BILL NUMBER: SJR 45 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 25, 1996
INTRODUCED BY Senator Petris
MARCH 28, 1996
Senate Joint Resolution No. 45--Relative to the aircraft carrier
U.S.S. Hornet (CV-12).
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SJR 45, as amended, Petris. Aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet
(CV-12).
This measure would memorialize the President, the Congress, and
the Department of Defense to support the efforts of the citizens of
the State of California and the County of Alameda to acquire the U.S.
Navy aircraft carrier Hornet (CV-12) for a permanent museum,
educational, and entertainment complex.
Fiscal committee: no.
WHEREAS, Alameda has a long history associated with the U.S. Navy
and Naval Air Forces, and Alameda was shaped by the birth of aviation
technology and is proudly and inextricably linked to the military's
presence; and
WHEREAS, The acquisition of the aircraft carrier Hornet (CV-12)
would preserve a vital part of the U.S. military history and its
establishment as a museum would be a fitting memorial to Alameda's
contributions to U.S. efforts in World War II, the Korean War, and
the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, In the 18 months of combat during World War II, the
aircraft and gunners of the U.S.S. Hornet (CV-12) destroyed 1,410,
enemy planes, sank 73 ships, and damaged more than 400 vessels,
including the first hits on the Japanese battleship Yamato, which was
sunk on April 7, 1945, as it steamed toward Okinawa; and
WHEREAS, The U.S.S. Hornet (CV-12), a 53-year old ESSEX Class
carrier is one of eight warships that bore that name, but it was the
most decorated of them all, earning a presidential unit citation and
seven battle stars in action during World War II, the Korean War, and
the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, The first U.S. Navy aircraft carrier named "Hornet" was
CV-8 (YORKTOWN Class, including: Enterprise/CV-6 and Yorktown/CV-5)
laid down in September 1939 by the Newport News Shipbuilding &
Drydock Company. It was launched on December 14, 1940, and
commissioned on October 20, 1941; it displaced 20,000 tons, measured
761 feet long, and had a complement of 2,200 personnel; and
WHEREAS, The Hornet (CV-8) was designed with the benefit of real
operating experience, sharing the basic design principles of a large,
open hangar deck topped by a thin, rectangular wood and steel flight
deck; and
WHEREAS, On April 2, 1942, the U.S.S. Hornet (CV-8) having just
completed its workups, left Alameda with an unusual deckload of 16
Army Air Corps B-25 Mitchell bombers commanded by Lt. Colonel James
"Jimmy" Doolittle, sailing to join a task force with Enterprise
(CV-6) targeting the Japanese Cities of Tokyo, Nagoya, Yokohama, and
Kobe; and
WHEREAS, On April 18, 1942, still some miles to the east of the
intended launch point, the ships of the task force were sighted by
Japanese picket boats. Faced with the decision whether to abort the
mission, push on to the planned launch point against an alerted
enemy, or launch immediately with full knowledge that the B-25s
lacked the range to reach their intended landing fields in China,
"Doolittle's Raiders" launched immediately, and struck the first
successful attack upon the homeland of Japan; and
WHEREAS, The Hornet (CV-8) was further involved during World War
II in the Central and South Pacific carrying out operations in the
Battle of Midway, June 4-6, 1942, and the Battle of Santa Cruz
Islands, where it received six Japanese bomb hits, two torpedo hits,
and two hits by suicide aircraft, and sank on October 27, 1942; and
WHEREAS, The second U.S. Navy aircraft carrier named "Hornet" was
CV-12 (modernized ESSEX Class, including 19 ships), constructed by
the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, and launched August
29, 1943. The Hornet (CV-12) was commissioned November 29, 1943, it
displaced 38,500 tons, measured 889 feet long, carried 45 aircraft,
and had a complement of 2,400 personnel; and
WHEREAS, In June, 1945, a typhoon ripped a 24-foot gash in the
forward section of the flight deck, but the Hornet (CV-12) was simply
turned around and the aircraft were launched off the stern; and
WHEREAS, Postwar modernization of the Hornet (CV-12) under the
Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization program allowed it to be
refitted with improved elevators, a reinforced flight deck, increased
aviation fuel storage, and other features for operating jet aircraft
including modernization of its aircraft arresting system. These
refittings increased the Hornets' ability to operate advanced
aircraft and to improve antisubmarine capabilities; and
WHEREAS, The aircraft carrier Hornet (CV-12) contributed to U.S.
efforts in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, and
served as the command ship for recovery of the Apollo XI and XII
reentry vehicles; and
WHEREAS, The aircraft carrier Hornet (CV-12) was decommissioned on
June 26, 1970, and is in good structural condition, and will soon be
considered for sale as military surplus; and
WHEREAS, The McDonald Douglas F/A 18 Hornet multiple-role air
superiority/ground attack aircraft that has become the fleet's
principal carrier-based fixed wing aircraft, was named in honor of
the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet; and
WHEREAS, In 1995, the weathered-gray warship was scheduled for
demolition despite its 1991 designation as a National Historic
Landmark; and
WHEREAS, The decision to demolish the ship outraged former crew
members, who recruited approximately 100 volunteers and embarked on a
campaign to save the ship; and
WHEREAS, The Aircraft Carrier Hornet Museum is proposed to be
permanently berthed in Alameda at Pier No. 2 and to be secured by
eight 2-inch chains to existing chain pads welded on the shell, and
would immeasureably enhance the maritime ambience of the regional
shipyards, the Port of Oakland, and the Alameda Naval Air Station;
and
WHEREAS, The Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation (ACHF) has
arranged to acquire four 110-foot long by 34-foot wide YCs for
mooring (that are certified as suitable for use associated with
nuclear submarines) from Mare Island Naval Shipyard. This
arrangement will provide a 440-foot long parallel load distribution
plane from the hull to the fenders of the pier; and
WHEREAS, Use of this system of chain attachment to the pier
bollards in conjunction with the four YCs will provide an arrangement
of positive mechanical attachment sufficient to secure the ship and
withstand 100-year weather requirements; and
WHEREAS, The carrier museum would be an attraction to both
domestic and foreign tourists, thereby enhancing the global
competitive position of the San Francisco Bay area; and
WHEREAS, According to the Historic Naval Ships Association, a
1994-95 survey shows attendance to similar historic U.S. naval ship
museums as follows: battleship Texas (BB-35)--300,000; battleship
Arizona (BB-39)--1.5 million; battleship North Carolina
(BB-55)--225,000; battleship Massachusetts (BB-59)--140,000;
battleship Alabama (BB-60)--245,000; aircraft carrier Intrepid
(CV-11)--410,000; aircraft carrier Lexington (CV-16)--340,000;
submarine Bowfin (SS-287)--195,000; submarine Pampanito
(SS-383)--250,000; 3-masted frigate Constitution--420,000; and
WHEREAS, The added attraction of a carrier museum would result in
longer tourist stays, with consequent increases in retail sales,
hotel and motel occupancy, and restaurant patronage, resulting in
higher sales and transient occupancy tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, Estimates indicate that establishment of the proposed
museum and cultural center would employ up to 150 people within three
years, and would annually infuse between 12 and 22 million dollars
into the local economy; and
WHEREAS, A carrier museum could be used as an ongoing exposition
to showcase Alameda's leadership in aerospace and defense technology,
to develop educational programs for schoolaged children, and to
provide entertainment attractions based on naval aviation history;
and
WHEREAS, The presence of a military museum in Alameda would
promote positive community relations between the citizens and the
military; and
WHEREAS, Support for legislation pending before the 104th Session
of the U.S. Congress entitled "The World War II Education and
Research Act" would authorize that at least one site per state be
officially designated a National World War II Education and Research
Center; and
WHEREAS, The purposes of this Congressional Act are to enable
industry, universities, research facilities, presidential libraries,
museums, and public and private sector organizations to make
available to the public all relevant information on the collective
war effort involving the military, industrial, and civilian sectors;
and
WHEREAS, The Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation intends to raise
sufficient resources from various possible sources (donations,
pledges, venture capital, and revenue bonds) to pay for all relevant
startup costs and to develop a long-range master plan to do all of
the following: (1) include a 1940-60's museum in hangar bays 1, 2,
and 3, with an emphasis on Pacific theater battles including
airplanes and artifacts from that era; (2) incorporate Airwings,
Squadrons, Marine Detachments, and Reserve and Veterans Associations
called "Bringing the Ship Back to Life"; (3) provide mobile displays
and exhibits in hangar bays for large community-sponsored events; and
(4) establish Apollo XI and Apollo XII displays; and
WHEREAS, The Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Association (ARRA),
which will be responsible for the base after the Navy leaves in 1997,
has indicated its willingness to enter into an interim lease of one
of the piers for this purpose, and to adopt a resolution in support
of the U.S.S. Hornet renovation project; and
WHEREAS, A group of Alameda citizens have established a nonprofit
corporation and a committee, along with the support of the
Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Association (ARRA), the World War II
along with the support of the ARRA, the World War II
Education and Research Commission, the Mayor and City Council
of Oakland, the San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Commission, the City
of Vacaville, the Oakland Navy League, the Aircraft Carrier Hornet
Foundation, the Historic Naval Ships Association, and the Smithsonian
Institution, to pursue the acquisition of the aircraft carrier
Hornet (CV-12); now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of California,
jointly, That in order to enhance the public's awareness of the
contributions of the citizens of the State of California and the
County of Alameda to military preparedness and, in particular, naval
aviation history, and to enhance the region's economy by increasing
tourism and creating new employment opportunities, the Legislature of
the State of California endorses the efforts to acquire the aircraft
carrier U.S.S. Hornet (CV-12) as a permanent museum, educational,
and entertainment complex to be located in Alameda; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California
respectfully memorializes the President and Congress of the United
States, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to
the Department of Defense, to support the efforts of the citizens of
the State of California and the County of Alameda to acquire the
aircraft carrier Hornet; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States,
to the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the
Department of Defense, to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from
California in the Congress of the United States.