USS Hornet (CV-8)

Forever tied to history as the carrier that launched 16 B-25 bombers from Col. Doolittle’s famous raid against Tokyo in April 1942, USS Hornet had a short but eventful career. Commissioned on October 20, 1941, Hornet was sunk a year layer on October 27, 1942. In between, in addition to the Tokyo attack, the Yorktown-class ship participated in the Battle of Midway where its aircraft helped sink one Japanese heavy cruiser and severely damaged a second. Hornet’s airwing provided cover for the Allied campaign in the Solomons before being mortally wounded by Japanese bombers during the Battle of Santa Cruz.

This storied history is the subject of David Doyle’s USS Hornet (CV-8) — from the Doolittle Raid and Midway to Santa Cruz from Schiffer’s Legends of Warfare Naval series. The 112-page hardcover volume provides a visual survey of the ships starting with 35 pages about its construction from keel laying to commissioning. Subsequent chapters deal with the ship’s entry into service and the Doolittle raid. The final chapter looks at the carrier’s last months and the sinking. The large photos are beautifully reproduced and accompanied by clear captions with dates and details. All provide a wealth of info for anyone planning to build a model of the Hornet.