McTigue graduated from Fredonia High School in 1966 and joined the US Navy in October of 1967. In June of 1969, he received his orders to the USS Hornet, CVS-12.

“I was assigned to the Hornet’s C-1A crew to perform maintenance, repairs and fly as may be required in the missions assigned to the Hornet,” McTigue recalled, in a recent interview. “I worked on aircrafts, hydraulic systems, landing gears, wings, tail hooks — anything hydraulics.”

One of those missions was the USS Hornet’s designation as the prime recovery ship for Apollo 11, and then again for Apollo 12. Just before that, the Hornet’s crew had just returned from a nine-month deployment in support of the Vietnam War.

“After we got to Long Beach, we were told we were going to be the primary recovery ship,” McTigue stated. “Before leaving Long Beach Naval Station, the crew loaded aboard equipment and brought on staff from NASA, as well as a practice capsule to be used for recovering the Apollo 11 capsule, and a Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF).”

Former President Richard Nixon aboard the USS Hornet, following the success of the Apollo 11 mission, shaking hands with Dunkirk resident Thomas McTigue — pictured off-screen other than his arm.

From Long Beach, the Hornet would go to Pearl Harbor for further preparation. “Upon reaching Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, we took on additional NASA Staff, ABC TV staff and communication equipment which was essential for the recovery and broadcasting live TV from the Hornet,” McTigue commented. “We departed Pearl Harbor and headed to the Prime Abort Area for the launch of Apollo 11.”

From there, the Hornet began a rigorous recovery training. “After the successful Launch, we proceeded to the Prime Recovery Area located southwest of Johnson Island,” McTigue stated. “While en route to the Prime Recovery Area, the Hornet practiced recovery of the capsule by putting the practice capsule in the water and then maneuvering along the side and retrieving it with the ship’s crane.”

After the practice runs were all completed, the crew of the USS Hornet was ready for the big moment. “The ships C-1A (COD) was assigned to bring Admiral John McCain, CINCPAC Fleet and the Presidential Reporters from Johnson Island to the Hornet and return them after the recovery,” McTigue said. “After the astronauts were in the MQF, we were also assigned to send off their medical samples for testing and analysis.”

During this time, McTigue was able to meet then President Richard Nixon. “As our aircraft was on the flight deck, I was able to watch President Nixon come aboard,” McTigue noted. “I was also fortunate enough to be one of the last few sailors to shake President Nixon’s hand as he departed the Hornet.”

McTigue recalled the actual splashdown event fondly.

“I viewed the capsule splashdown and the famous Helicopter 66 bring the astronauts safely aboard. I saw the astronauts enter the MQF (initially) and at various other times over the next few days, as we returned to Pearl Harbor. After the capsule was brought aboard and moved near to the MQF, we could see the effects of the reentry on it and NASA engineers removing the moon rocks.”

During July, McTigue and his wife, Maureen, returned to the Hornet, which has since become a museum permanently docked at the Alameda Naval Air Station in Oakland, California. The purpose of the trip was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Splashdown, as well as to celebrate with former Hornet crew members.

“This was not my first time back to the ship,” McTigue added. “I was there in 2012 for a USS Hornet Association Reunion. As soon as I walked back aboard, it was like stepping back in time. The smell of aviation gas, jet fuel and the ocean are still very prominent. It immediately brought back memories that I will never forget, where I was during the splashdown and all that we did. I was just surreal.”

The USS Hornet, now a national historic site, put on a gala celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary. “The ship had a dinner on Saturday night to begin the anniversary celebration and members of the USS Hornet Association were invited to attend,” McTigue noted.

The experience on the ship brought up many old memories of the amazing experience in history. “When you’ve got full airwing on board it was 3,000 men,” McTigue said. “It’s not like the newer 5,000 ones, but 3,000 guys is a lot, and we made a lot of memories and friendships. I’ve kept in touch with guys over the years.”

Being back and experiencing again what is now a part of history, McTigue recalled the most human experience of all.

“Just being out a sea, odors and smells don’t dissipate, it’s like stepping back in time,” he stated. “You go back and try to find your own ‘birthing’ area, ours was underneath the flight deck … our old work area in the hangar deck and walking into the chow hall, medical area … you live aboard it.”