Partygoers rave about USS Hornet as aircraft carrier hosts Rattleship music fest
A decommissioned Second World War US Navy Essex-class aircraft carrier is hosting a unique event that's sure to get rave reviews.
USS Hornet, which also played a crucial role in the Apollo 11 and 12 landings is now a Sea, Air & Space Museum based 20 minutes from San Francisco, California.
The carrier is hosting Rattleship, a sold out, two-night rave described by organisers Brownies and Lemonade as ambitious due to the "feral" partygoers and the size of the venue.
With vintage aircraft on display and a capacity for up to 3,000 guests, Second World War military history and modern-day ravers will collide in July with what is described as a music event with a mini festival feel.
Headliners from last year were British DJ TroyBoi and French DJ Madeon, and this year there promises to be an "extra special secret headliner".
Of last year's event, the organisers said: "Throwing a rave at a massive aircraft carrier is something out of our wildest dreams."
USS Hornet – a brief history
Hornet was commissioned on 29 November 1943.
The carrier's air groups consisted of a fighter, bomber and torpedo squadron.
Nicknamed the Grey Ghost, USS Hornet joined Task Force 58 and in June sailed to take part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
Later the same month, the aircraft carrier took part in the Western Carolina Islands operation and just four months later participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Following Japan's surrender in September 1945, USS Hornet was repurposed to bring back Pacific veterans during Operation Magic Carpet.
USS Hornet received the Presidential Unit Citation and seven battle stars for service in the Second World War.
Following her service during the Korean and Vietnam wars, in June 1969 the aircraft carrier was chosen by the US Navy to be the Primary Recovery Ship for the Apollo programme – the successful mission to get a man on the Moon.
On 24 July, after eight days in space, astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Mike Collins were recovered from the sea after the splashdown by USS Hornet under the command of Captain Carl J Seiberlich.
The returning astronauts lived in quarantine on board the vessel before transferring to the Lunar Receiving Laboratory in Houston, Texas.
A few months later, she also recovered the Apollo 12 astronauts.
In 1970, USS Hornet was decommissioned and became a California Historical Landmark.
Almost three decades later she was given a new lease of life by becoming a floating museum in 1998, part of the Smithsonian Affiliations programme.
What is USS Hornet doing today?
In addition to her latest venture of being a rave venue, the historical aircraft carrier hosts several different types of events such as trade shows, meetings, banquets and team-building activities.
The Sea, Air & Space Museum is believed by many to be haunted, so the venue hosts ghost tours in the evening and some are even brave enough to stay the whole night on board.
The vessel has also been visited by several TV, film and music video crews over the years.
Mississippi rock band Saving Abel filmed a music video there for 18 Days, the second single off their debut studio album.
She has also featured in the BBC special The Battle of Midway and was the location for Iliza Shlesinger's Netflix comedy special Elder Millenial.
In addition, films such as XXX2: State Of The Union (Samuel L Jackson, Ice Cube and Willem Defoe) The Master (Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Jesse Plemons) and Rescue Dawn (Christian Bale, François Chau and Steve Zahn) had scenes filmed on board USS Hornet.
Join Our Newsletter
