“Eyewitness to History: Splashdown through the eyes of the Hornet Crew” A Celebration of the 46th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Splashdown on the USS Hornet
Museum’s Living Ship Series Commemorates Recovery of Apollo 11 and 12 Lunar Missions
ALAMEDA, CA — Celebrate the 46th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Splashdown and relive the heyday of the U.S. space program during the“Eyewitness to History” Living Ship Day event aboard the USS Hornet on Saturday, July 18.
Join former Hornet crew member Joe Holt as he shares his memories of Splashdown from the unique perspective of a working member of the ship’s crew. He will share personal photographs and a film documenting the historic event. Other guests include former NASA-Ames Research Center employees Richard D. Johnson and his wife, Catherine C. The Johnsons were present when the Apollo 11 astronauts’ Mobile Quarantine Facility arrived at JSC and they entered the Lunar Receiving Laboratory.
The presentations from Mr. Holt and Mr. and Mrs. Johnson will begin at 1pm and will be followed by a meet and greet opportunity afterward.
Mr. Holt is a Bay Area native who was raised in Pacifica. He joined the Marine Corps after high school. He was stationed with the Marine Detachment onboard the USS Hornet, where he spent his final two years in the Corps. He said the most significant memories of his service were the recovery of the Apollo 11 capsule on July 24, 1969. “We Marines were all pumped up to have a sitting President aboard our ship.”
A special screening of the rare U.S. Navy film, “Hornet Plus 3: A Captain’s account of the Apollo 11 Recovery” will be presented. This compelling account of the Apollo 11 recovery is narrated by RADM Carl Seiberlich, who was the commanding officer of the USS Hornet CVS-12.
The film was made possible due to the efforts of Robert Howard of Orbit Creative Films.
Hornet Trustee Bob Fish said, “We are very grateful that Robert Howard of Orbit Creative Films recognized the significant historical importance of this film and converted it to a modern digital media format for the benefit of future generations.”
The Hornet played a vital role in the Apollo 11 and 12 lunar missions having recovered the astronauts upon returning from their lunar missions. The astronauts also spent several days in quarantine aboard the aircraft carrier. The Hornet is the home of the largest collection of Apollo mission artifacts on the West Coast.
Living Ship Day demonstrations are held on the third Saturday of most months, and includes a performance by The Hornet Band from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Normal museum hours and admission prices apply. Ample free parking is available across from the pier. The USS Hornet Museum is located at 707 W. Hornet Ave, Pier 3 in Alameda.
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About the USS Hornet Museum:
The USS Hornet Museum, a popular tourist destination in the San Francisco Bay Area, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to inspiring people of all ages. Through field trips and live-aboard experiences, the USS Hornet, which opened as a museum in 1998, offers educational programs focusing on naval history, science, and space technology. A registered state and national historic landmark and home of the largest collection of Apollo space mission artifacts on the West Coast, the ship is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and permanently berthed at 707 W. Hornet Ave., Pier 3 in Alameda, CA. Regular museum admission is $10 for youths age 7-17 (age 6 and under are free with paying adult); $15 for students with ID, seniors, and military with ID; and $20 for adults. Admission is free for Museum members. Ample free parking is available across from the pier. The USS Hornet is also a unique, unforgettable venue available for corporate events; trade shows and expos; private parties and big band dances; and TV and film productions. For more information, including group tours and event planning, visit: www.uss-hornet.org or call (510) 521-8448.
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