Product Description

"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind...." For most Americans, that's just about all they know of Apollo 11's historic mission--the fortieth anniversary of which is this July. What few realize is how much effort went into every phase of that mission and all the ones before it. Just the recovery aspect of Apollo 11 was a monumental task involving thousands of Navy, DoD and NASA personnel. Now, for the first time, that enterprise is explored in Hornet Plus Three: The Story of the Apollo 11 Recovery.

Hornet Plus Three follows the evolution of the planning by the Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA to achieve President John F. Kennedy's challenge to "[land] a man on the Moon and [return] him safely to Earth." To quickly recover manned spacecraft from the vast ocean, the Navy and DoD had to prepare elaborate primary and contingency plans. This book traces those plans, from the initial Mercury flights up through Apollo 11, the most complex of all recoveries. Many aspects are explored, including the USAF aircraft employed, the different Navy ships and their crews, and the rescue swimmers whose mission was to protect the astronauts after splashdown.

Using many primary sources, such as DoD manuals and Navy directives, as well as first-hand accounts, author Bob Fish explores the details of spacecraft recovery. There is also an extensive examination of every moment that went into the USS Hornet's successful recovery of the Apollo 11 capsule, the three astronauts and the precious cargo of Moon rocks. Hornet Plus Three features:

The various Navy and Air Force units that effected the recovery--most of whom had recently served combat tours in the Vietnam War.

The added complications of getting President Nixon aboard ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Coordinating the media so that 500 million people world-wide could watch on TV as the President welcomed the astronauts back to Earth.

The careful planning and implementation of quarantine procedures to deal with "Moon germs."

The Primary Recovery Ship, USS Hornet, did such an extraordinary job, it was selected to recover Apollo 12 four months later.

Personal reflections from the Navy and NASA commanders who directed the recovery effort.

Never-before seen photographs, charts and drawings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #289615 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

From the Publisher
"Bob Fish has created an accurately recorded and elegantly illustrated history of a not-so-well-known, but vitally important, component of the race to the Moon"--Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11 Mission Commander, Naval Aviator.

"As the first in-depth book written on `spacecraft recovery' it is likely to become a keystone of the legacy for all Navy and NASA personnel who executed these missions, and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it. In the vernacular of the Naval Services: Well done, Bob Fish."--Richard Gordon, Captain, USN (Ret.), Gemini 11, Apollo 12 (from the foreword).

"This is a great read, with exciting documentation, of an important part of our proud history. I recommend it highly."--Admiral Charles R. Larson (ret.) Former Naval aide to President Richard Nixon (1969-1971), former CINCPAC (1991-1994).

"Hornet Plus Three is a gleaming and thorough record of the professionalism and dedication displayed by young Navy men during the execution of the successful recovery of Apollo 11."--Vice Admiral Robert Dunn, Naval Historical Foundation

About the Author
Bob Fish has been a Trustee and Apollo curator for the USS Hornet Museum since 2000. He created the museum's spacecraft recovery exhibit, the only one of its kind in the world. During seven years of researching the Apollo 11 recovery, he interviewed a wide range of key participants. He and his wife reside in California.

Customer Reviews

The Inside Scoop on an Epic Event!
Hornet Plus Three: The Story of the Apollo 11 Recovery

Great book! I've always wondered about what happened behind the scenes of the Apollo 11 moon mission, especially the splashdown and recovery of the spacecraft and astronauts. This book is filled with technical information that is understandable and interesting to read. It is also an easy read because there are lots of photos and graphics to support the text. The contributions of people who were there provide a new and special perspective. I highly recommend HORNET PLUS THREE to anyone interested in space or naval history. Both young and old alike will gain a better understanding of what took place in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969.

Could We Do It Again?
Histories of the 1960s space race typically focus on the technology and determination that allowed America to meet President Kennedy's 1961 challenge. Others cover the heroic efforts of the astronauts, engineers, technicians, and specialists who made the first Moon landing possible. Rarely is the actual recovery of the spacecraft and crew covered in any detail.

However, it was the extraordinary planning and achievement of NASA and the military that made it possible to return those first Moon walkers "safely to Earth" by plucking them from the ocean and bringing them to a waiting aircraft carrier.

All of us who grew up during those incredible years can remember watching the returning Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo capsules swaying under the huge parachutes, splashing into the ocean, and bobbing while helicopters and Navy divers retrieved the crews. But few of us had any idea of the planning, coordination, and resourcefulness required to make those recoveries look so easy.

Author Bob Fish, in "Hornet Plus Three," describes in detail how the recovery missions were planned, rehearsed, and accomplished...but goes much farther. As with most well-done histories, the book brings its story to life through first-person remembrances of many people who participated in these momentous events, including the commander of the USS Hornet.

Fish has certainly done his homework, and his love of the subject matter shines through the 288 pages and dozens of archival photos, maps, and drawings. He traces how the U.S. military joined with NASA to support the landing and recovery of spacecraft, beginning with the first Mercury capsules and concluding with the unprecedented recovery of the first men to walk on the Moon - the Apollo 11 astronauts - and their cargo of priceless Moon rocks. From the initial recovery concepts through planning, training, and mission simulations to the actual recovery of American spacecraft and crews from the oceans, Fish tells it all. He covers the successes, problems, errors, and innovative solutions. Highlighted with quotes and stories from people we've never before heard from, Hornet Plus Three will entertain, educate, and enthrall you.

Step by step, Fish takes the reader through the recovery lessons learned during the one-man Mercury flights, two-man Gemini flights, and three-man Apollo missions. He describes how, as the capsules grew larger and heavier, NASA and the Navy had to revise both recovery procedures and the equipment used. Many of the photographs in Hornet Plus Three have never before been published and illustrate the personnel, Navy ships, Navy and Air Force aircraft, capsules, astronauts, and equipment.

Fish describes each step of the spacecraft's descent and splashdown and the transport of the crew and capsule to the deck of the Hornet. Although the story of the Apollo 11 recovery ends with the return of the USS Hornet to Pearl Harbor with its full complement of crew, plus three astronauts, Bob Fish's outstanding contribution to aviation, military, and space history includes several valuable appendices.

"Hornet Plus Three" represents an important and unique addition to the vast library of books about the early NASA space programs. I guarantee you won't be bored and, whether you think you know a lot about the Apollo program or not, you'll learn something and gain some insights into the challenges faced by those who ensured a safe conclusion to every space mission.

Our last manned mission to the Moon, Apollo 17, splashed down December 19, 1972. Thirty-seven years later, no other Earthlings have ventured beyond Earth orbit.

Could we repeat the Apollo program today? Could we do it in less than 10 years?

The Untold Story of the Apollo 11 Recovery
Hornet Plus Three: The Story of the Apollo 11 Recovery

Americans are familiar with the basics of the 1960's U.S. space program that started with Project Mercury, advanced through Gemini, and resulted in the successful moon landing of Apollo 11 in July 1969. We have read the books, seen the movies and hundreds of millions of us around the globe watched these events unfold on live TV. But this fresh account by Bob Fish details the untold story of a critical part of the lunar missions--the safe recovery of the astronauts on their return to earth. In an attention grabbing 212 pages, he portrays the complex array of organizations, people, skills, equipment and techniques needed to accomplish this challenging task. All set against the background of the Cold War and the Viet Nam conflict, which simultaneously imposed their own huge demands on resources of the Department of Defense. When President Kennedy set the goal in 1961 of "landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth" before the end of that decade, neither he nor anyone else had a clue as to how to do that. But, as Fish notes, Kennedy's challenge instantly shifted a significant percentage of the Cold War struggle into space research and development rather than building more weapons. The book is brought to life with numerous quotes from those who lived the story, from President Nixon to deckhands on the USS Hornet, that add a human touch and the ring of authenticity. The number of ships, organizations and preparations is inclusive but concisely presented in this highly readable work, supported by nearly 150 outstanding photos and illustrations. I highly recommend this book for all. As Apollo 12 Astronaut Richard Gordon says in his forward, "Well Done."

Bill Callahan
June 9, 2009