USS "Enterprise" (CV-6), often called the "Big E," was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. She was also the seventh U.S. Navy ship to use the name. She was launched in 1936 and was a "Yorktown" class aircraft carrier. She was one of three American carriers brought into service before World War II which survived the war. She took part in more fights against Japan than any other U.S. ship. These fights included the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, many other fights during the Guadalcanal campaign, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. At three different times during the Pacific War, the Japanese said that she had been sunk in battle. This lead her to be nicknamed "The Grey Ghost".
"Enterprise" earned 20 battle stars. This was more than any other U.S. warship in World War II. Some have said that she is the most glorious and honored ship in the history of the United States Navy. However, the 18th century frigate USS "Constitution" could perhaps rival that.
"Enterprise" was launched on 3 October 1936 at Newport News Shipbuilding. She was sponsored by Lulie Swanson, who was the wife of the Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson. "Enterprise" was commissioned on 12 May 1938. "Enterprise" sailed south so that her performance could be tested. This took her to Rio de Janeiro. After she returned, she was used along the east coast and in the Caribbean until April 1939. This is when she was ordered to serve in the Pacific.
"Enterprise" was one of fourteen ships to be fitted with the RCA CXAM-1 RADAR. She was first based in San Diego (where she was used in the movie "Dive Bomber") and then at Pearl Harbor after President Roosevelt ordered the Fleet to be based far forward. "Enterprise" and the aircraft squads she carries trained a lot and moved aircraft among the island bases of the Pacific. "Enterprise" left Pearl Harbor on 28 November 1941. "Enterprise" was completing a transport mission, returning to Hawaii after moving Marine Fighter Squadron 211 (VMF-211) to Wake Island on 7 December 1941. This was when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
"Enterprise" was returning to Oahu on the morning of 7 December 1941. 18 SBD Dauntlesses from "Enterprise" squadrons Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) and Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6) arrived at Pearl Harbor while the Japanese were attacking it. Even though they were surprised, they quickly went into action to defend Pearl Harbor. VS-6 lost six planes during the attack. VB-6 lost one. Many of these planes were shot down by the Japanese. However, at least one plane was lost to anti-aircraft (AA) fire, and many more were damaged. During the battle, one radio report was heard: "Do not attack me, this is Six Baker Three an American plane". Later, the same pilot (Ensign Manuel Gonzales from VB-6) was heard telling his radioman/gunner to get ready to land on the water. Lieutenant C. E. Dickinson and his crewmate William C. Miller, from VS-6, shot down one Japanese plane before they had to jump out after their plane caught fire. Dickinson later went to Ford Island to fly another plane. He took part when the United States were searching for the Japanese fleet.
"Enterprise" also sent up six F4F Wildcats from Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6) during the attack. All of these aircraft except two were shot down by shellshocked AA gunners when they tried to land on Ford Island later that night. "Enterprise" got her aircraft ready to go on a large search for the Japanese force that attacked Pearl Harbor. They search was to the south and west of Oahu. However, the Japanese had started moving northwest. "Enterprise" went into Pearl Harbor for fuel and supplies on the night of 8 December. Early the next morning, she went to patrol the rest of the Hawaiian Islands to make sure there were no more attacks. Even though the group did not find any ships, "Enterprise" aircraft sank Japanese submarine . "I-70" was sunk at on 10 December 1941.
During the last two weeks of December 1941, "Enterprise" and her group moved to the west of Hawaii to make sure those islands were not attacked. Two other groups tried to help at Wake Island at the same time. After the "Enterprise" group had a short rest at Pearl Harbor, they left on 11 January. They were protecting ships sending help to Samoa. On 1 February, "Enterprise"'s Task Force 8 raided Kwajalein, Wotje, and Maloelap in the Marshall Islands. They sank three ships, damaged eight and destroyed many aircraft.
Five days later, "Enterprise" sailed for the South Pacific to help other U.S. carriers in the Coral Sea. However, the Battle of the Coral Sea was over before "Enterprise" got there.
On 28 May, "Enterprise" moved, as Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance's flagship, to Midway. She was ordered to hold Midway and do as much damage to the enemy as possible. USS "Hornet", six cruisers and 10 destroyers were with "Enterprise" on that day.
Both the Americans and Japanese launched air attacks. Even though the fighting went on until 7 June, by the end of 4 June the result had been decided. The Battle of Midway began on the morning of 4 June 1942, when four Japanese carriers attacked on Midway Island. The Japanese did not know that the U.S. Navy was in the area. Just three hours after the first bomb hit Midway, planes from the U.S. carriers attacked. "Enterprise" launched an attack using torpedo bombers, but this failed. Soon after this, "Enterprise" dive bombers attacked and sank the Japanese carriers and . Later in the afternoon, bombers from "Enterprise" and USS "Yorktown" sank (aircraft from "Yorktown" also sank ). "Yorktown" and USS "Hammann" were the only American ships sunk, but 113 planes were lost. 61 of these were lost during the attacks. Japanese losses were much bigger. They lost four carriers, one cruiser and 272 planes. Even though she lost many planes, "Enterprise" returned to Pearl Harbor on 13 June 1942 undamaged.
After a month of rest, "Enterprise" headed on 15 July 1942 for the South Pacific. There, she helped support the attack on the Solomon Islands on 8 August. During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, the Japanese light carrier "Ryūjō" was sunk. The Japanese troops that were supposed to land on Guadalcanal was forced back. "Enterprise" was hit three times. 77 sailors were killed and 91 were hurt. "Enterprise" was damaged badly.
"Enterprise" was fixed at Pearl Harbor from 10 September-16 October 1942.
On 13 November, pilots from "Enterprise" helped to sink . When the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal ended on 15 November 1942, "Enterprise" had helped to sink 16 ships and damage eight more.
On July 20 1943, "Enterprise" started being upgraded. These happened over several months. She was given an anti-torpedo blister. This meant that the carrier would be protected more against torpedoes.
"Enterprise" was back by November 1943. She helped the U.S. soldiers landing on Makin Atoll from 19–21 November 1943.
"Enterprise" launched planes to strike the Marshall Islands and helped U.S. soldiers land on Kwajalein from 29 January-3 February 1944. Then she went to strike the Japanese base in Truk Lagoon in the Caroline Islands on 17 February.
"Enterprise" launched planes to hit Jaluit Atoll on 20 February. She helped troops who were landing on Emirau Island (19–25 March). On 14 April she helped troops to land in Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura), in New Guinea.
On 19 June 1944, "Enterprise" took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. For over eight hours, American and Japanese pilots fought. Over two days, six American ships were damaged. 130 planes and 76 pilots and aircrew were lost. American aircraft and U.S. submarines sank three Japanese carriers (, , and ). The Japanese lost 426 planes.