This tour explores the revolution in defense against air attack that turned this task from mission impossible into mission accomplished during World War Two.
Overview:
Spaces Visited May Include
– Hornet’s World War Two Scoreboard A record of Hornet’s WW II victories
– Miss June A WW II TBM Avenger Torpedo Bomber
– Wildcat Fighter An example of the Navy’s frontline fighter at the start of WW II
– Ready Room 4 Where pilots were briefed and de-briefed on their missions
– Combat Information Center Where information from various sensors was received and routed.
– Upper Handling Room Where ready service ammunition for mount 51 was stored
– Mount 51 An example of an open air 5” 38 caliber gun mount
– Director/Fire Control Room 51 An example of a Mark 56 Firecontrol System
Times
The tour takes place the third Tuesday of every month and starts at 10 AM.
Meet Your Tour Guide:
Brian Crisp is a former Coast Guard (weapons) Firecontrol Technician.
As such, he was tasked with operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing the radars and computers that directed naval gunfire. He spent time aboard Coast Guard Cutter Midgett (WHEC-726) working on a Mark 56 system. The seeds for this tour were planted at that time when he and his fellow FTs speculated on “who banged their head against the bulkhead and cooked this stuff up”. He was further encouraged in it’s development by his friend, mentor, and Hornet shipmate, Eldon Brodie, to whom it is dedicated.
A quick aside; the reason that I added the (weapons) to my title as a Firecontrol Technician is the confusion associated with that title. When I reported to my first duty station after “A” school, the Coast Guard Yard, they tried to send me to the base firehouse until I convinced them that I started ‘em instead of putting ‘em out.
