129-504: The Enterprise Air Group was established on 1 July 1938, encompassing all squadrons embarked in USS ; Enterprise (CV-6) . The group was divided into four squadrons, each with eighteen aircraft dedicated to a particular role. The squadrons were designated according to their role, and all were given the unit number six, derived from the hull number of the Enterprise . Bombing Six (VB-6)
258-501: A British Admiralty pennant that was hoisted when a majority of the Admiralty Board members were present. The pennant was given to Enterprise as a token of respect from several high-ranking officers of an ally. She returned to New York on 25 December 1945 with 4,413 servicemen. On this nine-day trip, she encountered four storms, some with winds of 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) that caused 75-foot (23 m) waves that swamped
387-492: A battleship , four cruisers , and 11 destroyers . Not all of the ships were U.S. warships; attached to TF 18 was TF 44 , commanded by Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley , which included the Royal Australian Navy cruisers HMAS Australia and Hobart . The overall commander of the three carrier task forces was Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher , who flew his flag on Saratoga . The aircraft from
516-526: A Catalina made the first sighting of the Ryūjō force. Later that morning, several more sightings by carrier and other U.S. reconnaissance aircraft followed, including Ryūjō and ships of Kondo's and Mikawa's forces. Throughout the morning and early afternoon, U.S. aircraft also sighted several Japanese scout aircraft and submarines, leading Fletcher to believe that the Japanese knew where his carriers were, which actually
645-513: A Japanese carrier force and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands was under way. Enterprise aircraft struck carriers and cruisers during the struggle, while the ship herself underwent intensive attack. Hit twice by bombs, Enterprise lost 44 men and had 75 wounded. Despite serious damage, she remained in action and took on board a large number of planes and crewmen from Hornet when that carrier
774-447: A bomb's near miss damaged the hull and flooded the starboard bilge causing the ship to list by almost 15 degrees until counter-flooding in the port bilge righted the ship. Enterprise planes also hit the battleship Fusō , as one bomb destroyed the catapult and both floatplanes, while another bomb hit the ship near Turret No. 2 and penetrated the decks, killing everyone in No. 1 secondary battery;
903-474: A brief visit to Ulithi, Enterprise joined TG 58.5 on 10 February 1945, and provided day and night combat air patrol for TF 58 as it struck Tokyo on 16–17 February. She then supported the Marines in the Battle of Iwo Jima from 19 February – 9 March, when she sailed for Ulithi. During one part of that period, Enterprise kept aircraft aloft continuously over Iwo Jima for 174 hours. Departing Ulithi on 15 March,
1032-570: A campaign with an eventual goal of isolating the major Japanese base at Rabaul while also supporting the Allied New Guinea campaign . The landings initiated the six-month-long Guadalcanal campaign . The Allied landings were directly supported by three U.S. aircraft carrier task forces (TFs): TF 11 centered around USS Saratoga ; TF 16 based on USS Enterprise ; and TF 18 formed around USS Wasp ; their respective air groups ; and supporting surface warships, including
1161-452: A clear victory, the U.S. and its allies gained a tactical and strategic advantage. Japan's losses were greater and included dozens of aircraft and their experienced aircrews . Also, Japanese reinforcements intended for Guadalcanal were delayed and eventually delivered by warships rather than transport ships, giving the Allies more time to prepare for the Japanese counteroffensive and preventing
1290-496: A counteroffensive, with the goal of driving the Allies from Guadalcanal and Tulagi. The counteroffensive was called "Operation Ka", from the first syllable in the Japanese name for Guadalcanal. The naval forces had the additional objective of destroying Allied warship forces in the South Pacific Area, specifically the U.S. carriers. On 16 August, a Japanese convoy of three slow transport ships loaded with 1,411 soldiers from
1419-555: A cruiser–destroyer group during the Battle of Rennell Island . Despite the destruction of most of the attacking Japanese bombers by Enterprise planes, the heavy cruiser Chicago was sunk by aerial torpedoes . Detached after the battle, the carrier arrived at Espiritu Santo on 1 February, and for the next three months operated out of that base, covering U.S. surface forces up to the Solomons. Captain Samuel Ginder assumed command of
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#17328556629471548-425: A definitive report on the location of the Japanese fleet carriers, the U.S. carriers' radar detected the first incoming wave of Japanese strike aircraft. Fifty-three F4F-4 Wildcat fighters from the two U.S. carriers were directed by radar control towards the attackers. Communication problems, limitations of the aircraft identification capabilities of the radar, primitive control procedures, and effective screening of
1677-530: A heavy strike by aircraft of TF 50 against Kwajalein on 4 December, Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor five days later. The carrier's next operation was with the Fast Carrier Task Force in softening up the Marshall Islands and supporting the landings on Kwajalein, from 29 January-3 February 1944. Then, Enterprise sailed, still with TF 58, to strike the Japanese naval base at Truk Lagoon in
1806-412: A memorial. At her inactivation, it was announced that the ninth ship to bear the name Enterprise would be the planned Gerald R. Ford -class aircraft carrier , CVN-80 . It has not been confirmed what, if any, artifacts from USS Enterprise (CV-6) will be incorporated into this next generation aircraft carrier, although a time capsule containing mementos from both CV-6 and CVN-65 will be presented to
1935-726: A mixed squadron of Enterprise and Yorktown bombers, flying from Enterprise , disabled Hiryu , leaving her burning. The following day Enterprise dive bombers alone sank the cruiser Mikuma . While Yorktown and Hammann were the only American ships sunk, TF 16 and TF 17 lost a total of 113 planes, 61 of them in combat. Japanese losses were much higher: four carriers (all scuttled ), one cruiser and 272 carrier aircraft with many of their highly experienced aircrews. Despite losses to her aircraft squadrons, Enterprise came through undamaged and returned to Pearl Harbor on 13 June 1942. Captain Arthur C. Davis relieved Murray on 30 June 1942. After
2064-543: A month of rest and overhaul, Enterprise sailed on 15 July 1942 for the South Pacific, where she joined TF 61 to support the amphibious landings in the Solomon Islands on 8 August. For the next two weeks, the carrier and her planes guarded seaborne communication lines southwest of the Solomons. On 24 August, a strong Japanese force was discovered some 200 miles (300 km) north of Guadalcanal , and TF 61 sent planes to
2193-559: A much-needed overhaul. Over the course of several months, Enterprise received an extensive refit, which included, among other upgrades, new anti-aircraft weapons and an anti-torpedo blister that significantly improved her underwater protection. This mid-war refit is where she would receive her two iconic "6"s on her flight decks. Captain Matthias Gardner relieved Ginder on 7 November. Back at Pearl Harbor on 6 November, Enterprise left four days later to provide close air support to
2322-579: A radio report, and this caused the Japanese to strongly suspect that U.S. carriers were in the immediate area. The U.S. forces were unaware of the disposition and strength of the approaching Japanese surface warship forces. At 09:50 on 23 August, a U.S. PBY Catalina flying boat operating out of Ndeni in the Santa Cruz Islands initially sighted Tanaka's convoy. By late afternoon, with no further sightings of Japanese ships, two aircraft strike forces from Saratoga and Henderson Field took off to attack
2451-624: A series of three Operation Magic Carpet voyages to Europe , bringing home more than 10,000 veterans in her final service to her country. The first European voyage returned 4,668 servicemen from Southampton , England, in November 1945. On the second trip to Europe, she was boarded by the British First Lord of the Admiralty , Sir Albert Alexander in Southampton, who presented Enterprise with
2580-577: A small rubber raft after their food and water were washed overboard, before drifting ashore on the atoll of Pukapuka , where the natives fed them and notified Allied authorities. The three men were then picked up by USS Swan . Dixon was awarded the Navy Cross for "extraordinary heroism, exceptional determination, resourcefulness, skilled seamanship, excellent judgment and highest quality of leadership." On 1 February 1942, Enterprise ' s Task Force 8 raided Kwajalein , Wotje , and Maloelap in
2709-411: A total of 76 pilots and aircrew were lost. In sharp contrast, American carrier aircraft, with a major assist from U.S. submarines, sank three Japanese carriers ( Hiyō , Shōkaku , and Taihō ), and destroyed 426 carrier aircraft, losses from which Japanese naval aviation would never recover. Enterprise participated both in the defense of the fleet and in the subsequent early-evening strike against
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#17328556629472838-512: The 27th Infantry Division landing on Makin Atoll , during the Battle of Makin , from 19–21 November 1943. On the night of 26 November, Enterprise introduced carrier-based night fighters to the Pacific when a three-plane team from the ship broke up a large group of land-based bombers attacking TG 50.2. Two of the three planes returned to the ship, with LCDR Edward "Butch" O'Hare the only casualty. After
2967-640: The Battle of the Philippine Sea , and the Battle of Leyte Gulf . Enterprise earned 20 battle stars , the most for any U.S. warship in World War II, and was the most decorated U.S. ship of World War II . She was also the first American ship to sink a full-sized enemy warship after the Pacific War had been declared when her aircraft sank the Japanese submarine I-70 on 10 December 1941. On three occasions during
3096-637: The Caroline Islands , on 17 February. Again Enterprise made aviation history, when she launched the first night radar bombing attack from a U.S. carrier. The twelve torpedo bombers in this strike achieved excellent results, accounting for nearly one-third of the 200,000 tons of shipping destroyed by aircraft. Detached from TF 58 with escorts, Enterprise launched raids on Jaluit Atoll on 20 February, then steamed to Majuro and Espiritu Santo. Sailing on 15 March in TG 36.1, she provided air cover and close support for
3225-623: The East Coast and in the Caribbean until April 1939, when she was ordered to duty in the Pacific . Enterprise was one of fourteen ships to receive the early RCA CXAM-1 radar . Captain George D. Murray assumed command of the carrier on 21 March 1941. Based first at San Diego (where she was used in the filming of Dive Bomber , starring Errol Flynn and Fred MacMurray ) and then at Pearl Harbor on
3354-514: The Enterprise Air Group was disestablished on 1 September 1942. Enterprise embarked Air Group 10 for her next series of operations. The Navy had changed its air group designation scheme, assigning numbers rather the name of the ship to which the group was assigned. A new air group designated Carrier Air Group SIX was established months later, in March 1943 and assigned to Enterprise . Due to
3483-614: The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Guadalcanal campaign . As at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway , the ships of the two adversaries were never within sight of each other. Instead, all attacks were carried out by carrier-based or land-based aircraft. After several damaging air attacks , the naval surface combatants from both America and Japan withdrew from the battle area. Although neither side secured
3612-508: The Marshall Islands . In two waves, 64 airplanes attacked and for the loss of six of their number, sunk only a small gunboat and damaged the light cruiser Katori , the minelayer Tokiwa, and five other ships. Also, numerous airplanes and ground facilities were destroyed. Enterprise received only minor damage in the Japanese counterattack, as TF 8 retired to Pearl Harbor. The next month, Enterprise , now part of Task Force 16 , swept
3741-518: The Ryūjō aircraft, the Rabaul aircraft had encountered severe weather and returned to their base at 11:30. The Ryūjō aircraft were detected on radar by Saratoga as they flew toward Guadalcanal, further fixing the location of their ship for the impending U.S. attack. The Ryūjō aircraft arrived over Henderson Field at 14:23 and tangled with the Cactus Air Force based at Henderson while they bombed
3870-467: The Shortland Islands . Both the Japanese and the U.S. elected to completely withdraw their warships from the area, ending the battle. The Japanese naval forces lingered near the northern Solomons, out of range of the U.S. aircraft based at Henderson Field, before finally returning to Truk on 5 September. The battle is generally considered to be a tactical and strategic victory for the U.S. because
3999-523: The Sibuyan Sea , nine of her Helldivers attacked the battleship Musashi with 450-kilogram (1,000 lb) armour-piercing bombs and scored four hits; further repeated bomb and torpedo strikes eventually sunk Musashi . Enterprise also sent 27 planes (Avengers and Helldivers escorted by Hellcats) to attack Vice Admiral Shōji Nishimura 's Southern Force. The strikes against battleship Yamashiro killed 20 sailors with strafing and rocket attacks, while
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4128-489: The forecastle deck in water up to 10 feet (3.0 m) deep. According to damage control officer John U. Monro , the storms smashed sections of walkways and railings, and swept loose objects overboard. Her last voyage was to the Azores , and returned 3,557 personnel, including 212 WACs to New York on 17 January 1946. With the commissioning of over two dozen larger and more advanced aircraft carriers by end of 1945, Enterprise
4257-525: The invasion of Saipan through 5 July. She then sailed for Pearl Harbor and a month of rest and overhaul, during which she was painted in Measure 33/4Ab Dazzle camouflage. During this time, Gardner was replaced by Commander Thomas Hamilton on 10 July before he was relieved in his turn by Captain Cato Glover on 29 July. Back in action on 24 August, the carrier sailed with TF 38 in that force's aerial assault on
4386-553: The landings on Emirau Island (19–25 March). The carrier rejoined TF 58 on 26 March, and for the next 12 days, joined in a series of strikes against the islands of Yap , Ulithi , Woleai , and Palau . After a week's rest and replenishment at Majuro, Enterprise sailed on 14 April to support landings in the Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura) area of New Guinea , and then hit Truk again from 29 to 30 April. On 6 June 1944, she and her companions of TG 58.3 sortied from Majuro to join
4515-512: The 28th "Ichiki" Infantry Regiment, as well as several hundred naval troops from the 5th Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force , departed the major Japanese base at Truk Lagoon ( Chuuk ) and headed towards Guadalcanal. The transports were guarded by the light cruiser Jintsū , eight destroyers, and four patrol boats, with the escort force commanded by Rear Admiral Raizō Tanaka , who flew his flag in Jintsū . Also departing from Rabaul to help protect
4644-506: The B-25s launched on 18 April, and flew undetected the remaining 600 miles (1,000 km) to the target. The task force, its presence known to the enemy after a Japanese picket boat radioed a warning, reversed course and returned to Pearl Harbor on 25 April. Five days later, Enterprise sortied toward the South Pacific to reinforce U.S. carriers operating in the Coral Sea . However, the Battle of
4773-513: The Coral Sea was over before Enterprise arrived. With Hornet , she performed a feint towards Nauru and Banaba (Ocean) islands which caused the Japanese to delay Operation RY to seize the two islands, Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor on 26 May 1942, and began intensive preparation to meet the expected Japanese thrust at Midway Island . On 28 May, Enterprise departed Pearl Harbor as Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance 's flagship with orders "to hold Midway and inflict maximum damage on
4902-530: The Hawaiian island of Oahu after President Roosevelt ordered the Fleet to be "forward based," the carrier and her Air Group trained intensively and transported aircraft to American island bases in the Pacific. Enterprise and the other ships of Task Force 8 (TF 8) departed Pearl Harbor on 28 November 1941 to deliver Marine Fighter Squadron 211 (VMF-211) to Wake Island nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) due west. She
5031-566: The Japanese carrier task force that attacked Pearl Harbor, but was unable to locate that force. Enterprise aircraft did sink a Japanese submarine on 10 December, but was unable to relieve the U.S. Marine garrison on Wake Island which fell to the Japanese. The Enterprise 's air group launched air strikes against Japanese shipping and military installations on Marshall and Gilbert island groups on 1 February 1942, followed by air raids on Wake Island on 24 February and Marcus Island on 4 March. Enterprise' s air group provided air cover for
5160-526: The Japanese carriers Kaga and Akagi and contributing to the sinking of Hiryū . Torpedo Six (VT-6) lost ten TBD-1, Bombing Six (VB-6) lost eleven SBD-3, Scouting Six (VS-6) lost nine SBD-3, and Fighting Six (VF-6) lost an F4F-4. During the battle, then-Lieutenant Commander Wade McClusky , leading the Air Group, made a critical tactical decision that led to the sinking of two of Japan's fleet carriers , Kaga , and Akagi . When McClusky could not find
5289-495: The Japanese carriers Shōkaku and Zuikaku , the light carrier Ryūjō , and a screening force of one heavy cruiser and eight destroyers, commanded by Vice Admiral Chūichi Nagumo in Shōkaku . The " vanguard force" consisted of two battleships, three heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and six destroyers, commanded by Rear Admiral Hiroaki Abe . The "advanced force" contained five heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, five destroyers,
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5418-524: The Japanese carriers where he expected them, and with his air group's fuel running dangerously low, he spotted the Japanese destroyer Arashi steaming north at flank speed. (The Arashi had stayed behind to attack the USS Nautilus , which had been harassing the Japanese fleet.) Taking the Arashi ' s heading led him directly to the enemy carriers. He then directed his dive-bombers into an attack which led to
5547-574: The Japanese dive bombers by their escorting Zeros, prevented all but a few of the U.S. fighters from engaging the D3A dive bombers before they began their attacks on the U.S. carriers. Just before the Japanese dive bombers began their attacks, Enterprise and Saratoga cleared their decks for the impending action by launching the aircraft that they had been holding ready in case the Japanese fleet carriers were sighted. These aircraft were told to fly north and attack anything they could find, or else to circle outside
5676-483: The Japanese from landing heavy artillery, ammunition, and other supplies. On 7 August, Allied forces, consisting mainly of U.S. Marine Corps units, landed on Guadalcanal , Tulagi , and the Florida Islands in the Solomon Islands . The landings on the islands were meant to deny their use by the Japanese as bases to threaten supply routes between the U.S. and Australia, and secure the islands as launching points for
5805-602: The Japanese lost more ships, aircraft, and aircrew, and Japanese troop reinforcements for Guadalcanal were delayed. Summing up the significance of the battle, historian Richard B. Frank states: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons was unquestionably an American victory, but it had little long-term result, apart from a further reduction in the corps of trained Japanese carrier aviators. The [Japanese] reinforcements that could not come by slow transport would soon reach Guadalcanal by other means. The U.S. lost only seven aircrew in
5934-409: The Japanese surface forces, Nagumo's carriers would immediately launch a strike force to destroy them. With the U.S. carriers destroyed or disabled, Abe's "vanguard" and Kondo's "advanced" forces would close with and destroy the remaining Allied naval forces in a warship surface action. This would then allow Japanese naval forces the freedom to neutralize Henderson Field through bombardment while covering
6063-445: The Japanese task forces. During the chaotic after-dark recovery of the air strike, a fighter and a bomber came aboard simultaneously, but fortunately did not cause an accident. A planned midnight strike against the Japanese fleet by night-flying Enterprise pilots was cancelled because of the recovery and rescue operations required after the dusk attack. After the battle, Enterprise and her Task Group continued to provide air support for
6192-449: The Marines, protect Henderson Field, engage the enemy and destroy any Japanese naval forces that arrived to support Japanese troops in the land battle on Guadalcanal. Both Allied and Japanese naval forces continued to converge on 22 August, and both sides conducted intense aircraft scouting efforts, but neither side spotted its adversary. At least one Japanese scouting aircraft was shot down by aircraft from Enterprise before it could send
6321-671: The Navy Department that "the emergency repairs accomplished by this skillful, well-trained, and enthusiastically energetic force have placed this vessel in condition for further action against the enemy." This remarkable job later won the praise of Vice Admiral William Halsey, Jr. , Commander South Pacific Area and the South Pacific Force, who sent a dispatch to the OIC of the Seabee detachment stating, "Your commander wishes to express to you and
6450-483: The Pacific Theater. On one of the decks, the crew posted a sign: " Enterprise vs Japan." Enterprise reached Nouméa , New Caledonia on 30 October for repairs, but a new Japanese thrust at the Solomons demanded her presence and she sailed on 11 November, with repair crews from Vestal still working on board. Part of the repair crew were 75 Seabees from Company B of the 3rd Construction Battalion . This
6579-509: The Pacific war area, 7 December 1941, to 15 November 1942. Participating in nearly every major carrier engagement in the first year of the war, the Enterprise and her air group, exclusive of far-flung destruction of hostile shore installations throughout the battle area, did sink or damage on her own a total of 35 Japanese vessels and shoot down a total of 185 Japanese aircraft. Her aggressive spirit and superb combat efficiency are fitting tribute to
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#17328556629476708-514: The Shortlands on 23 August and became tangentially involved, dropping bombs on Henderson Field during the following nights with their float planes. Tanaka planned to land the troops from his convoy on Guadalcanal on 24 August. On 21 August, the rest of the Japanese Ka naval force departed Truk, heading for the southern Solomons. These ships were divided into three groups. The "main body" contained
6837-614: The Task Force 16 which launched the Doolittle Raid from the carrier Hornet (CV-8) on 18 April. This mission prevented Enterprise and Hornet from participating in the Battle of Coral Sea which saw the Lexington (CV-2) sunk and the Yorktown (CV-5) heavily damaged. The Battle of Midway was the climactic naval battle in 1942, with the Enterprise' s air group sinking
6966-442: The U.S. carrier aircraft launched just before the first wave of Japanese aircraft attacked failed to find any targets, but two SBD Dauntlesses from Saratoga sighted Kondo's advanced force and attacked the seaplane tender Chitose , scoring two near-misses which heavily damaged the unarmored ship. The U.S. carrier aircraft either landed at Henderson Field or were able to return to their carriers after dusk. The U.S. ships retired to
7095-580: The U.S. carriers attacked next. Enterprise torpedo bombers attacked first, scoring no hits and suffering heavy losses. Soon after, Enterprise dive bombers attacked and disabled the Japanese carriers Kaga and Akagi , leaving them ablaze, while Yorktown aircraft also bombed the Japanese aircraft carrier Sōryū , leaving her burning and dead in the water. Within an hour, the remaining Japanese carrier, Hiryu , launched air strikes that crippled Yorktown with three bombs and two torpedoes striking home during two separate attacks. In late afternoon,
7224-419: The U.S. naval forces undetected, as well as to help provide protection and cover for Tanaka's convoy. Most of the aircraft on Shōkaku and Zuikaku were readied to launch on short notice if the U.S. carriers were located. Between 05:55 and 06:30, the U.S. carriers, mainly Enterprise , augmented by PBY Catalinas from Ndeni, launched their own scout aircraft to search for the Japanese naval forces. At 09:35,
7353-670: The Volcano and Bonin Islands from 31 August – 2 September, and Yap, Ulithi, and the Palaus from 6–8 September. After operating west of the Palau Islands, Enterprise joined other units of TF 38 on 7 October and set course to the north. From 10 to 20 October, her aviators flew over Okinawa , Formosa , and the Philippines , blasting enemy airfields, shore installations, and shipping in preparation for
7482-544: The airfield. In the resulting engagement, three B5N level bombers, three Zeros, and three U.S. fighters were shot down, and no significant damage was done to Henderson Field. Almost simultaneously, at 14:25 a Japanese scout aircraft from the cruiser Chikuma sighted the U.S. carriers. Although the aircraft was shot down, its report was transmitted in time, and Nagumo immediately ordered his strike force launched from Shōkaku and Zuikaku . The first wave of aircraft, consisting of 27 Aichi D3A 2 dive bombers and 15 Zeros under
7611-431: The area, Fletcher detached Wasp , which was getting low on fuel, and the rest of TF 18 for the two-day trip south toward Efate Island to refuel. Thus, Wasp and her escorting warships missed the upcoming battle. At 01:45 on 24 August, Nagumo ordered Rear Admiral Chūichi Hara , commanding the light carrier Ryūjō , the heavy cruiser Tone and the destroyers Amatsukaze and Tokitsukaze , to proceed ahead of
7740-469: The assault on Leyte . After supporting the Leyte landings on 20 October, Enterprise headed for Ulithi to replenish, but the approach of the Japanese fleet on 23 October called her back to action. In the Battle of Leyte Gulf (23–26 October), Enterprise planes struck all three groups of enemy forces, battering battleships and destroyers before the action ended. Targeting Admiral Takeo Kurita "Center Force in
7869-469: The attack and, although surprised, immediately went into action in defense of the naval base. Scouting Six lost six planes during the attack, and Bombing Six lost one, killing eight airmen and wounding two others. Later that evening, six VF-6 Wildcats attempted to land at Ford Island , but five were accidentally shot down by friendly anti-aircraft fire, killing three pilots and wounding two others. Enterprise' s air group carried out search missions to locate
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#17328556629477998-485: The attack on Enterprise to attack the battleship USS North Carolina , but all were shot down by anti-aircraft fire or U.S. fighters. The attack was over at 16:48, and the surviving Japanese aircraft reassembled in small groups and returned to their ships. Both sides thought that they had inflicted more damage than was the case. The U.S. claimed to have shot down 70 Japanese aircraft, even though there were only 37 aircraft in all. Actual Japanese losses—from all causes—in
8127-461: The attack. In the ensuing Battle of the Eastern Solomons , the light carrier Ryūjō was sunk, and the Japanese troops intended for Guadalcanal were forced back. Enterprise suffered the most heavily of the American ships; three direct bomb hits and four near misses killed 74, wounded 95, and inflicted serious damage on the carrier. Quick, hard work by damage control parties patched her up so that she
8256-412: The base was under attack, and she was later directed to launch an airstrike based on an inaccurate report of a Japanese carrier southwest of her location. The strike was launched around 17:00, consisting of six Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters of Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6), 18 Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6), and six SBDs of VB-6. Unable to locate any targets,
8385-432: The battle zone, until it was safe to return. At 16:29, the Japanese dive bombers began their attacks. Although several attempted to set up to attack Saratoga , they quickly shifted back to the nearer carrier, Enterprise . Thus, Enterprise was the target of almost the entire Japanese air attack. In a desperate attempt to disrupt their attacks, several Wildcats followed the D3A dive bombers into their attack dives, despite
8514-632: The battle. The Japanese lost 61 veteran aircrew, who were difficult for the Japanese to replace because of an institutionalized limited capacity in their naval aircrew training programs and an absence of trained reserves. The troops in Tanaka's convoy were later loaded onto destroyers at the Shortland Islands and delivered piecemeal to Guadalcanal without most of their heavy equipment, beginning on 29 August. The Japanese claimed considerably more damage than they had inflicted, including that Hornet —not in
8643-585: The battle—had been sunk, thus avenging her part in the Doolittle Raid . Emphasizing the strategic value of Henderson Field, in a separate reinforcement effort, the Japanese destroyer Asagiri was sunk and two other Japanese destroyers heavily damaged on 28 August, 70 nmi (81 mi; 130 km) north of Guadalcanal in New Georgia Sound by U.S. aircraft based at the airfield. The damaged Enterprise traveled to Pearl Harbor for extensive repairs, which were completed on 15 October. She returned to
8772-545: The carrier continued her night work in raids against Kyūshū , Honshū , and shipping in the Inland Sea of Japan. Damaged lightly by an enemy bomb on 18 March, Enterprise entered Ulithi six days later for repairs. Back in action on 5 April, she supported the Okinawa operation until she was damaged on 11 April—this time by a kamikaze —and was forced back to Ulithi. Off Okinawa once more on 6 May, Enterprise flew patrols around
8901-412: The central Pacific, attacking enemy installations on Wake and Marcus Islands . After minor alterations and repairs at Pearl Harbor, Enterprise and TF 16 departed on 8 April 1942 to rendezvous with her sister ship Hornet and sailed west, escorting Hornet on the mission to launch 16 Army B-25 Mitchells in the " Doolittle Raid " on Tokyo . While fighters from Enterprise flew combat air patrol ,
9030-517: The clock as kamikaze attacks increased. On 14 May 1945, she suffered her last wound of World War II when a kamikaze Zero , piloted by Lt. J.G. Shunsuke Tomiyasu, destroyed her forward elevator, killing 14 and wounding 68. The carrier sailed for the Puget Sound Navy Yard, where she underwent repairs and an overhaul from 12 June-31 August 1945. The war ended with the Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945. The following aviation complement
9159-416: The command of Lieutenant Commander Mamoru Seki , was in the air by 14:50 and on its way toward Enterprise and Saratoga . About this same time, two U.S. scout aircraft finally sighted the main Japanese force, but because of communication problems these sighting reports never reached Fletcher. Before leaving the area, the two U.S. scout aircraft attacked Shōkaku , causing negligible damage but forcing five of
9288-418: The convoy was a "close cover force" of four heavy cruisers from the 8th Fleet , commanded by Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa . These were the same, relatively old, heavy cruisers that had defeated an Allied naval surface force in the earlier Battle of Savo Island , less Kako , which had been sunk by an American submarine on her journey from that battle to her base. The four heavy cruisers of Mikawa's group left
9417-514: The convoy. Tanaka, knowing that an attack would be forthcoming following the PBY sighting, reversed course once it had departed the area and eluded the strike aircraft. After Tanaka reported to his superiors his loss of time by turning north to avoid the expected Allied airstrike, the landings of his troops on Guadalcanal was pushed back to 25 August. By 18:23 on 23 August, with no Japanese carriers sighted and no new intelligence reporting of their presence in
9546-454: The crippled Ryūjō but caused no additional damage. The crew abandoned the heavily damaged Japanese carrier at nightfall, and she sank soon after. Amatsukaze and Tokitsukaze rescued Ryūjō ' s survivors and the aircrews from her returning strike force, who ditched their aircraft in the ocean nearby. After the rescue operations were complete, both Japanese destroyers and Tone rejoined Nagumo's main force. At 16:02, still waiting for
9675-715: The defense of the American nation. Battle of the Eastern Solomons The naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons (also known as the Battle of the Stewart Islands and in Japanese sources as the Second Battle of the Solomon Sea ) took place on 24–25 August 1942 and was the third carrier battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II and the second major engagement fought between the United States Navy and
9804-568: The destruction of both Kaga and Akagi. During this engagement, McClusky, who previously commanded a Fighter Squadron and had few hours on an SBD dive bomber, called "All planes attack!" after leading Scouting Six and Bombing Six to the Japanese Carrier Fleet without dividing up targets, resulting in the entirety of Scouting Six and two of the three divisions of Bombing Six diving on the Kaga. However, Lieutenant Dick Best of Bombing Six peeled off
9933-514: The enemy by strong attrition tactics". With Enterprise in TF 16 were Hornet, six cruisers , ten destroyers and four oilers . On 30 May, Task Force 17 (TF 17), with Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher in Yorktown , left Pearl with two cruisers and six destroyers and rendezvoused with TF 16; as senior officer present, Rear Admiral Fletcher became "Officer in Tactical Command." Vice Admiral Halsey,
10062-422: The engagement were 25 aircraft, with most of the crews of the lost aircraft not being recovered or rescued. The Japanese, for their part, mistakenly believed that they had heavily damaged two U.S. carriers, instead of just one. The U.S. lost six aircraft in the engagement, along with five pilots. Although Enterprise was heavily damaged and on fire, her damage-control teams were able to make sufficient repairs for
10191-631: The first captain of the new Enterprise . The aforementioned port holes aboard the CVN-65 will be removed and returned to the Boston Navy Yard Museum. Enterprise was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for her service during World War II. The citation states: For consistently outstanding performance and distinguished achievement during repeated action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific war area, 7 December 1941, to 15 November 1942. Participating in nearly every major carrier engagement in
10320-416: The first year of the war, the Enterprise and her air group, exclusive of far-flung destruction of hostile shore installations throughout the battle area, did sink or damage on her own a total of 35 Japanese vessels and shot down a total of 185 Japanese aircraft. Her aggressive spirit and superb combat efficiency are fitting tribute to the officers and men who so gallantly established her as an ahead bulwark in
10449-686: The first-wave Zeros to give chase, thus aborting their mission. At 16:00 a second wave of 9 Zeros and 27 D3A dive bombers, under the command of Lieutenant Sadamu Takahashi , was launched by the Japanese carriers and headed south toward the U.S. carriers. Abe's "Vanguard" force also surged ahead in anticipation of meeting the U.S. ships in a surface action after nightfall. Also at this time, the Saratoga strike force arrived and attacked Ryūjō , hitting and heavily damaging her with three to five bombs and perhaps one torpedo, and killing 120 of her crew. Also during this time, several U.S. B-17 heavy bombers attacked
10578-476: The harbor during the attack; seven were shot down with eight airmen killed and two wounded, making her the only American aircraft carrier with men at Pearl Harbor during the attack and the first to sustain casualties during the Pacific War — the Battle of Midway , the Battle of the Eastern Solomons , the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands , various other air-sea engagements during the Guadalcanal Campaign ,
10707-460: The intense anti-aircraft artillery fire from Enterprise and her screening warships. As many as four Wildcats were shot down by U.S. anti-aircraft fire, as well as several D3A dive bombers. Because of the effective anti-aircraft fire from the U.S. ships, plus evasive maneuvers, the bombs from the first nine D3A dive bombers missed Enterprise . The second division, which was led by Lieutenant Keiichi Arima , managed to score three hits. Initially,
10836-517: The islands while two other carrier groups made a belated attempt to relieve Wake Island. After a brief layover at Pearl Harbor, Enterprise and her group sailed on 11 January 1942, protecting convoys reinforcing Samoa . On 16 January 1942, a TBD of VT-6, piloted by Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate and enlisted Naval Aviation Pilot Harold F. Dixon, got lost on patrol, ran out of fuel, and ditched. Dixon and his two crewmates, bombardier Anthony J. Pastula and gunner Gene Aldrich, survived for 34 days in
10965-405: The landing of the Japanese army troops to retake Guadalcanal and Tulagi. In response to an unanticipated land battle fought between U.S. Marines and Japanese forces on Guadalcanal on 19–20 August, the U.S. carrier task forces under Fletcher reversed towards Guadalcanal from their positions 400 nautical miles (460 mi; 740 km) to the south on 21 August. The U.S. carriers were to support
11094-414: The lead D3A dive bomber, piloted by Petty Officer Kiyoto Furuta , scored a hit with a 250-kilogram (551 lb) semi-armor-piercing , delayed-action " ordinary " bomb that penetrated the flight deck near the aft elevator and passed through three decks before detonating below the waterline , killing 35 men and wounding 70 more. Incoming seawater caused Enterprise to develop a slight list, but it
11223-573: The local airspace. In fact, Henderson Field and the aircraft based there were able to limit the movement of Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands and assist in the attrition of Japanese air forces in the South Pacific Area. Allied control of Henderson Field became the key factor in the entire battle for Guadalcanal. Surprised by the Allied offensive in the Solomons, Japanese naval forces, commanded by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto , and army forces prepared
11352-429: The main Japanese force and send an aircraft attack force against Henderson Field at daybreak. The Ryūjō mission was most likely in response to a request from the naval commander at Rabaul, Nishizō Tsukahara , for help from the combined fleet in neutralizing Henderson Field. The mission may also have been intended by Nagumo as a feint maneuver to divert U.S. attention, allowing the rest of the Japanese force to approach
11481-474: The manner in which the United States Navy determines unit lineage, in which a unit's lineage begins at establishment and ends at disestablishment, the Enterprise Air Group and Carrier Air Group SIX are two separate and distinct units and do not share a lineage. [REDACTED] For consistently outstanding performance and distinguished achievement during repeated action against enemy Japanese forces in
11610-531: The men of the Construction Battalion serving under you his appreciation for the services rendered by you in effecting emergency repairs during action against the enemy. The repairs were completed by these men with speed and efficiency. I hereby commend them for their willingness, zeal, and capability." On 13 November, aviators from Enterprise helped to sink the Hiei , the first Japanese battleship lost during
11739-438: The movement of supply ships aiding Guadalcanal; and engaging and destroying any Japanese warships that came within range. Between 15 and 20 August, the U.S. carriers covered the delivery of fighter and bomber aircraft to the newly opened Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. This small, hard-won airfield was a critical point in the entire island chain, and both sides considered that control of the airbase offered potential control of
11868-468: The nearby gun crews and starting a large fire. About a minute later, at 16:46, a third and last bomb (also a 241-kilogram (531 lb) "land" bomb), dropped by Petty Officer Kazumi Horie, hit Enterprise on the flight deck forward of where the first two bombs hit. This bomb exploded on contact, creating a 10-foot (3 m) hole in the deck but causing no further damage. Seven D3A dive bombers—three from Shokaku and four from Zuikaku —then broke off from
11997-539: The next morning to patrol against possible additional attacks on the Hawaiian Islands . Although the group encountered no Japanese surface ships, Enterprise aircraft sank Japanese submarine I-70 at 23°45′N 155°35′W / 23.750°N 155.583°W / 23.750; -155.583 ( USS Enterprise sinks I-70 ) on 10 December 1941. During the last two weeks of December 1941, Enterprise and her escorts steamed west of Hawaii to cover
12126-512: The northeast to southeast of the ship, and to land at Ford Island at Pearl Harbor after completing their search routes. As these aircraft arrived in pairs over Pearl Harbor, they were caught between attacking Japanese aircraft and defensive anti-aircraft fire from the ships and shore installations below. Seven SBDs were shot down, either from enemy action or friendly fire , with the loss of eight airmen killed and two wounded. Enterprise received radio messages from Pearl Harbor reporting that
12255-434: The officers and men who so gallantly established her as an ahead bulwark in the defense of the American nation. USS Enterprise (CV-6) USS Enterprise (CV-6) was a Yorktown -class carrier built for the United States Navy during the 1930s. She was the seventh U.S. Navy vessel of that name . Colloquially called " The Big E ", she was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy . Launched in 1936, she
12384-409: The pilot to bail out. Enterprise pulled into Pearl Harbor for fuel and supplies on the evening of 8 December. Vice-Admiral William Halsey Jr. , commander of Carrier Division 2 , ordered every able-bodied man on board to help rearm and refuel Enterprise ; this process normally took 24 hours to complete, but was completed this time within seven hours. She and the other ships of TF 8 sailed early
12513-489: The rest of TF 58 in attacking the Marianas Islands . Striking Saipan , Rota , and Guam from 11 to 14 June, Enterprise pilots gave direct support to the landings on Saipan on 15 June, and covered the troops ashore for the next two days. Aware of a major Japanese attempt to break up the invasion of Saipan, Admiral Spruance, now Commander 5th Fleet , positioned TF 58 to meet the threat. On 19 June 1944, Enterprise
12642-605: The seaplane carrier Chitose , and a "covering group" consisting of the battleship Mutsu and three destroyers, commanded by Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō . Finally, a force of about 100 IJN land-based bombers, fighters, and reconnaissance aircraft at Rabaul and nearby islands were positioned for operational support. Nagumo's main body positioned itself behind the "vanguard" and "advanced" forces in an attempt to more easily remain hidden from U.S. reconnaissance aircraft. The Ka plan dictated that once U.S. carriers were located, either by Japanese scout aircraft or an attack on one of
12771-616: The second of the Yorktown class , Enterprise was launched on 3 October 1936 at Newport News Shipbuilding , sponsored by Lulie Swanson, wife of Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson , and commissioned on 12 May 1938 with Captain Newton H. White, Jr. in command. Enterprise sailed south on a shakedown cruise which took her to Rio de Janeiro . Captain Charles A. Pownall relieved White on 21 December. After her return, she operated along
12900-480: The ship began to list 2 degrees to starboard. Yamashiro and Fusō were later sunk that evening by U.S. destroyers and battleships at Surigao Strait . Enterprise remained on patrol east of Samar and Leyte until the end of October, then retired to Ulithi for supplies. During November, her aircraft struck targets in the Manila area, and at the island of Yap . She returned to Pearl Harbor on 6 December 1944 and Glover
13029-507: The ship on 16 April. Enterprise then steamed to Pearl Harbor where, on 27 May 1943, Admiral Chester Nimitz presented the ship with the first Presidential Unit citation awarded to an aircraft carrier. In the summer of 1943, with the new Essex -class and Independence -class carriers joining the American Pacific Fleet, Enterprise was temporarily relieved of duty, and on 20 July, she entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for
13158-474: The ship to resume flight operations at 17:46, only one hour after the engagement ended. At 18:05, the Saratoga strike force returned from sinking Ryūjō and landed without major incident. The second wave of Japanese aircraft approached the U.S. carriers at 18:15 but was unable to locate the U.S. formation because of communication problems and had to return to their carriers without attacking any U.S. ships. It lost five aircraft from operational mishaps. Most of
13287-622: The sixteen-foot (4.9 m), one-ton nameplate from the ship's stern, which sits near a Little League park in River Vale , New Jersey. Her commissioning plaque and one of her anchors are on display at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. The name was revived in February 1958 when the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was laid down as the eighth Enterprise ; this ship
13416-705: The south to get out of range of any approaching Japanese warships. In fact, Abe's "vanguard force" and Kondō's "advanced force" were steaming south to try to catch the U.S. carrier task forces in a surface battle, but they turned around at midnight without having made contact with the U.S. warships. Nagumo's main body, having taken heavy aircraft losses in the engagement and being low on fuel, also retreated northward. Believing that two U.S. carriers had been taken out of action with heavy damage, Tanaka's reinforcement convoy again headed toward Guadalcanal, and by 08:00 on 25 August they were within 150 nmi (170 mi; 280 km) of their destination. At this time, Tanaka's convoy
13545-489: The third division and managed to score hits on Akagi, playing a crucial role in the battle. The Enterprise Air Group participated in the initial stages of the Guadalcanal Campaign, flying sorties in support of the invasions of Tulagi and Guadalcanal and performing CAP and antisubmarine patrols for the amphibious shipping in the area. The Air Group fought in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August 1942, which
13674-518: The three carriers provided close air support for the invasion forces and defended against Japanese air attacks from Rabaul. After a successful landing, they remained in the South Pacific Area charged with four main objectives: guarding the line of communication between the major Allied bases at New Caledonia and Espiritu Santo ; giving support to Allied ground forces at Guadalcanal and Tulagi against possible Japanese counteroffensives; covering
13803-479: The torpedo and dive bombers returned to Enterprise , but the six fighters were directed to divert to Hickam Field on Oahu. Although word of the planes' expected arrival had been broadcast to all ships and anti-aircraft units in the area, the appearance of the Wildcats in the night sky over Oahu triggered panic firing, which shot down three of them, killing their pilots, while a fourth aircraft ran out of fuel, forcing
13932-417: The usual commander of TF 16 and senior to both Fletcher and Spruance, was medically ordered to remain in a naval hospital at Pearl Harbor due to stress-induced severe weight loss and severe psoriasis . Each side launched air attacks during the day in a decisive battle. Though the forces were in contact until 7 June, by 10:45am on 4 June the outcome had been decided. Three Japanese carriers were burning and it
14061-570: The vessel from the Navy, and Enterprise was sold on 1 July 1958 to the Lipsett Corporation of New York City for scrapping at Kearny , New Jersey. A promise was made to save the distinctive tripod mast for inclusion in the Naval Academy's new football stadium , but was never fulfilled; instead, a memorial plaque was installed at the base of what is still called " Enterprise Tower." Scrapping
14190-425: The war, the Japanese announced that she had been sunk in battle, inspiring her nickname "The Grey Ghost". By the end of the war, her planes and guns had downed 911 enemy planes, sunk 71 ships, and damaged or destroyed 192 more. Despite efforts made by the public after the war to turn Enterprise into a museum ship , Enterprise was scrapped from 1958 to 1960. The sixth carrier built for the United States Navy and
14319-486: The war. When the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal ended on 15 November 1942, Enterprise had shared in sinking sixteen ships and damaging eight more. The carrier returned to Nouméa on 16 November to complete her repairs. Sailing again on 4 December, Enterprise trained out of Espiritu Santo , New Hebrides , until 28 January 1943, when she departed for the Solomons area. On 30 January, her fighters flew combat air patrol for
14448-410: Was a strategic and tactical victory that blunted the Japanese counteroffensive during Guadalcanal campaign . When the Enterprise was damaged during the battle, elements of the Air Group were transferred to Henderson Field at Guadalcanal, where they continued to fly as part of the Cactus Air Force in support of the invasion until their supply of aircraft was depleted. After returning to Pearl Harbor,
14577-646: Was able to return to Hawaii under her own power. Repaired at Pearl Harbor from 10 September–16 October 1942, Enterprise embarked Air Group 10 in early October. This was the first time that the Grim Reapers of VF-10 deployed from Enterprise under commanding officer James H. Flatley , who became known as "Reaper Leader." She departed once more for the South Pacific, where with Hornet she formed TF 61, although Captain Osborne Hardison relieved Davis on 21 October. Five days later, Enterprise scout planes located
14706-412: Was also hit and eventually sank. Just as the destroyer Mutsuki pulled alongside Kinryu Maru to rescue her crew and embarked troops, she was attacked by four U.S. B-17s from Espiritu Santo, which landed five bombs on or around Mutsuki , sinking her immediately. An uninjured but shaken Tanaka transferred to the destroyer Kagerō , sent Jintsu back to Truk, and took the convoy to the Japanese base in
14835-404: Was commissioned in November 1961. Also nicknamed the "Big E" , various artifacts and mementos were kept aboard from her predecessor. The port holes in the captain's in-port cabin and conference room are only one example. She was inactivated and removed from service on 1 December 2012 after being in the fleet for 51 years. Due to considerations arising from reactor removal, she cannot be turned into
14964-479: Was complete as of May 1960. In 1984, a permanent " Enterprise Exhibit" was dedicated at the Naval Aviation Museum , Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida, to house artifacts, photos, and other items of historical interest. Surviving Enterprise artifacts include the ship's bell, which resides at the U.S. Naval Academy , where it is traditionally rung only after Midshipmen victories over West Point ; and
15093-524: Was deemed surplus for the post-war needs of America's navy. She entered the New York Naval Shipyard on 18 January 1946 for deactivation and was decommissioned on 17 February 1947. In 1946, she had been scheduled to be handed over to the state of New York as a permanent memorial, but this plan was suspended in 1949. Subsequent attempts were made at preserving the ship as a museum or memorial, but fund-raising efforts failed to raise enough money to buy
15222-571: Was disembarked from Enterprise on 7 September 1945 at NAS Barber's Point; Restored to peak condition, Enterprise voyaged to Pearl Harbor, returning to the States with some 1,141 servicemen due for discharge, including hospital patients and former POWs , then sailed on to New York on 25 September 1945 via the Panama Canal arriving on 17 October 1945. Two weeks later, she proceeded to Boston for installation of additional berthing facilities, then began
15351-515: Was due to a shortage of fleet repair resources. Underway with orders to engage the enemy, the Seabees focused on effecting repairs even during the forthcoming battle. The work was under the round-the-clock supervision of Enterprise ' s damage control officer, Lt. Cmdr. Herschel Albert Smith. The commanding officer of Enterprise , Captain Osborne Bennett "Ozzie B" "Oby" Hardison, notified
15480-585: Was equipped with Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless dive bombers, Fighting Six (VF-6) with Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat fighters, and Torpedo Six (VT-6) with Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers. The fourth squadron, Scouting Six (VS-6) also had the SBD-2 Dauntless, but was more focused on the scout bomber role. This air group was embarked on board the Enterprise at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor . On 7 December 1941, eighteen SBD Dauntless scout bombers of squadrons VS-6 and VB-6 arrived over Pearl Harbor during
15609-455: Was joined by five destroyers( Mutsuki -class destroyers Mutsuki and Yayoi , Kagerou -class destroyers Kagerō and Isokaze , and Shiratsuyu -class destroyer Kawakaze ) which had shelled Henderson Field the night before, causing slight damage. At 08:05, 18 U.S. aircraft from Henderson Field attacked Tanaka's convoy, causing heavy damage to Jintsu , killing 24 crewmen, and knocking Tanaka unconscious. The troop transport Kinryu Maru
15738-424: Was not a major breach of hull integrity. Just 30 seconds later, the next D3A dive bomber, piloted by Petty Officer Tamotsu Akimoto, planted its 241-kilogram (531 lb) high-explosive " land " bomb only 15 feet (4.6 m) away from where the first bomb hit. The resulting detonation ignited a large secondary explosion from one of the nearby 5-inch (127 mm) guns' ready powder casings, killing 35 members of
15867-659: Was not yet the case. Still, Fletcher hesitated to order a strike against the Ryūjō group until he was sure there were no other Japanese carriers in the area. Finally, with no firm word on the presence or location of other Japanese carriers, at 13:40 Fletcher launched a strike of 38 aircraft from Saratoga to attack Ryūjō . He kept aircraft in reserve on both U.S. carriers in case any Japanese fleet carriers were sighted. Meanwhile, at 12:20, Ryūjō launched six Nakajima B5N 2 bombers and 15 A6M3 Zero fighters to attack Henderson Field in conjunction with an attack by 24 Mitsubishi G4M 2 bombers and 14 Zero fighters from Rabaul. Unknown to
15996-513: Was one of four carriers of Task Group 58.3 under the command of Rear Admiral John W. Reeves ' during the largest carrier aircraft battle in history: the Battle of the Philippine Sea . For over eight hours, airmen of the United States and Imperial Japanese navies fought in the skies over TF 58 and the Marianas. Over the course of two days, a total of six American ships were damaged, and 130 planes and
16125-507: Was only a matter of time until a fourth was caught and knocked out. The Battle of Midway began on the morning of 4 June 1942, when four Japanese carriers, unaware of the presence of U.S. naval forces, launched attacks on Midway Island. Shortly after the first bomb fell on Midway, the first wave of planes (4 B-26B Marauders, 6 TBF-1 Avengers, 11 SB2U-3s, 16 SBDs and 15 B-17s) from Midway Island attacked unsuccessfully. Several more groups attacked, again failing to damage their targets. Planes from
16254-698: Was replaced by Captain Grover B. H. Hall on 14 December. Sailing on 24 December for the Philippines, Enterprise carried an air group specially trained in night carrier operations; as the only carrier capable of night operations, it left Oahu with its hull code changed from CV to CV(N), the "N" representing "Night". it joined TG 38.5 and swept the waters north of Luzon and of the South China Sea during January 1945, striking shore targets and shipping from Formosa to Indo-China including an attack on Macau . After
16383-463: Was scheduled to return to Hawaii on 6 December 1941, but was delayed by the weather, and she was still at sea about 215 nautical miles (398 km) west of Oahu at dawn on 7 December 1941. Enterprise launched eighteen of her SBDs - the CAG 's aircraft, 13 aircraft from Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) and four aircraft from Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6) - at dawn on 7 December to scout an arc extending from
16512-457: Was sunk. Though the American losses of a carrier and a destroyer were more severe than the Japanese loss of one light cruiser, the battle gave the Americans time to reinforce Guadalcanal against the next enemy onslaught, and nearby Henderson Field was therefore secure from the Japanese bombardment. The loss of Hornet meant Enterprise was now the only functioning (albeit damaged) U.S. carrier in
16641-417: Was the only Yorktown -class and one of only three American fleet carriers commissioned before World War II to survive the war (the others being Saratoga and Ranger ). Enterprise participated in more major actions of the war against Japan than any other United States ship. These actions included the attack on Pearl Harbor — 18 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers of her air group arrived over
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