Offered is a rare original 1969 USS Hornet (CVS-12) Apollo 11 Recovery Mission cruisebook/documentation relating to the historic recovery of the Apollo 11 astronauts.

USS Hornet was designated the Primary Recovery Ship for Apollo 11, the first crewed lunar landing mission. On July 24, 1969, the Hornet recovered astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin following their splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia. President Richard Nixon was also aboard the Hornet to welcome the astronauts home.

The Apollo 11 recovery was an extraordinary Navy operation involving HS-4 Sea King helicopters, Navy Underwater Demolition Teams, NASA personnel and specialized recovery equipment. The astronauts were recovered by helicopter and taken aboard the Hornet, where they were placed inside the Mobile Quarantine Facility. The Command Module was subsequently recovered and brought aboard the ship.

This period piece provides a direct contemporary record of USS Hornet’s involvement in one of the most important events in the history of space exploration and the United States Navy.

An especially desirable item for collectors of Apollo 11, NASA, U.S. Navy history, USS Hornet memorabilia, space-race material and original 1960s historical documentation.

Please examine photographs carefully for the exact condition, contents and any markings present.