USS HORNET (CV-12)

[CarlLinkenbagh]

There are a few WW2 Essex class carriers preserved in the USA - the USS HORNET (CV-12) is one of them. She's moored in Alameda, California just across the bay from San Francisco and is open as a museum ship.

She's looking a little tired and could do with a coat of paint on the exterior - but is still an impressive sight.

There is an interesting exhibit about the Apollo 11 mission, as HORNET was the first piece of solid ground (or deck) that Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins stood on after they'd been to the Moon. There's also some historic aircraft and you can tour much of the ship's interiors which is interesting.

[MikeJames]

Hoping to visit New York next year where her sister ship and fellow museum the Intrepid is on the must-do list.

In London will see Belfast but she has been well and truly done to death. Hopefully the Science Museum has its models on show, same for the Naval Academy at Greenwich.

In St Petersburg hope to crawl all over and photograph the Tsarist cruiser Aurora.

Not sure what will catch a TF 72 member's eye in Moscow but we shall see.

Mike

[MichaelB]

The science museum had cleared out all its models when I went in there in 2011.

The IWM has a load and down at Chatham Dockyard the NMM models are on display along with Cavalier, an O boat etc.

[MikeJames]

I am afraid there are two chances of me getting down to Chatham, and one belongs to a man named Buckley.

[MichaelB]

40 minutes by high speed train from central London.

There is also a good model boat shop in the precinct and the Chatham Historical Dockyard Museum has quite a few models many of which were made for the TN. Also a Coastal Motor Boat from WW1 & a bunch of life boats.