Evening star., 1943-06-01
BY EUGENE RIRNS.

WITH THE PACIFIC FLEET
Dec. 7 Delayed.-The Unitet
States Aircraft Carrier Enterprise
in the yeag since Pearl Harbor, ha
sunk 10 japanese ships. including
three carriers, and has damaged l.
enemy ships, while her airplane
and antiaircraft fire have shot dow1
at least 1875 planes.
The ships sunk totaled approx
mately 211.200 tons and the ship.
damaged $4,000 tons additional.
The tonnage sunk by the air group
of this one swift-striking carrier
unaided. is greater than the com.
bined total of British and German
tonnage sunk in the battle of Jut.
land.
With the assistance of other YES
sells the Enterprise has sunk 10 more
vessels-for a grand total of % ships
totaling approximately 322,7 100 tons
and she has helped damage sever
more vessels for a total of 20 vessels
with aggregate tonnage of $4,000
tons
Mr. Buns story was released
for publication after the Navy in
Washington yesterday issued a
statement disclosing the Enter
prise lis still afoat and fighting"
after absorbing terrific punish
ment, "belying the belief that
carriers are extremely vulnera-
bic The Navy said the Enter
prise sank or damaged 20 war;
ships between Pearl Harbor and
the battle of Guadalcanal last
November. and brought destruc-
tion to at least 140 japanese
planes.
Delay of nearly six months in
releasing the story of the Enter
prise was necessary to avoid Civ
ing information to the enemy,
naval officers said.D
Steamed $4,000 Miles.
To do all this the Enterprise has
steamed $4,000 miles-everv mile
deadly-to take her aircraft within
reach of enemy targets.
She has been in every naval battle
of the Pacific Ocean except the Coral
Sea engagement Then, within two
DAYS sailing, she was detected by
japanese patrol planes, and tie
proximity OF the ship may have
caused the japanese to divert some
of their power.
The men Of the Enterprise. Who
have not seen their homeland for
20 months, took part in these i'm
portant actions:
l. The landing of marine pilots
and planes at Wake Island Deem
Der 3, 194l.
2. Pursuing japanese carrier
force December 7. 194l.
2. Patrolling the approaches to
Oahu through December and Jan
uary.
4 Attempting to relieve the gar
rlson At Wake Island.
). The Marshall Island raid.
s, The Wake Island raid.
:. The Marcus Islard raid.
8. Covering troop landings through
out unarmed South Pacific islands
ana mailing down the supply route
to Australia.
Q, Landing marine pilots at Efati
'ir the New HebridesD, then the
farthest base in the South Pacific.
~ The Midway battle June As
during which Big f" sank two en-
en- carriers and helped sink a third
II. Covering marine landings at
GuaGalcanal August 10.
II, The first Solomons holding
battle August "a
l3 The battle Of Santa Cruz Is
lands october 26, in which "a planes
attacked the Enterprise.
OvercomeS Fearful Odds.
The Enterprise S story. essentially
z resume Of the war in the Pacific
in the last year, is one Of aviators
:earlessly rlsking their lives to press
home attacks, of gunnery crews
straight despite enemy
strafng: of engineers keeping steam
up Of damage repair crews con-
trolling fires
And all Of this despite fearful odds
The story of the Enterprise begins
28. l941. On that date
nine days before the japanese attack
on Pearl Harbor, Vice Admiral Will
liam F. Halsey, jr.. was in command
Of task force which slipped secretly
away from Pearl Harbor at night
She had aboard the first marine
aviator detachment for Wake Island
Of u planes-the sole
aerial protection When the japanese
came. Those planes were flown until
only one patched-rlp plane was able
TO get up and shoot it out with the
Japs.
The skipper of the Enterprise was
Capt. nov rear admiral George G
Murray.
Returning to Pearl Harbor, the
Enterprises luck held There were
bad weather and heavy seas
Enterprise weather and she re-
duccd speed so that her accompany
Ing deStroyers could take the seas
Instead Of being tied up at Pearl
Harbor Sunday morning. December
7, she was $50 miles off Oahu At
GAVIN the Enterprise launched planes
Tor their routine search. When these
planes reached Oahu the japanese
were striking. The Enterprise planes
returned fire and it is not unlikely
that an Enterprise carrier plane was
me first to shoot down a Jap-at any
rate they were the first American
Garner planes to see action against
the Japanese.
Tried to Intercept Japs.
Learning of the japanese attack
,he Enterprise changed course tc
intercept the enemy. False contact
positions were broadcast by the JAP
aheSe and their deception perhaps
mlSied the Enterprise. That was
q :, mistake. With their force that day
theN might have overwhelmed her.
mat night some of the Enter.
prise planes flew on to Pearl Harbo,
While the remainder landed aboare
me carrier at sea without mishan
Those who flew to Pearl Harhor wifi
cruising lights showing were in.
structed to come in and land, Sud.
denly WarShips and land batterie,
opened fire. Some were killed while
others escaped. Two brought thei,