Watch The USS Hornet and Doolittle Raider’s Wreckage Rediscovery

The USS Hornet (CV-8) is one of the United States’ famous aircraft carriers. It’s most noted for its role in World War II, especially for launching the Doolittle Raid on Japan. This ship took a lot of damage before finally sinking. Recently, it was found at the bottom of the ocean, incredibly well-preserved given it’s been underwater for 77 years.

Discovery of the Wreck

In January 2019, the research vessel Petrel, funded by Vulcan Inc., discovered the USS Hornet at a depth of about 5,300 meters (17,500 feet). This team is known for finding historic shipwrecks. To locate the Hornet, they used old naval records and sightings from nine other warships. Finding the exact location was challenging, but they succeeded on their first dive.

Condition of the Wreck

The USS Hornet is in better shape than many other wrecks, including the USS Lexington. The Hornet is in two main pieces with the stern (back part) breaking off. This is different from the Lexington, which broke into three parts. Sonar images show Hornet’s main body is about 205 meters (672 feet) long. The original length of the ship was 251 meters (825 feet), so roughly 46 meters (150 feet) is missing. The stern is about a nautical mile away from the main body of the ship.

Visual Observations

The ship’s overall condition is fascinating. The flat paint on her superstructure and gun areas is clearly visible. You can even see the camouflage patterns on the hull and the number “8” painted on her. The signal bridge, though broken off, still shows a distinct paint pattern. The ship is buried deep in the silt and mud up to its hangar deck, which preserves much of it but covers some damage. The guns, both 20mm cannons and 5-inch weapons, are mostly in place and well-preserved.

Pictures of Hornet show a bent barrel on one of the 20mm cannons and shells still in their mounts. The 5-inch gun directoris also in good shape. One notable image includes a coat caught on a bulkhead, looking surprisingly well-preserved. Additionally, the ship’s forward sections show bomb damage, and there are visible breaks in the hull near the back.

Veteran Connection

One touching part of this rediscovery involved a former Hornet crew member, Richard Nowatski, who was 95 years old at the time. He was shown his 5-inch gun and other parts of the wreck. In an interview, Nowatski joked about $40 he left in his locker, which might still be there, considering the good preservation state of the ship.

Flight Deck and Anchor Chain

Pictures of Hornet’s flight deck show it is largely intact despite damage from battle. Underneath the deck, there’s a well-preserved quad 1.1-inch mount. Remarkably, the anchor chain from the port side is still visible, marking a final attempt by the USS Northampton to tow the vessel before it sank.

Shell Holes and Debris Field

The Hornet’s wreck also has visible shell holes from 5-inch rounds fired by American destroyers trying to scuttle the ship when towing attempts failed. One of the most famous images from the wreck shows an International Harvester aircraft tug on the hangar deck, appearing almost untouched by time. The debris field includes personal items like a wash kit, adding a human touch to the wreck.

Protection of the Wreck

The exact location of Hornet’s wreck is kept a secret to protect it from salvagers. Even though it lies deep underwater, making it difficult and expensive to reach, the precaution ensures its preservation for the future.

Watch the full footage of the wreckage below: