The USS Hornet (CV-12) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, serving during World War II and the Vietnam War. It was commissioned in 1943 and played a significant role in the Pacific Theater of WWII, participating in major battles such as the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Okinawa. The USS Hornet was also involved in the historic Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in 1942, launching Army Air Forces bombers against the Japanese mainland. After the war, the ship underwent modernization and was recommissioned for service in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. It was the prime recovery vessel for the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 missions, retrieving the astronauts and their spacecraft after they returned from the moon. The USS Hornet was eventually decommissioned in 1970 and is now preserved as a museum ship in Alameda, California. The ship's history is marked by its resilience and contributions to pivotal moments in American military history. As a ship historian, studying the USS Hornet provides valuable insights into the strategic importance of aircraft carriers in naval warfare, as well as the evolution of naval technology and operations over the 20th century. The USS Hornet's legacy as a symbol of American naval power and innovation continues to be honored through its preservation as a museum ship, allowing visitors to learn about its storied past and the brave men and women who served aboard.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.