On April 26, 1952 USS Wasp (CV-18) collided with destroyer minesweeper Hobson (DMS-26) while conducting night flight operations in the Atlantic, en route to Gibraltar. Hobson was cut in two and sank. Rapid rescue operations saved 61 men, but Hobson lost 176 of her crew, including her skipper. Although Wasp sustained no personnel casualties her hull was severely damaged, with a 30 x 50-foot bite gouged out of the bow. With the carrier urgently needed for duty in the Mediterranean, preparations for repairs were begun immediately.

Wasp carefully proceeded to Bayonne, N.J., entered drydock there on 8 May and her damaged bow was cleared out with blow torches. The following day, the bow of aircraft carrier Hornet (CV-12) —then undergoing conversion in Brooklyn, N.Y.— was cut off and floated by barge across the bay. It was fitted into position under Wasp that afternoon, with steel plates to close any remaining gaps, and workers began round-the-clock welding operations. This remarkable repair task, which including replacing 61 lifeboats and refitting the carrier's anchor chain, was completed in only 10 days, enabling the carrier to get underway on 21 May. Shifting south to Norfolk, the crew spent a short three days preparing for deployment and Wasp sailed east across the Atlantic on 24 May.

From "All Hands" magazine, July 1952 issue:

(NS021294) Bow from Hornet has been cut by acetylene torch and rests on rolling scaffolding.

(NS021294a) Section of Hornet's bow has been moved clear of the Hornet and workmen attach crane hooks so that the section can be hoisted onto a barge.

From "All Hands" magazine, October 1957 issue:

(NS021294b) Bow from Hornet moves across NYNSY to repair Wasp.

(See also NS021863.)

USS Hornet (CVA-12) just after her SCB-27A modernization at the New York Naval Shipyard, May 12, 1951 – September 11, 1953. From "Our Navy" magazine, mid-February 1954.

Leaving Brooklyn Navy Yard, Fall 1953.

En route to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 10 January 1954, during shakedown following completion of her SCB-27A modernization.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-17108).

USS Severn (AO-61) refuels the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CVA-12) in the Atlantic, 27 May 1954. The carrier was en route to Naples, Italy. Hornet, with assigned Carrier Air Group (CVG) 9, was on her around-the-world cruise from 11 May to 12 December 1954.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 1996.488.245.012.

USS Hornet (CVA-12), with embarked Carrier Air Group (CVG) 9, transiting the Suez Canal during her 1954 World Cruise.

Courtesy of the USS Hornet - Sea, Air and Space Museum.

McDonnell F2H-3 "Banshee" jet fighters parked on the carrier's flight deck, during Seventh Fleet operations in the Far East, 1 October 1954. Plane closest to the camera is Bureau # 127542.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-663584).

USS Hornet (CVA-12) underway. Doug said he "took this photo from the copilot seat of a helo about to land on the Hornet somewhere in the South China Sea in late 1954."

Doug was a "Flag Radioman following the CCD-1 Admiral from flagship to flagship, and was on seven different Essex-class CVAs during my three-year sea duty, and several of them [...] more than once." USS Kearsarge, USS Lake Champlain, USS Yorktown, Hornet, USS Valley Forge, USS Bon Homme Richard, and USS Boxer.

He added: "We Flag white hats usually transferred from one carrier to another about every three months, usually by high line to a tin can and from tin can by another high line to next carrier (and our sea bags followed us by cargo sling)."

USS Hornet (CVA-12), with Carrier Air Group (CVG) 7 aboard, entering Pearl Harbor on 10 May 1955, on her way to WestPac (4 May–10 December 1955). The carrier was flagship for RADM Thomas B. Williamson, Commander Carrier Division ONE. CAPT Frank A. Brandley, and later CAPT Norwood A. Campbell, commanded Hornet; CDR Charles A. Iarrobino headed the Air Group.

Official US Navy photograph, Neg. No. CVA-12-1644(L)-5-55.

Then ENS Bill Buc with his F9F-5 Panther, BuNo 125281, Fighter Squadron (VF) 72 "Hawks," 1955 Cruise aboard USS Hornet (CVA-12).

VF-72 was redesignated Attack Squadron (VA) 72 on 3 January 1956.

Landing Signal Officer (LSO), "Paddles."

Landing Signal Officer (LSO), "Paddles."

F9F-6 Cougar, Fighter Squadron (VF) 73 "Jesters."

USS Hornet, Naval Station Long Beach, California, late 1950s.

Full starboard view of USS Hornet (CVA-12) off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in August 1956.

National Archives and Records Administration, (NARA) Photo, # 80-G-1001595.

Port bow view of USS Hornet (CVA-12) off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Sinclair Inlet, 1 October 1956. Photo shows enclosed hurricane bow, with flight deck gun mounts removed and angled flight deck added.

National Archives and Records Administration, (NARA) Photo, # 80-G-1001445.

USS Hornet (CVA-12), circa 1957, during an UNREP with USS Castor (AKS-1) and an unidentified destroyer.

As CVA-12, heading to Westpac during her January 21 – July 25, 1957 cruise. Official US Navy Photograph # CVA-12-3905 (L) 5-57, from the Naval Photographic Center, Naval District, Washington DC.

A U.S. Navy North American AJ-2 Savage (BuNo 134046, modex ZC-9) of Heavy Attack Squadron (VAH) 6 Det. F "Fleurs" refueling a Grumman F9F-8P Cougar (BuNo 141726?, PP-87) from Light Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (VFP) 61 Det.F "Eyes of the Fleet" in flight, 1957. Both squadrons were assigned to Carrier Air Group (CVG) 14 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CVA-12) for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 21 January to 25 July 1957. Note the half-way extended nose landing gear of the AJ-2.

U.S. Navy photo from the Hornet 1957 Cruise Book.

USS Hornet (CVA-12) departing San Diego, possibly at the beginning of her 1958 WestPac deployment (2 January–2 July), with Air Task Group (ATG) 4 aboard.

USS Hornet (CVA-12) conducting an UNREP with USS Ashtabula (AO-51) and USS Brinkley Bass (DD-887), probably during her 1958 WestPac deployment (2 January–2 July), with Air Task Group (ATG) 4 aboard. US Navy photo.

USS Hornet (CVA-12) conducting an UNREP with USS Ashtabula (AO-51) and USS Brinkley Bass (DD-887), taken at approximately the same time as the photo above.

USS Hornet (CVA-12) off Hawaii, 20 January 1958, with Air Task Group (ATG) 4 aboard.

Recovering aboard USS Hornet (CVA-12)—photos taken from the nose camera of the incoming aircraft, obviously.

This WestPac deployment (6 January–2 July 1958) was Hornet's last as an attack carrier (CVA). She was reclassified as an ASW support carrier and redesignated CVS-12 on 27 June 1958.

Squadrons were: VF-94 (FJ-3M Furies), VF-152 "Friendlies" (F2H-3 Banshees), VA-214 "Volunteers" (FJ-4B Furies), VA-216 "Black Diamonds" (AD-7 Skyraiders), VAH-6 Det. K "Fleurs" (AJ-2 Savages), VAH-16 Det. K "White Blades" (AJ-2 Savages), VAW-11 Det. K "Early Eleven" (AD-5W Skyraiders), VA(AW)-35 Det. K "Night Hecklers" (AD-5N Skyraiders), VFP-61 Det. K "Eyes of the Fleet" (F9F-8P Cougars), and HU-1 Det. K "Pacific Fleet Angels" (HUP-2 Retrievers).

During this cruise the Air Group Commander, CDR R.L. Johns, made the 50,000 landing since recommissioning.

Yokosuka, Japan, circa August–September 1959.

The ship to the right is USS Thetis Bay (LPH-6). "In August 1959, Thetis Bay was serving with the 7th Fleet when floods on Taiwan left thousands homeless. On the 12th, she was ordered to proceed from Hong Kong to Taiwan and use her 21 large troop-carrying helicopters to aid the flood victims. By the end of the assistance operation, at noon of the 20th, the ship had delivered a total of 1,600,540 pounds of supplies to the destitute Chinese. In addition, her helicopters had lifted 850 passengers to and from various sites in the flooded area." (Quoted from DANFS, "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.")

This is believed to be USS Hornet (CVS-12), circa 1960, as seen from USS Walke (DD-723).

"Sailors and aircraft are loaded aboard the antisubmarine carrier Hornet CVS-12. Hornet, which came from Long Beach for the loading, is one of 19 ships which left today for a seven month deployment to the Western Pacific." United Press International photograph #KMP-060701-6/7/62, San Diego, CA.

With Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group 57 (CVSG-57) aboard, Hornet deployed on June 6, 1962 and returned home on December 21.

"These are pictures I took in the Spring of 1962 on a West-Pac cruise en route from Long Beach to Pearl. The pictures are from the USS O'Brien (DD-725) of the USS Hornet (CVS-12) on a Sunday afternoon. Notice the band on the flight deck. The water wasn't too bad that day but around sixty feet of the keel was coming out of the water and it was bad enough that the oil hose came loose on the O'Brien. The Snipes must have worked for days cleaning up that mess."

Hornet deployed to WestPac between 6 June and 21 December 1962, with Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group (CVSG) 57:

• VS-35 "Boomerangers," with S2F-3 Trackers
• VS-37 "Sawbucks," with S2F-3 Trackers
• HS-2 "Golden Falcons," with HSS-2 Sea Kings
• VAW-11 "Early Eleven," Det. N, with AD-5W Skyraiders

View of the island of USS Hornet (CVS-12), taken during her 1962 WestPac cruise, 6 June–21 December.

S2F-3 (S-2D under the 1962 designation system) Tracker, BuNo 148734, assigned to Antisubmarine Squadron (VS) 35 "Boomerangers," Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group (CVSG) 57, deployed aboard USS Hornet (CVS-12) during the ship's 1962 cruise. AMS3 Palmatary was the plane captain, and his name was stenciled under the cockpit (it is clearly visible on the original print).

Richard K. Palmatary (left) and friend (Gibson) in front of Diamond Bar in "Thieves Alley," Yokosuka, Japan, 2 November 1962.

AMS3 Richard K. Palmatary in his shop's entrance, USS Hornet (CVS-12), 1962 Cruise.

USS Hornet (CVS-12), general antenna arrangement, island... Starboard side looking aft to port, San Francisco Naval Shipyard, 25 January 1965 (MSR-56011-1-65).

USS Hornet (CVS-12) at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. The photo may have been taken in late January–mid-February 1965, at the end of her FRAM II modernization.

Bow of USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) is visible on the right-center of the picture, stern of USS Braine (DD-630) on the bottom, and USS Chicago (CG-11) on the left-center.

USS Navasota (AO-106) refueling USS Hornet (CVS-12) and USS Bausell (DD-845) on the morning of Friday, 16 April 1965, in San Diego Operating Area Alpha, off Southern California.

Helicopter is UH-46A Sea Knight BuNo 151902, modex UP62, Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 1 "Pacific Fleet Angels."

USS Tolovana (AO-64) conducts a replenishment at sea (RAS), 19 December 1965, simultaneously with USS Hornet (CVS-12) and USS Fletcher (DD-445) in the Sea of Japan. Hornet and Fletcher were engaged in anti-submarine warfare exercises.

US Navy photograph from US Naval Photographic Center, Naval Station Anacostia, Washington DC., by JO1 J.F. Falk, USN.

An SH-3A Sea King ASW helicopter and an A-4C Skyhawk stand ready to take-off in defense of USS Hornet (CVS-12) while operating in the South China Sea, circa 1965–1966. (USN photo.)

From "Aircraft Carriers," by Norman Polmar.

Gary Kegel explains:

"I spent 2 years on USS Hornet (CVS-12), 1965–1966 WestPac. We had an Admiral on board that had been a WWII pilot. Now that Hornet was Anti-Sub Carrier he said we should be able to sink subs ourselves."

"So he had Depth Charge racks mounted on the Fantail... The first one they dropped was set so deep it didn't even ripple the surface when it went off. So he said set the next one to a normal depth."

"I was in Aft. AUX when it went off. AFT Aux is where 2 of the prop shafts enter the hull. We damned near sunk ourselves when it blew the prop seals. That was the end of carriers dropping Depth Charges."

USS Cimarron (AO-22), with USS Hornet (CVS-12), and USS Nicholas (DD-449), during underway replenishment activities off the coast of North Viet Nam, circa 1966. At that time these three ships had accumulated nearly 75 years of Navy service between them.

US Navy photo # USN 1115952, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.

"Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club, Task Force 77, Power Squadron's First Regatta, 21 January 1966"

Annotated copy:

0. USS Oklahoma City (CLG-5)
1. USS Hancock (CVA-19)
2. USS Ingraham (DD-694)
3. USS Harold J. Ellison (DD-864)
4. USS Carpenter (DD-825)
5. USS Ranger (CVA-61)
6. USS Samuel N. Moore (DD-747)
7. USS Alfred A. Cunningham (DD-752), not shown
8. USS Fletcher (DD-445)
9. USS Hornet (CVS-12)
10. USS Bache (DD-470)
11. USS Harry E. Hubbard (DD-748)
12. USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63)
13. USS Brush (DD-745)
14. USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22)
15. USS Edson (DD-946)
16. USS Topeka (CLG-8)
17. USS John S. McCain (DL-3)
18. USS England (DLG-22)

Naval History & Heritage Command (NH&HC) photo, # USN 1114861. (Annotation by NavSource.)

Colorized photo of five U.S. Navy Essex-class aircraft carriers at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 2 August 1966: USS Bennington (CVS-20), USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), USS Yorktown (CVS-10), USS Valley Forge (LPH-8, converted to Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter)), and USS Hornet (CVS-12).

Official U.S. Navy photograph, # CVS-20-160-8-66.

Aerial view looking to the northwest of Hunters Point Navy Yard with USS Hornet (CVS-12) moored on 30 September 1966. On the far side of Hornet is Dry Dock No. 4 occupied by a cruiser, probably USS Columbus (CG-12). Aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) and destroyer escort USS Hooper (DE-1026) can be identified, on the right side of the photo.

Library of Congress, HAER CAL,38-SANFRA,195A—7.

(Mar 27–Oct 28, 1967, WestPac/Vietnam Deployment) The Antisubmarine Warfare Support Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet (CVS-12) steams into the wind, at the start of a fixed-wing launch cycle. She is shown in her final configuration nearing the end of her service life. The large SPN-35 dome, on the aft of the island, houses the Carrier Controlled Approach radars. Hornet embarks CVSG-57, tailcode NV, which consists of the following squadrons: VS-35 "Boomerangers" S-2E, VS-37 "Sawbucks" S-2E, HS-2 "Golden Falcons" SH-3A, VAW-11 "Early Eleven" E-1B.

Official Navy Photo from the USS Hornet (CVS-12) Public Affairs Office.

An SH-3 Sea King damaged by gunfire being hoisted off the fantail of USS Long Beach (CGN-9) by the deck crane of USS Hornet (CVS-12) while in the Tonkin Gulf, Saturday, 27 May 1967.

USS Hornet (CVS-12) receives fuel and ordnance from USS Sacramento (AOE-1), during replenishment operations in the South China Sea, June 1967. Photographed by JOC R.D. Moeser.

As CVS-12 underway in the Gulf of Tonkin, September 5, 1967. Official US Navy Photograph # KN-15561 by PHCM W.M. Cox. From the Naval Photographic Center, Naval District, Washington DC.

As CVS-12. SH-3A Sea King Helicopters from HS-2 "Golden Falcons" fly near the ship, during operations off the coast of San Diego, July 1968. Official US Navy Photograph # K-53328. From the Naval Photographic Center, Naval Station, Washington DC.

USS Hornet (CVS-12) underway on 9 August 1968, shortly before she began her final Seventh Fleet deployment. Photographed by PHCS W.M. Cox.

As CVS-12 during air operations off the coast of San Diego, August 23, 1968. Official US Navy Photograph # K-56723 by C.T. Elliott. From the Naval Photographic Center, Naval Station, Washington DC.

Sikorsky SH-3A Sea Kings, Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) 2 "Golden Falcons," Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group (CVSG) 57, Yokosuka, Japan, 26–27 October 1968.

Helicopter in the foreground is BuNo 151523 (modex NV307). BuNo 149679 (NV311) is in the background. Both were later upgraded to SH-3G standard.

Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King, Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) 2 "Golden Falcons," Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group (CVSG) 57, Yokosuka, Japan, 26–27 October 1968.

This helicopter was BuNo 149000 (modex NV312). It was later upgraded to SH-3G standard.

Grumman S-2E Tracker, Antisubmarine Squadron (VS) 35 "Boomerangers," Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group (CVSG) 57, Yokosuka, Japan, 26–27 October 1968.

This aircraft was BuNo 152810 (modex NV100), and was later upgraded to S-2G standard.

The nose of another Tracker can be seen to the right. This was BuNo 152376 (NV214), from VS-37 "Sawbucks." It was later transferred to the Uruguayan Navy.

As CVS-12 in the Pacific, as an S-2E Tracker comes in for recovery, December 5, 1968. Official US Navy Photograph # KN-18759 by PHCM W.M. Cox. From the Naval Photographic DMA, Naval Station, Washington DC.

Grumman E-1B Tracer aircraft on the flight deck of USS Hornet (CVS-12), during a HUKASWEX (Hunter-Killer Anti-Submarine Exercise). Photo is dated January 1970. Plane closest to the camera is Bureau # 147227.

"Apollo Recovery Ship. USS Hornet CVS-12."

The last Official Patch for the USS Hornet CVS-12. She was towed from the San Francisco Naval Shipyard at Hunter's Point to Pier 2 at NAS Alameda on 11 May 1995. This patch commemorates that trip.

Four decommissioned aircraft carriers, Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, Wash.: ex-USS Hornet (CVS-12), ex-USS Oriskany (CV-34), ex-USS Bennington (CVS-20), and ex-USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31). Date unknown.

"Mothballed" at Bremerton, August 1971.

July 1974 view of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

"Ships I can identify are battleship Missouri (BB-63) at lower left (note protective domes covering her 40mm guns), heavy cruiser Saint Paul (CA-73) across the pier from her (identifiable by the missing forward centerline 5in/38 mount), aircraft carrier Hornet (CVS-12), heavy cruiser Rochester (CA-124) across the pier from her, carrier Bennington (CVS-20), and battleship New Jersey (BB-62)."

"Mothballed" at Bremerton, June 13, 1984.

Ex-USS Hornet (CVS-12), with ex-USS Chicago (CG-11), left. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA, spring 1990.

Views of ex-USS Hornet (CVS-12), with ex-USS New Jersey (BB-62), moored across the pier, 1992. Both ships have other inactive ships moored to them: two Knox-class frigates outboard of New Jersey—ex-USS Roark (FF-1053) and ex-USS Stein (FF‑1065), outmost—, and three minecraft outboard of Hornet—outmost is ex-USS Pluck (MSO-464)—. Ex-USS Oriskany (CV-34) is also visible in photos NS0212ana, NS0212anc, 0212and, and 0212ane.

NS0212an: Historic American Engineering Record photo (Haer Wash.18-Brem.-3-4).

NS0212ana: Historic American Engineering Record photo (Haer Wash.18-Brem.-3-3).

NS0212anb: Historic American Engineering Record photo (Haer Wash.18-Brem.-3-12).

NS0212anc: Historic American Engineering Record photo (Haer Wash.18-Brem.-3-). Easily identifiable in this photo are also ex-USS Midway (CV-41); USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) are in the background.

NS0212and: Historic American Engineering Record photo (Haer Wash.18-Brem.-3-9).

NS0212ane: Historic American Engineering Record photo (Haer Wash.18-Brem.-3-5).

No.2 fire room aft, looking forward, showing painted mural "Hell's Half Acre." Ex-USS Hornet (CVS-12), Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Sinclair Inlet, Bremerton, Kitsap County, WA.

Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Call Number/Physical Location HAER WASH,18-BREM,3-.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA, September 1992. From front to back: ex-USS Hornet (CVS-12), probably ex-USS Oriskany (CV-34), probably ex-USS Bennington (CVS-20), ex-USS Midway (CV-41), and USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

Courtesy of Ray D. Bean photo collection.

Department of Defense, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, National Sales Office, Invitation For Bids, Sale Number 31-3312, Bid Opening 26 January 1993, Aircraft Carriers: Ex-Hornet (CVS-12), ex-Bennington (CVS-20), ex-Oriskany (CV-34).

This photo was taken on March 13, 1993 at Bremerton, Washington. Next to the Hornet is the battleship ex-USS New Jersey (BB-62). Reserve Fleet. Photo courtesy of Dwayne Miles.

Ex-USS Hornet (CVS-12) at her permanent mooring at the former Alameda Naval Air Station, San Francisco Bay, in August 1999. Compare to photo NS0212bn.

Hornet Museum, Alameda, San Francisco Bay, California. Believed to have been taken on 18 December 2003.

Hornet Museum, Alameda, San Francisco Bay, California. Close-up view of the island. Believed to have been taken on 18 December 2003.

Hornet Museum, Alameda, San Francisco Bay, California. Ship's bow at night. Believed to have been taken on 26 November 2006.

Hornet Museum, Alameda, San Francisco Bay, California. Anchor came from sister ship USS Oriskany (CV-34).

See here for more information.

Sailors assigned to Navy Cargo Handling Battalion (NCHB) 3 stand by to receive orders to decommission the command during a ceremony held aboard the museum ship USS Hornet (CVS-12), Alameda, California, 24 August 2013. The decommissioning ceremony marked the culmination of 42 years of faithful service by NCHB-3. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Janell Alvarez (# 130824-N-WJ935-003).

The Navy Cargo Handling Battalion (NCHB) 3 Chief Petty Officers Mess haul down the commissioning pennant, Ensign, and command flag during the decommissioning ceremony of NCHB-3 during a ceremony held aboard the museum ship USS Hornet (CVS-12) in Alameda, Calif., 24 August 2013. U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Janell Alvarez (# 130824-N-WJ935-007).

Hornet Museum, Alameda, San Francisco Bay, California, 27 September 2018. Compare to photo NS021200.

Artwork for the Hornet Museum, by Steve Whitby.

She is shown in her World War II appearance, wearing Measure 33, Design 3a camouflage.