Restoration Progress

The USS Hornet Museum is a work in progress. With the help of a crew of dedicated volunteers, compartments are continuously being restored; original equipment is being returned to operational condition; and new aircraft are being acquired for permanent exhibition. Visitors are encouraged to return again and again as more and more of the ship is being opened for exploration.

Current Restoration Projects

Spaces, Equipment, & Exhibits under Restoration:
Arresting gear engine room
Aft engineering plant tour
#4 Fire Room
Aft Engine Room
Aft Auxiliary Machinery Room (all 4 shafts visible)

Aircraft under Restoration:
F7U Cutlass (Bu.No. 129565 under restoration at off-site facility)
F-4B Phantom (Bu.No. 153879 50% complete at off-site facility)
FM2 Wildcat (Bu.No. 153879 50% complete)
SH-2J Sea Sprite (Bu.No. 149021 90% complete)
SH-3H Sea King (90% complete)
US-2B Tracker (80% complete)
US-3B Viking (Bu.No. 160599 100% complete)
TBM-3 Avenger (Bu.No. 80% complete)

If you would like to support the ongoing restoration of the USS Hornet or the acquisition of an aircraft, send your tax-deductible donation to:

Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation
PO Box 460
Alameda, CA 94501

Be sure to stipulate “Ship Restoration” or “Aircraft Fund: (name of aircraft)” on your check!
If you would like to sponsor the full restoration of a particular compartment or space, or sponsor the complete restoration of certain mechanical equipment, contact the Museum Department at (510) 521-8448 x 222.

Interested in joining HORNET’s restoration crew? Anyone can apply. Jobs and tasks can be tailored to the volunteer's particular skills and interests. Call (510) 521-8448 x 268 to sign up for the next NVO (New Volunteer Orientation). NVO is held the first Saturday of each month, 9:30-11:30am. Sign up in advance.

Restoration Accomplishments

2007/2008

Upgraded a variety of spaces for permanent exhibitions:
Flight Deck Control Room
Ready Room #3 (Aerial Firefighters exhibit)
Radio Central
Added authentic sound effects to PriFly

Repaired a variety of spaces throughout the ship:
Repaired and resurfaced aft area of the Flight Deck
Painted portside of ship
Applied nonskid to elevator platforms

Acquired new aircraft:
F-4B Phantom (under restoration at off-site facility)

Completed restoration of aircraft:
FJ-2 Fury
SH-3 Seaking

2005/2006

Upgraded a variety of spaces for permanent exhibition:
Admiral’s and Captain’s In-Port Quarters
Combat Information Center
Bakery

Restored a variety of equipment to operational condition:
Installed amidship CHT system
Installed new ramp on Elevator #3
Projection Room

Acquired four aircraft for display:
SH-3 Seaking
SH-2 Seasprite
FM2 Wildcat
FJ-2 Fury

2003/2004

Upgraded a variety of spaces for permanent exhibition:
Torpedo Workshop
Garbage Disposal
USS Bennington (CV-20) Memorial
Ready Room 2
Ready Room 4

Restored a variety of equipment to operational condition:
Elevator #2
Installed Cathodic Protection

Acquired three aircraft for display:
TA-4J Skyhawk
SBD Dauntless
UH-34 Seahorse

Completed restoration of two aircraft:
TBM Avenger
HUP-1 Retriever

2001/2002

Upgraded a variety of spaces throughout the ship:
Aft Engine Room
Crew's Mess Deck & Main Galley
Catapult Machinery Room
Dental Department Spaces
Metal Shop Main Deck, Aft
Machine Shop

Upgraded variety of spaces for permanent exhibitions:
AMUS Technical Library (Hornet Before Wings exhibit)
Ready Room #3 (Anti-Submarine Warfare exhibit)
Aviation Stores Office & Ready Issue Room (Naval Aviation Art Gallery)
2nd Deck, aft (Aircraft Carrier Memorials)

Restored a variety of equipment to operational condition:
Escalator
Torpedo Elevator
24" Searchlight
Crash Barricade
Flight Deck Lights
Tire Shop
3,000psi Air Compressor

Acquired aircraft and Apollo artifacts:
F-14A Tomcat
F7U Cutlass (under restoration at off-site facility)
H-34 Seahorse
Apollo Command Service Module
Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF, from Apollo 14)

1999/2000

Upgraded a variety of spaces throughout the ship:
2nd Deck, starboard side
Medical Department Spaces
Forward Engine Room
Repair Station #3, aft
Ship's Theater
Berthing Spaces for Youth Live-Aboard Program

Restored a variety of equipment to operational condition:
No. 1 Aircraft Elevator
No. 3 Elevator Doors
5,000# Bomb Elevator
Jet Blast Deflector
SPS-43 Radar
Anchor Windlass
1MC speaker system

Acquired four aircraft for display:
F8U-1 Crusader
US-2B Tracker
A4D-1 Skyhawk
HUP-1 Retriever

Support The Ongoing Restoration Of The USS Hornet With A Tax-Deductible Donation!

For more information, or if you would like to make a contribution to a specific restoration fund, please contact:

Ralph Johnson at (510) 521-8448 x 222, or email Ralph.Johnson@uss-hornet.org