USS Hornet (CV-8) photographed circa late 1941, soon after completion, probably at a U.S. east coast port. Note flight deck overhang and large crane stowed in the small boat area. A ferry boat and "Eagle Boat" (PE) are in the background.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 81313).

Line drawing ©Jean Secardin.

At North Island, San Diego, March 27th, 1942 just before leaving for San Francisco.

While at Norfolk, in February, she had been camouflaged to Measure 12 with splotches; colors were Navy Blue, Ocean Gray and Haze Gray. By this time Mk.4 radar had been added to the Mk.37 directors.

(Thanks to Robert Hurst, who provided additional info).

Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, USAAF (left front), leader of the raiding force, talks with Captain Marc A. Mitscher, USN, Commanding Officer of USS Hornet (CV-8), on board Hornet sometime before the 18 April 1942 launch of the raiding airplanes. Members of the Army Air Forces flight crews, and the wing of one of their B-25B bombers, are in the background.

View looking aft from the island of USS Hornet (CV-8), while en route to the mission's launching point. USS Nashville (CL-43) is in the distance.

Photo taken off a 16mm film.

Nose art on B-25B "Hari Carrier" (USAAF serial # 40-2249), photographed while the plane was parked aboard USS Hornet (CV-8), en route to the raid launching point. This aircraft was mission plane # 11, piloted by Captain C. Ross Greening. It attacked targets in the Yokohama area.

Photo taken off a 16mm film.

B-25s prepare to take off from USS Hornet (CV-8) on April 18, 1942. The Americans bombed the cities of Tokyo, Nagoya and Kobe.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-324199).

An Army Air Forces B-25B bomber awaits the takeoff signal on the flight deck of USS Hornet (CV-8), as the raid is launched, 18 April 1942. Note Flight Deck Officer holding launch flag at right, and white stripes painted on the flight deck to guide the pilot's alignment of his plane's nose and port side wheels.

An Army Air Force B-25B bomber takes off from USS Hornet (CV-8) at the start of the raid, 18 April 1942. Note men watching from the signal lamp platform at right.

Not very sharp but interesting stills taken from the color movie film showing USS Hornet launching the Doolittle raid.

USS Hornet (CV-8) arrives at Pearl Harbor after the Doolittle Raid on Japan, 30 April 1942. Two Squadron 1, 77' Elco boats, PT-28 and PT-29 are speeding by in the foreground.

USS Hornet (CV-8) underway in the Southern Pacific, 15 May 1942, a week after the Battle of Coral Sea and the day before she was recalled to Pearl Harbor to prepare for the Battle of Midway.

USS Hornet (CV-8) enters Pearl Harbor, 26 May 1942. She left two days later to take part in the Battle of Midway. Photographed from Ford Island Naval Air Station, with two aircraft towing tractors parked in the center foreground.

USS Hornet (CV-8) at Pearl Harbor, 26 May 1942, just after the Battle of Coral Sea, and just before the Battle of Midway. Harbor tug Nokomis (YT-142) is underway alongside her. Note paint chipped off Hornet's waterline area by wave action while at sea.

A Japanese Type 99 shipboard bomber (Allied codename "Val") trails smoke as it dives toward USS Hornet (CV-8), during the morning of 26 October 1942. This plane struck the ship's stack and then her flight deck. A Type 97 shipboard attack plane ("Kate") is flying over Hornet after dropping its torpedo, and another "Val" is off her bow. Note anti-aircraft shell burst between Hornet and the camera, with its fragments striking the water nearby.

Damage to the smokestack and signal bridge of USS Hornet (CV-8) after it was struck by a crashing Japanese dive bomber, during the morning of 26 October 1942. Smoke at bottom is from fires started when the plane subsequently hit the flight deck. Note ship's tripod mast, with CXAM radar antenna in top left and the flag still flying above the damaged structure.

USS Northampton (CA-26), at right, attempting to tow USS Hornet (CV-8) after she had been disabled by Japanese air attacks on 26 October 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-33897).

October 26 1942, Hornet in tow. Cruiser Northampton (CA-26) made three attempts to take the carrier in tow, but additional Japanese attacks frustrated these efforts.

The "X" above the bridge and the CXAM radar antenna indicates where T.R. Archer was wounded by a Japanese dive bomber in a suicide attack (see photos "020808" and "020809", above).

October 26 1942, Hornet being abandoned.

October 26 1942, Hornet being abandoned. About 900 crewmen had been transferred to accompanying destroyers when, at 1523, Hornet took another torpedo on her starboard side. At 1550 the order to abandon ship was passed.

Chief Parachute Rigger, Theo. R. Archer, USN, on flight deck of USS Hornet (CV-8), 1942. He was on her from commission till sunk.