The history of the carrier that launched Jimmy Doolittles daring raid on Tokyo and saw combat at Midway and Santa Cruz

The USS Hornet (CV-8), made famous through its launching of the 16 US Army B-25 Mitchell bombers flown by Jimmy Doolittles raiders in the first US strike on Japan in May 1942, was the third and last Yorktown-class aircraft carrier completed. Serving the US Navy for just over one year, the warship had a brief yet heroic life. 

This book explores Hornets construction, wartime activities (including the Battle of Midway), and ultimate sinking during the Battle of Santa Cruz in October 1942, through carefully researched photos, many of which have never before been published, which are reproduced in remarkable clarity. This clarity and the large size of many of the photos, coupled with descriptive and informative captions, put the reader on the deck of this historic warship throughout its short history. 

A Legends of Warfare series book.