Haunted Ships: The Star of India & USS Hornet Ghost Stories

Set sail with us on this episode of theYou Two Scare Me Podcast as we explore the haunted histories of two of California's most legendary ghost ships: the Star of India, the world's oldest active sailing vessel, and the USS Hornet, a decorated WWII aircraft carrier turned paranormal hotspot. Recorded live from Key West, Florida, we're trading our tropical setting for a deep dive into cold spots, disembodied voices, and full-body apparitions haunting two very different- but equally haunted - ships.

The Star of India: A Ghost Ship with 160 Years of History

Originally launched in 1863 as the Euterpe, the Star of India survived a mutiny, a brutal cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, and the death of her captain at sea before becoming a New Zealand emigrant ship and later, San Diego's most famous maritime landmark. You'll hear the tragic legend of John Campbell, a 15-year-old stowaway who fell to his death from the ship's rigging in 1884, and whose presence is still reported near the mast today. This episode also covers:

• The unexplained death of a Chinese sailor found in the ship's chain locker in 1909
• A passenger's gruesome suicide in the First Mate's Cabin during a voyage to New Zealand
• Modern-day reports of cold spots, phantom footsteps, disembodied voices, and the scent of bread baking in the long-abandoned galley
• Full-body apparitions of 19th-century sailors seen on deck by visitors and security guards

Today, the Star of India is docked at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, where paranormal encounters continue to be reported by staff, tourists, and overnight school groups alike.

The USS Hornet: From WWII Battle Hero to Haunted Museum Ship

Next, we'll turn to the USS Hornet (CV-12), an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned in 1943. The Hornet earned nine battle stars during WWII, saw her air group credited with destroying over 1,400 Japanese aircraft, and later made history as the primary recovery ship for Apollo 11 — welcoming home astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins with President Nixon aboard in 1969.

With more than 300 deaths recorded over her 27 years of active service, the USS Hornet has earned a reputation as one of the most haunted museum ships in America. You'll hear firsthand accounts collected from decades of visitors, docents, and former crew, including:

• The infamous "Dress Whites Ghost" — a recurring sailor apparition seen throughout the ship
• A painter's encounter with two faceless sailors during the ship's 1990s restoration
• Disembodied male voices heard near the women's restroom sinks — later confirmed by a paranormal TV segment
• A former crewman's eerie encounter with a phantom in a WWII-era fire room
• A blue haze witnessed by over 30 guests during a Live Aboard overnight ghost tour
• Appearances on Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, Scariest Places on Earth, and My Ghost Story

Now home to the USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum in Alameda, California, the ship runs official paid ghost tours and "Grey Ghost Encounters" for visitors brave enough to spend the night.

Somebody Told Me: A Grandmother's Ghostly Visit

This episode's listener story comes from Johnny in New York, who shares a home security camera capture of what he believes is his late grandmother's spirit — appearing at her husband's back door just months after her passing in 2021.

Have you ever had an experience that made you wonder if our loved ones are still with us?

Tell us your story at youtwoscaremepodcast@gmail.com. Your story could be featured in a future "Somebody Told Me" segment.

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The You Two Scare Me Podcast is hosted by Andi Zyvith and Feliz Andrews

Original Music by Stefan Tatka

Disclaimer: The You Two Scare Me Podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only. The views, opinions, and discussions presented in this show are those of the hosts and guests, and should not be considered factual statements, professional advice, or verified accounts. Our content often includes folklore, paranormal stories, urban legends, and speculative material, which may not be historically accurate. Listener discretion is advised, as some episodes may include sensitive themes such as death, violence, or trauma. All stories are shared with respect for the cultures and communities connected to them, and no harm or offense is intended.