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NavSource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive


Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN Ret.

USS ENTERPRISE   (CV-6)
(later CVA-6 and CVS-6)



Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - India - Quebec - Mike

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

   

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Presidential Unit Citation / Navy Unit Commendation
2nd Row: American Defense Service Medal ("Fleet" clasp) / American Campaign Medal / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (20 stars)
3rd Row: World War II Victory Medal / Philippine Presidential Unit Citation / Philippine Liberation Medal (1 star)

British Admiralty Flag
On 23 Nov. 1945, at Southampton, England, Sir Albert Victor Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew B. Cunningham, First Sea Lord, visited USS Enterprise and the British Admiralty Flag was hoisted in the ship. This was the first time since its creation in the 16th Century that such a pennant had flown from a foreign warship. The flag was presented to the ship as a memento.

Task Force 16 Citation
Enterprise, Hornet, 16 other ships and their 10,000 sailors, airmen and Marines, who took part in the Doolittle raid in April 1942, were officially recognized for their daring exploit 53 years later, on 15 May 1995. In a ceremony at the Pentagon they were presented the Task Force 16 Citation by the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. John H. Dalton.


Yorktown Class Aircraft Carrier
Ordered Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Stricken
3 Aug 1933 16 Jul 1934 3 Oct 1936 12 May 1938 17 Feb 1947 2 Oct 1956
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Newport News, Va.

Specifications
(As built, 1938)
Displacement: 19,800 tons standard; 25,500 tons full load
Dimensions (wl): 770' x 83.25' x 25' 11.5" (full load)  /  234.7 x 25.4 x 7.9 (full load) meters
Dimensions (max.): 824.75' x 109.5'  /  251.4 x 33.4 meters
Armor: 4"-2.5" belt; 60 lbs protective deck(s); 4" bulkheads; 4" (side)-2" (top) conning tower; 4" (side) over steering gear
Power plant: 9 boilers (400 psi); steam turbines; 4 shafts; 120,000 shp
Speed: 32.5 knots
Endurance (design): 12,500 nautical miles @ 15 knots
Armament: 8 single 5"/38 gun mounts; 4 quad 1.1"/75 machine gun mounts; 24 .50-cal machine guns
Aircraft: 90+
Aviation facilities: 3 elevators; 2 flight-deck and 1 hangar-deck hydraulic catapults
Crew: 2,217 (ship's company + air wing) (1941 figure)
Click on Thumbnail
for Full Size Image
Size Image Description Source
Name
Enterprise
NS098660401
27k

"Enterprise" means "boldness, energy, and invention in practical affairs." CV-6 was named to commemorate six American warships which had previously borne the name:

  1. A sloop used during the Revolutionary War
  2. A Continental Navy schooner
  3. A schooner (1799–1823)
  4. A schooner (1831–1844)
  5. A screw sloop-of-war
  6. A non-commissioned motorboat

Image: NS098660401, The first Enterprise, a sloop-of-war, with the galley Congress and other ships at the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain New York, 11–13 October 1776. Photo from Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, via Robert Hurst.

NavSource
Construction
CV-6
NS0205bw
86k

The future USS Enterprise (CV-6) on the ways, fall 1936.

Naval History & Heritage Command photo, from a special photo article of the Baltimore Sun.

David Wright
CV-6
NS0205bt
606k

Enterprise building at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Virginia, 1 October 1936.

USN and NNSDDC photo, courtesy of Pictorial Histories Publishing Company,
via Gerd Matthes, Germany
CV-6
NS0205bx
496k

Final preparations for launch, October 1936.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, courtesy of Pictorial Histories Publishing Company,
via Gerd Matthes, Germany
Christening
NS020579
200k

On Saturday, October 3, 1936 Enterprise was christened by Mrs. Lucy ("Lulie") Lyons Hall Swanson, wife of Claude A. Swanson, Secretary of the Navy. She quoted William Shakespeare's Othello: "May she also say with just pride: I have done the State some service."

USN and NNSDDC photo, courtesy of Pictorial Histories Publishing Company
Mrs. Lucy 'Lulie' Lyons Hall Swanson, ship's sponsor
NS020579a
7k

Mrs. Lucy ("Lulie") Lyons Hall Swanson, ship's sponsor, photographed when she was received at St. James Palace, London.

Courtesy of Charles C. Hall, www.ClaudeSwanson.us
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020679c
108k

Launching the Big E.

Via David Wright
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020679b
1.76M

"More Armor for America—Navy's New Ship, Into the water splashes the U.S.S. Enterprise, the giant new aircraft carrier, at Norfolk, Va. All armor is in place and her turrets and guns are mounted, almost ready to parade the seas. Mrs. Claude A. Swanson, wife of the Secretary of Navy, christened the ship. A.P. Photo."

The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., 4 October 1936.

Chronicling America, via Michael Mohl
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020679d
61k

The future USS Enterprise (CV-6) in the James River after launching.

Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company photo.

David Wright
CV-6 Enterprise
NS0206bh
2.10M

"Mrs. Swanson, wife of the Secretary of the Navy, shown breaking the traditional bottle on the Enterprise's bow."

"U.S.[S.] Enterprise, giant new aircraft carrier, launched last October at Norfolk, Va. Mrs. Claude A. Swanson christened the ship and became a member of the Society of Sponsors."

The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., 7 February 1937.

Chronicling America, via Michael Mohl
CV-5 + CV-6
NS020577
961k

The future USS Yorktown (CV-5), left, and USS Enterprise (CV-6) at a Yard pier in Norfolk, during outfitting in 1937.

Newport News Shipbuilding photo, # DCS19-23-8.

Bob Haner, YN1, USN (Ret.)
CV-5 Yorktown and CV-6 Enterprise
NS020533
94k

USS Enterprise (CV-6), left, and USS Yorktown (CV-5) under construction at Newport News, Virginia, 8 February 1937. National Archives photo.

Steve Whitby
CV-5 Yorktown and CV-6 Enterprise
NS020534
185k

USS Yorktown (CV-5) foreground, and USS Enterprise (CV-6) under construction at Newport News, Virginia, 8 February 1937. National Archives photo.

Steve Whitby
CV-6 Enterprise
NS0206aq
554k

Builder's plaque.

Robert C. Gray
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020675
63k

Port bow view of the yet to be commissioned Enterprise (CV-6), James River, Newport News, VA, 6 April 1938. The carrier is lying in stream after builder's preliminary trials. (Note this is not the same photo as NS020681.)

Robert Hurst
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020675a
91k

Broadside view of the yet to be commissioned Enterprise (CV-6), 6 April 1938. James River, Newport News, VA, lying in stream after builder's preliminary trial.

Gerd Matthes, Germany
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020675b
2.25M

Aerial view of the yet to be commissioned Enterprise (CV-6), 6 April 1938.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-463049.

Bob Canchola, BT, USN (Ret.)
The Pre-War Years
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020674
67k

At anchor, location unknown, early in her career.

Robert Hurst
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020680
82k

At anchor, pre-war, exact date an location unknown.

Robert M. Cieri
CV-6 Enterprise
NS0206ax
530k

USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS New York (BB-34) at one of Norfolk Navy Base's piers in 1938. It appears a Captain's inspection is happening on Enterprise's aft flight deck and a smaller one on New York's. US Navy photo from the Bureau of Yards & Docks Record accession 71-CD now in the custody of the National Archives in College Park, Maryland.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020681
131k

At anchor, pre-war (1939?), location unknown. (Note this is not the same photo as NS020675.)

Robert M. Cieri
Shakedown Cruise
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020682
118k

Off Puerto Rico, July 23, 1938.

Robert M. Cieri
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020676
142k

"Shellback" Initiation. These photos were taken on August 20, 1938 as USS Enterprise (CV-6) headed south to Rio de Janeiro during her shakedown cruise.

James D. Card, QMCS.

From the collection of his grandfather, Albert Weigandt, F 1/c, then WT 2/c, who reported aboard Enterprise four days after she commissioned
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020676a
142k
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020676b
119k
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020676c
161k
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020676d
140k
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020676e
171k
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020676f
188k
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020676g
118k

Unknown sailor on Big E flight deck.

 
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020661
29k

Circa 1939. From Our Navy magazine, 1 October 1943 issue.

Chester O. Morris
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020603
272k

Aerial, underway, aircraft on deck; April 12, 1939. Image # 80-G-463246.

National Archives
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020603a
105k

"Norfolk, Va., April 12 [1939]—A plane carrier rides at anchor—The airplane carrier Enterprise, its decks loaded with the Navy's latest war planes, is shown riding at anchor in Hampton Roads after its arrival with three other carriers [Lexington (CV-2), Ranger (CV-4) and Yorktown (CV-5)] and scores of fighting craft today to take part in the greatest concentration of the Fleet here since 1907. On April 27 the Fleet will pass in review before proceeding to New York. AP wirephoto WRW41730CPG."

Events in Europe, however, reached a crisis, the United Kingdom gathered her fleet in the Mediterranean and the U.S. Fleet was immediately ordered back to the Pacific, six weeks ahead of schedule (see NS020617). The naval review (in connection with the opening of the New York World's Fair early in May) was cancelled.

AP photo from the collection of Micheal Strout, via Jonathan Eno

NS020617
223k

In the Panama Canal, en route to the Pacific, 27 April 1939.

Tom Kermen.
Larger copy submitted by Brad Proffitt.

NS0206ab
92k

USS Enterprise (CV-6) entering San Francisco Bay, 1 July 1939. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Steve Singlar
ETCS USNR-ret.
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020628
117k

USS Enterprise (CV-6) en route to Pearl Harbor, 8 October 1939. Photographed from USS Minneapolis (CA-36).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-13554).

NHC
CV-6 Enterprise
NS020616
173k Off Pearl Harbor, 1940. Note the ship's name initials at the leading edge of the flight deck. USN

NS020629
123k

USS Enterprise (CV-6) photographed circa 1940, with TBD and SBC aircraft parked on her flight deck, aft.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives (photo # 19-N-29688).

Scott Dyben

NS0206cc
544k

A U.S. Navy Northrop BT-1 of Bombing Squadron (VB) 6 in flight. VB-6 was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6). Circa 1940.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 1996.253.1973.

Robert Hurst
CV-6 Enterprise
NS0206am
139k

Aerial view of USS Enterprise (CV-6) at sea in January 1940. During this period, "EN" was painted on the forward and rear areas of the flight deck, to facilitate identification of the ship from the air.

Item part of a scrapbook assembled by CDR William H. Balden, USNR, documenting his World War II service.

National Naval Aviation Museum, photo #2007.084.001.510.

Mike Green

NS0206an
45k

USS Enterprise (CV-6). LIFE magazine photo by Carl Mydans taken in Hawaii in 1940.

Tom Kermen
CV-6 Enterprise
NS0206ana
146k

Closeup of the bridge, superstructure and stack of USS Enterprise (CV-6), during U.S. Aircraft Carrier Operations off of Hawaii in April 1940 for Fleet Problem XXI.

LIFE magazine photo by Carl Mydans, shared by Peter DeForest.

Mike Green

NS0206ay
163k

USS Enterprise (CV-6) at Hawaii in 1940. LIFE magazine photo for educational, non-commercial use.

Tom Kermen

NS0206au
179k

Crew removing plane [SBC-3 Helldiver, # 0524] which has made a slight crash landing aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV-6) during the US Navy's Pacific Fleet maneuvers in 1940.

-

NS0206av
235k

Crew aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV-6) listening to instructions during the US Navy's Pacific Fleet maneuvers around Hawaii in 1940.

-
CV-6 Enterprise
NS0206bi
285k

Broadside port view of USS Enterprise (CV-6), probably at Honolulu, mid-September 1940. The Yorktowns had a large, open hangar deck (a feature introduced with Ranger and common to other U.S. carriers designed before 1945), equipped with sliding steel shutters that provided weather protection.

Naval History & Heritage Command, photo # NH 67732.

US Navy Photo, thanks to Jim Kurrasch, Battleship Iowa, Pacific Battleship Center

NS020630
147k

USS Enterprise (CV-6) operating in the Pacific, circa late June 1941. She is turning into the wind to recover aircraft. Note her "natural wood" flight deck stain and dark Measure One camouflage paint scheme. The flight deck was stained blue in July 1941, during camouflage experiments that gave her a unique deck stripe pattern.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-14254).

Scott Dyben

NS0206ad
86k

Douglas TBD-1 Devastator torpedo plane landing on board USS Enterprise (CV-6), in about July 1941. Note landing signal officer is in the foreground, and plane guard destroyers in the center distance. The original photo caption gives a date of 8 April 1942, which is highly improbable as the plane is in mid-1941 vintage overall gray paint and the destroyers are wearing peacetime light gray paint.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-17531).

Robert Hurst

NS0206bl
141k

Cake and celebration of the 44,000th landing aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6), made by Ensign Lloyd Thomas, USN, Torpedo Squadron (VT) 6, on 24 August 1941.

Then LT(JG) Lloyd Thomas gave his life in his squadron's immortal attack in the Battle of Midway, 4 June 1942, and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism and courage in combat.

Photos from the LIFE magazine archive.

Jason McDonald

NS0206bla
161k

NS0206blb
179k

NS0206aw
136k

Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless scout bombers, of Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6). Composite photograph of 9 planes in flight, with USS Enterprise (CV-6) and a plane guard destroyer below. The original photo is dated 27 October 1941. Note differences in ocean surface wave patterns between the upper and lower images, skillfully blended to combine the two photographs.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-6678.

NARA

For more photos of this ship, see:

Read the USS Enterprise (CV-6 / CVA-6 / CVS-6) DANFS History entry

Crew Contact and Reunion Information Web Sites
USS Enterprise CV-6 Association

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Last update: 20 January 2024