USS Hornet (CV-12)

• Second USS Hornet (CV-12): The ship was the eighth US Navy vessel named "Hornet." She was commissioned in 1943 after her predecessor, USS Hornet (CV-8), was sunk at the Battle of Santa Cruz. • Fast Refit and Launch: Originally named Kearsarge, she was renamed Hornet in honor of CV-8, and completed in just 16 months to replace her fallen namesake during World War II. • WWII Service: Hornet participated in the Marianas, Western Carolines, Leyte, and Okinawa campaigns, earning 7 battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation for her actions. • Survived as "The Grey Ghost": The Japanese reported her sunk multiple times, but she always returned to battle, earning the nickname "The Grey Ghost" for her apparent invincibility. • Aircraft Recovery: Hornet played a major role in recovering pilots who ditched or crashed at sea, saving hundreds of American airmen during WWII. • Apollo Splashdowns: In a new era, Hornet served as the recovery ship for the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 missions, picking up the first astronauts to walk on the Moon. • Support during Vietnam: Hornet was reactivated for anti-submarine warfare and served during the Vietnam War, continuing her long operational history. • Longest Service Essex Carrier: Out of the 24 Essex-class carriers built, Hornet is one of only a few to survive today, with one of the longest active careers, serving from 1943 to 1970. • Now a Museum Ship: Today, USS Hornet is preserved as a museum in Alameda, California, serving as a tribute to naval aviation and space exploration history. • Haunted Reputation: With legends of ghostly sightings and paranormal activity, Hornet is often called one of the most haunted ships in America, attracting ghost hunters and curious visitors alike.