View up the starboard bow cat.  Hornet was originally commissioned as a straight-deck carrier, but after WWII underwent a series of modernization overhauls in 1951 and 1956 (known as SCB-27A and SCB-125, respectively).  The most striking external change was the replacement of her original "straight deck" with a modern angled flight deck, permitting the simultaneous launch and recovery of aircraft.  She was also fitted with a pair of H-8 hydraulic catapults, which ran parallel to one another off the bow of the ship.

Flight deck entrance to island.  Exterior hatches provide access to the island spaces above.  To the left of this frame is another hatch that ends in an escalator, which was originally used by heavily-laden aircrews coming up to the flight deck from the ready rooms on the second deck.

Carrier gunnery.  One modification made to Hornet as part of her 1951 SCB-27A overhaul was the addition of a number of 5"/38 gun mounts.  This is the forward starboard 5" gun mount and accompanying fire director.  Hornet had a total of four of these guns, two of which were mounted on forward quarter sponsons on either side of her hull, visible just over the deck edge.

Grumman US-2B Tracker, BuNo. 136691.  Originally designated S2F under the old naval aircraft nomenclature, the Grumman S-2 Tracker was affectionately known as the "Stoof."  Designed as an antisubmarine aircraft, some airframes were employed as general-purpose utility aircraft.  This utility Stoof wears the colors of Naval Air Facility Washington's aviation detachment.  During its 29-year career, this particular airplane served with VS-26, VS-22, VS-30, VS-24, VS-32, and VS-33.

Grumman F9F-5P Panther, BuNo. 123517.  This is a reconnaissance variant of the Grumman Panther.  Note glass face of camera bay just forward of the large national insignia.

North American FJ-2 Fury, BuNo. 132057.  The first swept-wing carrier fighter put into USN service, the Fury was essentially a navalized F-86E Sabre.  This aircraft was at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in South Carolina before coming to the USS Hornet Museum, and is still in the process of restoration.