Aloha to Treasure Island and the USS Hornet

Continuing the pictures from my inlaws' trip to the San Francisco Bay area, above is the Naval Station on Treasure Island.  From its website (link),

Treasure Island was built with imported fill on shoals on the north side of Yerba Buena Island for the Expo in 1939. The island sits in the "middle" of the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge.

During World War II Treasure Island became part of the Treasure Island Naval Base, and served largely as an electronics and radio communications training school, and as the major Navy departure point for sailors in the Pacific.

In 1996 Treasure Island and the Presidio Army Base were decommissioned and opened to public control, under stipulations. Treasure Island is now part of District 6 of the City and County of San Francisco , though it is still owned by the Navy.

Looking back to San Francisco ...

... and over to Alcatraz Island.

Even the big ships pull into San Francisco Bay.

Alameda is home of the USS Hornet.  From its website (link),

The USS Hornet CV-12 is one of the 24 legendary Essex-class aircraft carriers built during and after World War II. Built at Newport News, Virginia, and the eighth ship to be named “Hornet,” she is one of the most decorated ships of the US Navy.

For 16 continuous months Hornet was in action in the forward areas of the Pacific combat zone, sometimes within 40 miles of the Japanese home islands.

Hornet participated in World War II, the Vietnam War, and the first moon missions ... 

... flawlessly recovered the Apollo 11 space capsule and the first men to walk on the moon. 

A few months later, she also recovered the Apollo 12 capsule and its all-Navy crew.

In 1991, the USS Hornet opened to the public as an aircraft carrier museum.

Today, the F/A-18 strike fighter carries on the name of Hornet.

Have you visited an infamous site like Alcatraz or a large ship like the Hornet?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs win a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, December 6, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 7.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

USS Hornet flight deck