edited.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7681\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>This large-size Richard Radigonda canvas inside CVS-12&#8217;s main hangar illustrates all aircraft types operating in both USS Hornet carriers: From naval fighters and torpedos bombers and Doolittle&#8217;s B-25 Mitchells of WW2 to first-generation shipborne jets from the Cold and Vietnam wars to Sea King helicopters from the Space Race to Tracker and Tracer twins from the carrier&#8217;s last operational years (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>How to reach the USS Hornet<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you happen to visit the San Francisco Bay Area, don&#8217;t miss the chance to tour this interesting piece of naval, air &amp; space history: It may not be easy to get there&#8230; but the time spent onboard will be fully rewarding!<\/p>\n<p>Getting there from San Francisco is relatively easy on working days using the Alameda Seaplane Ferry Route, while access from eastern bay locations requires taxi or application services (or just plenty of walking time!) to enter Alameda Island, NAS Alameda and the USS Hornet museum themselves.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7565\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7565\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?attachment_id=7565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7565\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7565\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-gray-ghost-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-a-visit-to-the-uss-hornet-museum\/2022-12-27-223-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/2022-12-27-223-3.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Gray ghost\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Cloudy and rainy winter weather provide a somber background consistent with USS Hornet&amp;#8217;s spooky fame (photo: Carlos Ay).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/2022-12-27-223-3.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-7565 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/2022-12-27-223-3.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"USS Hornet: Gray ghost\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/2022-12-27-223-3.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/2022-12-27-223-3.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/2022-12-27-223-3.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7565\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Cloudy and rainy winter weather provide a somber background consistent with USS Hornet&#8217;s spooky fame (photo: Carlos Ay).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Internet sources<\/strong>: CAG-17 VT-17 Torpedo Squadron Seventeen, LinkedIn, Oakland Magazine, Scramble, Skyhawk Association, USS Sea, Air and Space Museum and Wikipedia.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Alameda Naval Aviation Museum houses several and interesting surprises, both for the gate guardians on land, as well as the mythical aircraft carrier, USS Hornet (CVS-12). Thus, it is a very interesting aeronautical option for those who visit San Francisco and its bay area.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13],"tags":[53,108,36,102,82,98,105,104,107,106,101,103,99,95,97],"class_list":["post-7563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-relics","tag-a-4-skyhawk","tag-a-7-corsair-ii","tag-aeromilitaria-usa","tag-apollo-program","tag-f-86-sabre","tag-korea-air-war","tag-piasecky-hup-1","tag-s-2-tracker","tag-s-3-viking","tag-sikorsky-s-61","tag-space-race","tag-tbm-avenger","tag-uss-hornet","tag-vietnam-air-war","tag-world-war-ii"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/2022-12-27-223-3.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1JKRl-1XZ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9549,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/skyhawk-illustrated-12755-from-the-cold-war-to-the-bottom-of-the-south-atlantic\/","url_meta":{"origin":7563,"position":0},"title":"Skyhawk Illustrated #12755: From the Cold War to the bottom of the South Atlantic","author":"Guillermo Canosa","date":"Monday 15 January 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The protagonist of our story (#12755) was an A-4C with intense combat activity: Since leaving the factory, it has toured Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean Sea and Vietnam with the US Navy. Acquired by the Argentine Air Force, it was deployed to southern Argentina due to the conflict with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Defence &amp; security&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Defence &amp; security","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/category\/defence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/12\/004-BENEDETTO_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/12\/004-BENEDETTO_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/12\/004-BENEDETTO_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/12\/004-BENEDETTO_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7158,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/skyhawks-illustrated-12505-a-veteran-of-the-controversial-attack-on-hms-invincible\/","url_meta":{"origin":7563,"position":1},"title":"Skyhawks Illustrated #12505: A veteran of the controversial attack on HMS &#8220;Invincible&#8221;","author":"Guillermo Canosa","date":"Thursday 6 October 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Initially built for operation aboard American aircraft carriers, this particular Skyhawk had a rich operational history as it served in wartime, or near wartime, operations both in the United States Navy (USN) and later in the Argentine Air Force (FAA). One of its initial squadrons, VA-46 \"Clansmen\", was the first\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Defence &amp; security&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Defence &amp; security","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/category\/defence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Kill markings","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/09\/1985-11-29-0D0012_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/09\/1985-11-29-0D0012_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/09\/1985-11-29-0D0012_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/09\/1985-11-29-0D0012_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7037,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/skyhawks-illustrated-14110\/","url_meta":{"origin":7563,"position":2},"title":"Skyhawks Illustrated #14110: A Skyhawk that flew to the sound of the Marseillaise","author":"Guillermo Canosa","date":"Monday 15 August 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Skyhawk reloaded\u2026 in 1970 McDonnell Douglas offered an improved A-4 to extend its active life in the U.S. Marine Corps, starting a proliferation of versions now known as the Skyhawk II.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Defence &amp; security&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Defence &amp; security","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/category\/defence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Black on white","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ORIGINAL2_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ORIGINAL2_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ORIGINAL2_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ORIGINAL2_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1727,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/the-2004-argentine-exercises-index\/","url_meta":{"origin":7563,"position":3},"title":"The 2004 Argentine Exercises Index","author":"Carlos Ay","date":"Thursday 21 February 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"In one more Argentine military aviation exercises index, we disclose an updated version of our original Aeromilitaria Argentina index for year 2004. This more complete alternative reviews nearly 50 exercises, simulations and drills totalling at least 240 days of activity on the field. Another \u201cinternational\u201d year, 2004 was packed full\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Defence &amp; security&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Defence &amp; security","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/category\/defence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/20040617-USN.jpg?fit=650%2C433&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/20040617-USN.jpg?fit=650%2C433&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/20040617-USN.jpg?fit=650%2C433&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5901,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/skyhawks-illustrated\/","url_meta":{"origin":7563,"position":4},"title":"Skyhawks Illustrated #12931: An Argentinian Skyhawk that was never Argentinian","author":"Guillermo Canosa","date":"Thursday 15 December 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Our latest Skyhawk Illustrated is an A-4C with an intense operational life which, transiting through Vietnam and AMARC, nearly made it into the Malaysian Air Force and, when its history seemed to be near the end, was rescued and restored as a flying display aircraft... ultimately being painted in Argentinian\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Defence &amp; security&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Defence &amp; security","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/category\/defence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fake Argie","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3031\/06\/13532_1554274977_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3031\/06\/13532_1554274977_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3031\/06\/13532_1554274977_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3031\/06\/13532_1554274977_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7723,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/jester-scooter-13265-from-top-gun-aggressor-to-hollywood-star\/","url_meta":{"origin":7563,"position":5},"title":"Skyhawks Illustrated #13265: Jester&#8217;s Scooter in Top Gun","author":"Guillermo Canosa","date":"Monday 20 March 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Our story's main character was manufactured at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant in Long Beach (California) and was delivered to the United States Navy on 06\/01\/1964 bearing Bureau of Aeronautics Number 151095. In nearly three decades of operational service, it logged a long and intense activity in both training and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Air shows &amp; aviation events&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Air shows &amp; aviation events","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/category\/air-shows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jester","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/02\/000-PORTADA.jpg?fit=1024%2C581&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/02\/000-PORTADA.jpg?fit=1024%2C581&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/02\/000-PORTADA.jpg?fit=1024%2C581&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/02\/000-PORTADA.jpg?fit=1024%2C581&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7563"}],"version-history":[{"count":123,"href":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7563\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7713,"href":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7563\/revisions\/7713"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}