World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe fleet carrier Hornet was commissioned less than a month and half before the United States was drawn into WW2 with the strike on Pearl Harbor. After her shakedown cruise in the Atlantic Ocean, her first mission was to carry and launch the 16 B-25 bombers piloted by James Doolittle's raiders in Mar-Apr 1942. After a short time in South Pacific, she was recalled to Pearl Harbor, then participated in the Battle of Midway in Jun 1942. Her aircraft's battle record against the Japanese aircraft carriers was sub par, but though they redeemed themselves by sinking the heavy cruiser Mikuma. She then participated in the Solomons Campaign. In the latter campaign, during the Battle of Santa Cruz (25-28 Oct 1942), Enterprise's aircraft damaged the carrier Zuiho while Hornet's aircraft damaged carrier Shokaku and cruiser Chikuma. While her aircraft delivered their deadly cargo on the Japanese fleet, she was struck by a Japanese counterstrike. Heavily damaged by bombs and torpedoes, Rear Admiral George Murray transferred his flag from Hornet to cruiser Pensacola. In the early afternoon of 26 Oct, Captain Mason ordered all wounded and non-essential men to be removed from the ship. Kondo put together a smaller aerial strike force than the morning attack to spearhead a second assault that included surface ships. At 1515, the Japanese aircraft reached Hornet, launching six torpedoes. Northampton cut the towing cables and successfully maneuvered to save herself, but the immobile Hornet was struck by one of them, rapidly flooding the after engine room. At 1540 Japanese dive bombers appeared, but all their bombs missed. At 1550, a formation of six horizontal bombers appeared and scored a hit on Hornet's flight deck. At 1702, a small strike force from light carrier Junyo scored a final bomb hit on the carrier's hangar deck. After suffering 111 killed and 108 wounded, she was finally to be scuttled. American destroyer Mustin received the order to launch eight torpedoes at Hornet, and to a great embarrassment, only three hit, and they did not effectively sink the carrier. At 1920, destroyer Anderson fired eight torpedoes as well. Only six of them hit, and Hornet again failed to be sunk. The American ships resorted to using gunfire. After 300 rounds, they failed once again. Hornet finally sank at 0130 on 27 Oct after the arrival of Kondo's fleet at the face of four Japanese 24-inch torpedoes launched from destroyers Makigumo and Akigumo.

ww2dbaseAn exchange between a pair Hornet survivors supposedly went something like this:

Aircraft Carrier Hornet (Yorktown-class) Interactive Map

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Hornet (Yorktown-class) Operational Timeline

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