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USS Enterprise CV-6 (WWII)

The USS Enterprise CV-6 was a Yorktown aircraft carrier, nicknamed the "Big E." Launched in 1936, she was one of just three American carriers that were commissioned before the start of World War II that survived it. She participated in more major actions against the Japanese than any other American ship, and for her services received a Presidential Unit Citation and twenty battle stars-more commendations than any other warship.

The USS Enterprise in World War II

The USS Enterprise CV-6 was launched on October 3, 1936, and commissioned on May 12, 1939. Her first war-time activities involved training and transportation of troops at Pearl Harbor; however she was not at the base on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked, as she had been delivering Marine Corps troops to Wake Island. However, she was returning to Oahu at the time the attack began, and during it her scout bombers arrived over Pearl Harbor. She subsequently docked at Pearl Harbor on December 8 and sailed the next morning to scout and prepare for more possible attacks in the area.

The Enterprise was engaged in such activities until January. After briefly returning to Pearl Harbor, she sailed on January 11, 1942 to protect convoys reinforcing Samoa. At the beginning of February her task force raided in the Marshall Islands, sinking or damaging a total of eleven Japanese ships. During February and March she ranged over the central Pacific, attacking enemy operations at Marcus and Wake Islands, before participating in the "Doolittle Raid" on Tokyo in the middle of April-the first American WWII raid to strike Honshu.

At the end of May, the USS Enterprise prepared to meet the Japanese forces that were expected at Midway Island. The Battle of Midway began on June 4, 1942, when Japanese carriers began to bomb the island. Working with forces from another carrier, the Yorktown, Enterprise dive-bombers quickly sank all four Japanese carriers. Despite this speedy initial victory the Battle of Midway was not over until June 7. By then, the Yorktown had been sunk, but the Enterprise had somehow come through the battle undamaged. She returned to Pearl Harbor on June 17.

After an overhaul and rest period, the USS Enterprise sailed again on July 15, this time bound for the South Pacific, where she helped support the August 8 landings in the Solomon Islands. Over the next few weeks she guarded the location, but was heavily damaged in a skirmish with a Japanese force in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. After returning to Pearl Harbor, she was under repairs until October 16. She was again under intensive attack during the subsequent Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on October 26, suffering further heavy damage. After more repairs at Noumea in New Caledonia, however, she was again ready to sail on November 11.

The USS Enterprise was present at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November, and the Battle of Rennel Island in January, 1943. Between February and April, 1943, she operated out of the base at Espiritu Santo before sailing to Pearl Harbor at the end of May, where she was presented with a Presidential Unit Citation-the first won by an aircraft carrier.

After an overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, she was again ready for duty in November of 1943, and provided air support to Marines landing at Makin Atoll before returning to Pearl Harbor at the end of that month. For the next several months, she participated in strikes and skirmishes in several locations, including Japanese naval bases at Truk, and the islands of Yap and Palau.

In June 1944, the USS Enterprise was involved in attacks on the Marianas Islands, an activity that drew considerable attention from the Japanese, and prompted the Battle of the Philippine Sea, now regarded as the greatest aircraft battle in history. During the day-long decisive battle the Japanese suffered such heavy losses that its naval aviation forces were unable to recover.

The Enterprise continued to support activities at Saipan, before sailing to Pearl Harbor for another overhaul. She was back in action on August 24, in the Bonin Islands until early September, followed by more activities at Yap, Ulithi, and the Palaus. In October, she joined with other task forces in preparation for the Leyte assault.

The "Big E" returned to Pearl Harbor before sailing for the Philippines on December 24, joining other task forces north of Luzon in January 1945. In February, she provided air cover for strikes on Tokyo, and then for Marines in the Battle of Iwo Jima from February 19 until March 9.

In April and May, the USS Enterprise's final war-time activities were repelling kamikaze attacks around Okinawa, before sailing for final repairs at the Puget Sound Navy Yard.

After WWII

Like many other ships, the "Big E" was engaged in Operation "Magic Carpet," which involved returning thousands of men stationed in Europe and other locations to America. During one of these trips, she was boarded by the British First Lord of the Admiralty, who conferred upon her a British Admiralty Pennant. She is, in fact, the only non-Royal Navy ship to have received this most prestigious of British Navy honors in four hundred years.

The USS Enterprise was decommissioned on February 17, 1947, and while several efforts were made to preserve her as a museum ship, she was eventually scrapped. Many artifacts from aboard the vessel were saved, however, and they can be seen at the Naval Aviation Museum at the Pensacola, Florida Naval Air Station.

One important thing to know about the USS Enterprise and other Navy ships is that these contained a large amount of asbestos, and many men have developed asbestos-related diseases as a result of asbestos exposure that occurred when they served in the U.S. Navy. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the Enterprise CV-6 (WWII), or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a free packet with more information. Enter your contact information in the form in the right column and we'll send a copy immediately.

Aircraft Carriers Index

USS America USS Antietam CV 36 K USS Antietam CV 36 USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Belleau wood CVL 24 USS Bennington CV 20 USS Bon Homme Richard CVa USS Boxer CV USS Bunker CV USS Cabot CVL 28 USS Constellation CV USS Coral Sea CV USS Corregidor CVE 58 USS Sable ix USS San jacinto CVL USS Saratoga CV USS Saratoga CV3 USS Shangri La

USS Cowpens CVL 25 USS Enterprise CV 6 USS Enterprise CVN USS Essex CV 9 USS Forrestal CV USS Franklin CV 13 USS Hancock CV 19 USS Hornet CV 12 USS Hornet CV 8 USS Independence C1 USS Independence CVL 22 USS Intrepid CV 11 USS Kearsage CV 33 USS Kearsage CV USS Kitty Hawk USS Sicily CVe USS Sitkoh bay USS Tarawa CV USS Ticonderoga CV USS Valley forge CV

USS Lake Champlain CV 39 USS Langley CV 1 USS Langley CVL 27 USS Lexington CV 16 USS Lexington CV 2 USS Leyte CV 32 USS Midway CV USS Oriskany CV USS Phillipine Sea CV USS Point cruz CVE USS Princeton CV USS Princeton CVL USS Randolph CV USS Ranger CV USS Rendova USS Wasp CV 18 USS Wasp CV 7 USS Wolverine IX 64 USS Yorktown CV 10 USS Yorktown CV 5

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