USS Hornet CV-8 Doolittle Raid: Our USS Hornet CV-8 Doolittle Raid model ship is made of the finest grade materials which underwent stages of meticulous and careful sanding, carving and modeling to its original form. Our craftsmen and artisans ensure finely handcrafted USS Hornet CV-8 Doolittle Raid model ship with precise blueprint details of the original ship. The USS Hornet CV-8 Doolittle Raid model ship’s paint scheme, markings and parts are extremely accurate and complete with weaponries and armament, reflecting the true original USS Hornet CV-8 Doolittle Raid model ship. It also comes with a sturdy, durable base marked with its official insignia. This authentic USS Hornet CV-8 Doolittle Raid model ship will surely mesmerize anyone who receives this elegant desktop display as a gift. USS Hornet CV-8 Doolittle Raid History: The seventh USS Hornet (CV-8) was a Yorktown class aircraft carrier of World War II. She was launched December 14, 1940 by Newport News Ship Building & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia, and commissioned at Norfolk on October 20, 1941. Hornet is notable for launching sixteen Army B-25s in the Doolittle Raid, as a participant in the Battle of Midway, and for action in the Solomons before being lost to an overwhelming air attack in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands. She weighed 19,800 tons and stretched 809 feet 9 inches. She had a speed of 33 knots and could carry a crew of 1,889. Planned and led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, the Doolittle Raid was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese home islands during World War II. It was the only time in US military history that US Army Air Forces (USAAF) bombers were launched from a US Navy aircraft carrier on a combat mission. Hornet arrived in Alameda, California on March 20, 1942. Sixteen USAAF B-25 bombers were loaded on the flight deck. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Doolittle, 70 officers and 64 enlisted men reported aboard. Hornet departed Alameda on April 2 along with escort ships and embarked on her mission under sealed orders. Eleven days later Hornet joined Enterprise (CV-6) off Midway and Task Force 16 turned toward Japan. With Enterprise providing combat air cover, Hornet was to steam deep into enemy waters where Lieutenant Colonel Doolittle would lead the B-25s in a daring strike on Tokyo and other important Japanese cities. On April 18, 1942, Hornet launched the B-25s and by 09:20 all sixteen bombers were airborne. Intercepted broadcasts, both in Japanese and English, confirmed the success of the raids at 14:46.