Free Republic

The USS Hornet may be a decommissioned aircraft carrier, yet it has nevertheless become the launch-site for a controversial new war in the skies. The Marine Cloud Brightening Program's Coastal Atmospheric Aerosol Research and Engagement project, led by researchers from the University of Washington, took to the deck of the Hornet Tuesday to launch streams of particles into the sky above the San Francisco Bay. Their ultimate objective is apparently to block and reflect sunlight in hopes of limiting "global warming." CAARE researchers behind the geoengineering scheme opted not to announce their experiment, reportedly citing concerns that there might be...

One week after Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt began pressing the U.S. military to immediately strike the Japanese homeland. The desire to bolster morale became more urgent in light of rapid Japanese advances. These included victories in Malaya, Singapore, the Philippines, Wake Island, Guam, and the Dutch East Indies, as well as sinking the British battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse.Only improbable, audacious ideas warranted consideration, because submarines confirmed Japan placed picket boats at extreme carrier aircraft range. One idea even involved launching four engine heavy bombers from China or Outer Mongolia to strike Japan and fly on to Alaska. Captain...

Valor. When things were their darkest for the U.S. after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the Doolittle Raiders gave the nation hope. Sixteen B-25s, each with a five-man crew, were lined up on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. This had never been tried in war—sending heavy bombers off a carrier. Because the Japanese military had learned of the strategy, the planes had to take off from farther out in the Pacific than had been planned. Their mission was to hit Tokyo, but now they would lack enough fuel to reach safety beyond Japan’s borders. They went anyway. They bombed Tokyo,...

The wreck of the World War II aircraft carrier USS Hornet has been discovered in the South Pacific, 77 years after Japanese forces sunk the ship in a fierce battle. The research vessel Petrel, owned by the estate of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, discovered the Hornet three miles under the ocean surface off the Solomon Islands late last month. The Hornet, the last U.S. fleet carrier to be sunk by enemy fire, lost 140 hands under a relentless Japanese air bombing attack at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on October 26, 1942. As Imperial Navy surface forces...

A power outage Tuesday affecting west Alameda caused the cancellation of Fourth of July festivities at the USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum, according to the museum's Facebook page. The museum's post said: "Due to the continuing power outage that is affect the west side of Alameda, today's Fourth of July event has been canceled. Guests may receive a rain check from guest services during normal business hours or by contacting info@uss-hornet.org. We sincerely apologize for this unforeseen inconvenience." Earlier Tuesday, when the power went out, the museum evacuated guests as a safety precaution, the museum said. Among the...

My Review and Build of Merit International Kit #89001, World war II Aircraft carrier, USS Hornet, CV-8, Doolitlle Raid Note: You can also see all of the pcitures from this page in full resolution on the Flickr Album Here on Flickr. Otherwise, click on the picture here and you will get a higher resolution version here. This build is of an already built model. it comes painted and with 12 B-25 Bombers. However, I addded the Tom's Model and GOld Medal Model Photo Etch Kits, as well as building four more B-25s to get the depiction up to the...

Has anyone done the tour of the Hornet in Alameda. What did you think? Was it enjoyable? Would you recommend it? Thaks

Richard E. Cole On Monday, one of the last two surviving members of the WWII “Doolitte Raiders” will celebrate his 100th birthday. As one of the original Doolittle Raiders, retired Lt. Col. Richard Coledefied all the odds in what was considered a suicide mission to bomb Japan in 1942. Mr. Cole was co-pilot for Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, who led 16 B-25 bombers on the mission that is considered an event that changed the nation’s morale following the devastating attack on Pearl harbor. He was one of 80 fighters who volunteered for the dangerous, top-secret mission. The Raiders planned...

US NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIER MUSEUMS (Click map for a high resolution image) Currently (July 2013) there are five US Navy Aircraft Carrier museums. Four are of Essex class carriers commissioned during World War II which underwent the SBC-125 refit in the 1950s to modernize them. All were commissioned in 1943 & served into modern times. The last, the USS Lexington, was decommissioned in 1991 after 48 years service. The other is the USS Midway, namesake of a larger class carrier built at the end of the war. She underwent two major refits, in the 1950s & in 1970 greatly enlarging...

When veterans and history buffs were rallying more than a decade ago to save the USS Hornet and transform it into a floating museum, they displayed a flag above the aircraft carrier's flight deck. "Don't give up the ship," it said. The fight is still going on. Only this time Hornet supporters are trying to increase the number of museum-goers and steer the struggling ship into a strong financial current. It's not easy, admits Jon Stanley, the museum's chief executive officer. "If we were docked at a pier in San Francisco, there would be plenty of foot traffic and people...

Like Cinderella before she met the fairy godmother, the tattered former naval air station in Alameda is still waiting for its transformation into an oasis of mixed-use development, wildlife preserve, sports complex and regional parkland. But the decade-old dream will take what officials are calling a historic step into reality Wednesday, when ground is broken on the first piece of the park component. Down will come a fence that has long blocked public access to the bay, and down will come signs declaring, "Restricted Area - Keep Out." An old residual trail along the formerly off-limits shoreline - now part...

Lt. Col. Chase J. Nielsen, a Utah man and member of the famed "Doolittle Raiders" who bombed Japan in 1942 -- in a retaliation attack from Pearl Harbor -- passed away on Friday at the age of 90. Nielsen was a navigator in one of the most daring air raids in American history, when 16 B-25 bombers took off from an aircraft carrier and bombed Tokyo on April 18, 1942. Nielsen and his crew -- named "Crew 6," because of the order in which they left the aircraft carrier -- ditched the plane off the coast of China after it...

*** For those in or near the San Francisco Bay Area *** TroopFest 2006 Location: USS. Hornet When: Saturday, September 30, 2006 10am to 5pm A benefit concert and festival to raise funds to send holiday packages to our Troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Activities: Tour of the USS Hornet BBQ lunch 98.5 KFOX Roadies & Concert Drill team and color guard competitions (JR ROTC) Sponsorship tables Raffles Prizes Grand Finale concert Ticket prices: adults $25. Teens (12-17) $15. Kids (5-11). Kidlets (4 and under) FREE. Military $10 (must present valid military ID to purchase) Tickets on sales at:...

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio, April 19, 2006 – Eight of the surviving 16 "Doolittle Tokyo Raiders" gathered at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force here yesterday for their 64th annual reunion and to remember those who have gone before them. The surviving members of the famed Doolittle Raiders listening in on the dedication ceremony at the Doolittle Raider Memorial at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The event commemorated the raid's 64th anniversary April 18. Photo by William D. Moss  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. "We're gathered to remember a historic event that changed the hearts...

ALAMEDA - Judy Barker was so determined to become a pilot that she used the tips she earned from waiting tables to pay for flying lessons. The Hayward resident got her private pilot's license in 1976, a year after her husband got his. "With him flying, I wanted to know how to land in case anything happened," she said. The couple often would rent a plane and go flying with their children — and later with their grandchildren — sometimes to vacation spots or to visit family around the country. This morning, Barker will be one of three speakers at...

Howdy fellow Freepers in the Northern California area,For Halloween, my husband and I are planning on attending the "Monster Bash" aboard the historic U.S.S. Hornet on Oct. 29th, and were wondering if any other local Freeps were planning to go as well.There will be a live band this year, and it's open to the entire family.  Adults are $20, kids $10.  All proceeds goes to the preservation of this historic (and most haunted) landmark.  Hope we see some FReepers there!Link to the Hornet's website here.Here is the official advertisement:

ALAMEDA - A weekend media blitz produced enough donations to the USS Hornet Museum that Alameda Power & Telecom cut a deal to keep the ship open, at least in the short term. The city-owned electric company notified the floating ship's management Thursday afternoon that if its $26,000 bill wasn't paid, the electricity would be cut off at noon today, said Hornet chief executive officer Scott Armanini. The Hornet was able to pay $6,000 today and promised another $3,300 by May 16, he said. They will pay the remainder, except for a $10,000 line of credit with the utility, on...

Hornet looking for money to stay afloat Power could be shut off Monday, eviction may follow - Janine DeFao, Chronicle Staff Writer Sunday, May 8, 2005 The historic aircraft carrier Hornet, docked in Alameda, is in danger of having its electricity cut off Monday and could face eviction from its 10-year home at the former Alameda Naval Air Station. While the nonprofit organization that has operated a museum on the craft for six years has struggled financially from the start, it is now facing "a perfect storm" of events that could doom the attraction, Scott Armanini, CEO of Friends of...

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. ...................................................................................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel...

A GREAT way to spend a Sunday afternoon, see Bill Simon and support our troops! October 6, starting at 12 noon, Operation Enduring Support will take place on the deck of the USS Hornet in Alameda. The event will benefit the families of California's Special Ops forces sent overseas. Go to www.operationenduringsupport.com and buy tickets for your family and friends as well! We want as many Simon supporters in the crowd as possible... so please reserve your tickets right away! There will be an F-16, tours, a Navy Seal demonstration .... a great place to bring your kids & grandkids!...