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USS Hornet Sea Air & Space Museum 7 May 2017

Rhino

Rhino

Super Moderator
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My Sweetheart and I took a trip to California to visit her Daughter, Son-in-Law, grandchildren, Sister & Brother-in-Law this May.
We drove 3,710 miles in 10 days. We had a very fine car-ride getting to Oroville, where the kids were. We saw a lot of America the Beautiful. My one wish was to visit USS Hornet CVS-12 at the Alameda pier, in San Francisco Bay. I was quite insistent that we go Sunday 7 May. This was Deb's first visit to any aircraft carrier, anywhere, so I wanted it to be special! I had a ulterior motive That my darlin' Deb did not suspect.
I've been a wee bit slow on posting this. Photo editing tools in Windows 10 are new to me.
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Moored near the old Hornet a 4 huge Ro-Ro's (Roll-on Roll-off cargo carriers) held in readiness by a skeleton crew of 10 Men each. These vessels stand ready to respond to natural disasters that may occur on the Left Coast.

We were met on the Hangar Deck by USS Hornet Museum docent Bert Carlson. Bert is a USS Midway sailor, in the engineering spaces in the mid-1970's. (Don't say "snipe" like that!!) :tomato :salute :skipper
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Originally from Minnesota, tall affable Bert is a treasure trove of US Navy Aircraft Carrier,and engineering lore. We could not have had a better tour guide/wing man. :eek:ldguy :salute
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Not the actual Apollo Capsule, this one was a training unit, made to predict re-entry characteristics of the manned Ship. You would have be pretty friendly with your fellows to take a ride to the Moon in one of these cozy things. My Honey's tricky phone has more computing power than both of the Apollo spacecraft modules of those heady days.
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Them winders ain't facktrey. They wuz added afterwerds. :drool
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The Gray Ghost also recovered the Gemini capsule. The navigation was so precise it looked as if the Gemini capsule might land on the flight deck. :smack As it occurred Gemini splashed down just 3 miles from the Ship. The pictured Sikorsky Sea King is not the actual "Old 66". It IS the proper Sea King. I was saddened to learn the actual "Old 66" was lost a couple of years after the Apollo recovery mission.
 
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One of Composite Squadron 8's TA-4J aggressor ships graced the hangar bay as well.
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This you don't see just every day! the analog mechanical system that drives "The Bug" used in the navigation plot. Keen-O! :coolio
Next stop, Combat! :zen (y)
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USS Hornet's Combat Information Center is as complete as any Sea Dog could ask for. Radar scopes, plotting boards, ad lost of historical value contained here in. Everything but sweating young sailors, and comms chatter. Too fargin' COOL!!
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This 'board shows CV-12, USS Hornet's position in Task Group 58.1 with Adm. James J. "Jocko" Clark in command, during March of 1945 as the attack on Okinawa commenced. Notice the surrounding US Navy Vessel's radio call-signs are also written in in grease pencil. :ro: (it may have been paint pencil these days. Not much updating to do.)
Bert darkened the compartment and turned on the red night vision lamps for us, to add to the ambiance'. Mt camera flash spoiled the effect.
 
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Helo control board, circa 1969. You'll notice on both plotting boards a DD-96, USS Hedley, call-sign "Joker" has been added. As it turns out, Bert's mischievious friend, Keith has "pencilled himself in" to naval history aboard CVS-12. I'd have liked to meet the C/O of USS Hedley (Lamar). I'd imagine he and I are kindred spirits. :rotf

Next up, Flight Deck!
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An imaculate example of the Landing Signal Officer's control platform. Yup! The nets for getting out of the way of wayward Navy aircraft are still there too. The 4-foot chain link is a non-mil spec safety addition.
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For the uneducated among us, I shall narrate! This is the Fresnel landing light system. (the Ball). Aviators coming up the glide slope (yes, Up!) can see the Ball, day or night to let them know how there alignment with the landing pattern looks. The ever-watchful, experience Aviator standing on the LSO platform can see the entire flight deck, and the approaching aircraft. The LSO has absolute authority to allow incoming aircraft to Trap, or to wave them off.
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Bert demonstrated the restored, operating, fresnel landing system for us. This is what a "Wave-off" looks like when the airplane driver has done everything else right. His altitude is good, his speed is good, he's centered on glide path. Contrary to what you see on The Big Screen, not a hell of a lot of radio chatter goes on between the Carrier & incoming aircraft. Hand signals, flag hoists, and finely orchestrated procedures are strictly adhered to. To much chatter gives the Ships position away. :bat
I can't say every visitor gets the V.I.P. treatment Deb & I did. I hope so! Young MR. Carlson Knows his Vessel!
 
More pictures to come. Time for tending to my Ham & potato soup more closely! :yipee
 
really neat! Too bad they don't have the Hraley from Clint Eastwood in MAGNUM FORCE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8l7cD_YI4Y
 
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The VF-101 F-14D still had her GE-110 engines in Her.
We visited the Un-reps conning station, the Bridge, and Deb sat in the Captain's chair. The skipper wasn't about, or He might have tossed us both in the Brig!
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The Helm, inside the armored Battle Bridge and "Vulture's Row". I stood in the very same spot President Richard M. Nixon stood in when Ol' 66 brought the Apollo 11 astronauts back to the Ship. That's RIGHT The Big Dick's footprints!! :rotf
After our tour of the Island superstructure, we freed Bert to go attend to other USS Hornet visitors, subject to the demands of the Service. I did not expect my Sweetie to be as interested in the Ship as she was. Off She went, scampering down ladders and ducking through hatche,s to see more of CVS-12's tidy, squared away spaces.
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Enlisted berthing space
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The Chapel
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After Sick Bay
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The Chief's galley & Mess deck
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Torpedo assembly space. WWII Mk. 13, with a Mk.48 in the background. Anybody Need Mk. 46 acoustic homing torpedo?
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A "Dress up like a Sailor" play area. Deb chose the cap of a Marine Lt. Colonel.
I'll see if my Lady has any more Hornet pictures to post.
Alameda isn't what it once was. No Jets, no silent, gray, steel, ships arriving & departing. No Ratings returning to Quonset huts, after a long day's toil. Most picturesque, and a lot quieter. It smelled nice there too!
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Our hats are off the Men & Women of the USS Hornet Air, Sea and Space Museum! Well Done!!
Special thanks to Chris Miller, and Mr. Bert Carlson. My partners in accomplishing the most important " mischievious mission" of the 4th quarter of this Life. :salute :captain :salute :captain :salute :notworthy :good: :ro: :ro: :dude
 
Not gonna lie. Little jelly. B)

I do miss the time I spent bobbing around on those floating cities. The best of times, the worst of times.
 
No fair, you added more pictures after I commented. Glad I came back around to check. That analog computer is waycool!
 
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Mike's been after me to 'fess about what else we did while aboard USS Hornet. So I will give in.
I have a one-of-a-kind Sweetheart. :love I had a one-of-a-kind engagement ring made for Her by a local Indianola jewelry shop. :coolio I had to choose an unforgettable place for my oft rehearsed proposal. :captain :eek:ldguy :pilot The Men & Women of the USS Hornet Museum and I had been in cahoots for better than 5 weeks. Deb was completely surprised as the visit unfolded. She asked me, "You're doing this here?! Now?!"
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I blew my rehearsed speech. I was uncharacteristically choked up, and managed to get out "Now I have a question for You, Young Lady. Will you Marry me?" :facepalm
Debra put her hand on my face, smiled her signature smile, Then she said "Yes, I will be happy to be your Wife, Chris."
This is not truly a Modeling subject, so I hesitated to post it on M/A. I wish no disrespect to my world-wide Brethren. It IS a Milestone in the life of your, perhaps, most confirmed bachelor.
I never expected to marry again, for any reason. I'm sincere about this Woman. I want Her to have no doubts about it. This Life is finite. Don't waste ONE SECOND of it! :bat
Everything that followed has been, just so much velvet, I can't believe I live in my old, craggy, skin.
Thanks for lookin' in!!
 
Nice! (y) (y) (y)

Wishing you both all the best, now and forever! :drinks

Cheers!

Bill

(You are in by back yard. I'm just a couple of minutes on the other side of those hills in the background). :eek:ldguy
 
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