USS Enterprise (CV-6) underway circa 1942, location unknown.

The aft end of Enterprise's island showing the base of her aircraft crane and both 1.1" antiaircraft gun mounts doing some target practice while escorting Hornet (CV-8) in route to launch Doolittle's B-25's. April 15th, 1942.

USS Enterprise (CV-6) entering Pearl Harbor on 26 May 1942, following the Battle of Coral Sea and shortly before the Battle of Midway.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-66121).

Enterprise tied up at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, May 1942. Yorktown was across the harbor in drydock having damage from the Coral Sea battle repaired before Midway. Note the cage mast battleship (left background) left over from the Japanese attack on Dec. 7th, 1941.

Enterprise tied up at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, May 1942, just before Midway.

Another view, as above.

USS Enterprise (CV-6) steaming at high speed at about 0725 hrs, 4 June 1942, seen from USS Pensacola (CA-24). The carrier has launched Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) and Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6) and is striking unlaunched SBD aircraft below in preparation for respotting the flight deck with torpedo planes and escorting fighters. USS Northampton (CA-26) is in the right distance, with SBDs orbiting overhead, awaiting the launch of the rest of the attack group. Three hours later, VS-6 and VB-6 fatally bombed the Japanese carriers Akagi and Kaga.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-32225).

Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) TBD-1 aircraft are prepared for launching on USS Enterprise (CV-6) at about 0730-0740 hrs, 4 June 1942. Eleven of the fourteen TBDs launched from Enterprise are visible. Three more TBDs and ten F4F fighters must still be pushed into position before launching can begin. The TBD in the left front is Number Two (Bureau # 1512), flown by Ensign Severin L. Rombach and Aviation Radioman 2nd Class W.F. Glenn. Along with eight other VT-6 aircraft, this plane and its crew were lost attacking Japanese aircraft carriers somewhat more than two hours later. USS Pensacola (CA-24) is in the right distance and a destroyer is in plane guard position at left.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-41686).

"A squadron of Douglas Devastator torpedo bombers aboard the mighty Enterprise unfold their wings for the next take-off. In company with Battleship X, the Enterprise shows the Japs her power. Result: 30 by anti-aircraft and 33 by her planes."

From Our Navy magazine, mid-September 1943 issue.

Ordnancemen of Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) load a 500 pound demolition bomb on an SBD scout bomber on the flight deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6), during the first day of strikes on Guadalcanal and Tulagi, 7 August 1942. Note aircraft's landing gear and bomb crutch; also bomb cart and hoist.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-10458).

(Note that the date printed on the photo is incorrect).

A Japanese bomb exploding on the flight deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6), just aft of the island, on 24 August 1942.

Note: According to the original photo caption, this explosion killed the photographer, Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Robert F. Read. However, Morison's "History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War II" (volume 5, page 97) states that Read was killed by the bomb that had earlier hit the after starboard 5"/38 gun gallery, which can be seen burning in the upper left. Morison further states that the bomb seen here exploded with a low order detonation, inflicting only minor damage.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-17489).

A Japanese Type 99 carrier bomber (a type later code-named "Val") burns as it is shot down directly over USS Enterprise (CV-6). Note radar antenna atop the carrier's foremast, and anti-aircraft shell bursts overhead.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-31349).

U.S. Navy ships firing at attacking Japanese carrier aircraft during the battle, 26 October 1942. USS Enterprise (CV-6) is at left, with at least two enemy planes visible overhead. In the right center is USS South Dakota, firing her starboard 5"/38 secondary battery, as marked by the bright flash amidships.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-20989).

A Japanese bomb explodes off the port side of USS Enterprise (CV-6) during the action, 26 October 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-30198).

USS Enterprise (CV-6) in November 1942. These photos were probably taken at Noumea, New Caledonia, while the Big E was undergoing battle damage repairs, after either the Battle of Santa Cruz or the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

F6F Hellcat fighters taxiing forward on the flight deck, during training exercises, 2 July 1943. Another F6F is in flight overhead, with its landing gear and tail hook extended.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-74510).

Official US Navy photograph of USS Enterprise (CV-6) underway, circa 1943–1944, location unknown.

Crash landing of F6F-3, Number 30 of Fighting Squadron Two (VF-2), into the carrier's port side 20mm gun gallery, 10 November 1943. Lieutenant Walter L. Chewning, Jr., USNR, the Catapult Officer, is climbing up the plane's side to assist the pilot from the burning aircraft. The pilot, Ensign Byron M. Johnson, escaped without significant injury. Enterprise was then en route to support the Gilberts Operation. Note the plane's ruptured belly fuel tank.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-205473).

USS Enterprise (CV-6) underway on 24 November 1943, while supporting the Gilberts Operation. Photographed from USS Monterey (CVL-26).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-366884).

USS Enterprise (CV-6) landing aircraft while supporting the Gilberts Operation, 22 November 1943. A TBM "Avenger" torpedo plane is on the flight deck, aft, while another is flying overhead.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-333207).

December 11, 1943, one week after the raid on Kwajalein. She is wearing Measure 21 camouflage (Navy Blue on vertical surfaces; Deck Blue on horizontal surfaces). Numerous 20-mm/70-cal Oerlikon and 40-mm/56-cal Bofors AA guns had been installed during her July-October refit; her old Mk.33 directors had been replaced by Mk.37's with Mk.4 radar (see NS020667).

Good shot of the island and Enterprise's new F6F-3's on the flight deck ready for strikes against the Marshall Islands, February 3rd, 1944.

Grumman F6F-3 "Hellcat" fighters landing on USS Enterprise (CV-6) after strikes on the Japanese base at Truk, 17-18 February 1944. Flight deck crewmen are folding planes' wings and guiding them forward to the parking area. The original caption gives date as 16 February.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-59314).

USN photo of USS Enterprise (CV-6) underway at high speed while engaged in raids against Palau during March-April of 1944. She is painted in Measure 21 and her radar equipment consists of SK, SC-2 and SM sets.

TBM Avenger torpedo bombers warming up on the after flight deck during operations in the Pacific, circa May 1944. An F6F Hellcat fighter is on the midships elevator, in the foreground. The original Kodachrome color transparency was received by the Naval Photographic Science Laboratory on 29 May 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-1590).

Two Air Group Ten SBD Dauntlesses overfly USS Enterprise (CV-6), probably in June 1944.

The Big E shows her late-war appearance and new dazzle camouflage (Measure 33/4Ab) in these 2 August 1944 photos, taken as she departed Pearl Harbor. According to Ms. 33 specifications, colors should be pale gray, haze gray and navy blue but, judging from existing photographs, it seems possible that, in fact, dull black or blue/black were substituted for navy blue.

On photo NS020660 note PC-1251 is passing Enterprise on the port side. The PC, which had arrived in Pearl Harbor just a few weeks earlier, is painted in a dark color but her mast, painted in light gray above the top of the stack, is reminiscent of Measure 1, which had been officially discontinued in September 1941 (!).

(Thanks to Robert Hurst, who provided additional info).

USS Enterprise (CV-6) departs Pearl Harbor, mid-August 1944, with her newly applied dazzle camouflage and new Air Group 20 aboard.

Anchored off Saipan, circa mid-1944, while painted in camouflage Measure 33, Design 4Ab. The photograph was taken from the flight deck of an escort carrier (CVE).

Courtesy of Don S. Montgomery, USN (Retired).

U.S. Naval Historical Center photograph (# NH 97266).

Landing Signal Officer, Ensign R. J. Grant, guides in an F6F "Hellcat" fighter, during flight operations on 13 March 1945. Taken by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class W.T. Stillman.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-319008).

Damaged TBM Avenger, March 1945. The outlined arrow on the tail ("G" symbol) was not the design assigned by the Bureau of Aeronautics, but the ship's CO, CAPT Hall, believed it reduced aircraft visibility during night operations, at a time when his ship was operating as a night carrier.

USS Enterprise (CV-6), at left, under attack by a Japanese suicide plane, during operations off Okinawa on 11 April 1945. She was hit and damaged on this day, but returned to action in early May following repairs made at Ulithi. At right is USS Oakland (CL-95), which is opening fire on the diving plane. Note tracer shells streaking across the upper part of the image.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-315762).

Bulged flight deck from a Kamikaze strike on the forward elevator, blowing it 400' in the air. This finished CV-6's combat career. She was sent back to Puget Sound for major repairs.

USS Enterprise (CV-6) transferring casualties to USS Bountiful (AH-9) on 15 May 1945, a day after the carrier had been hit by a kamikaze in the vicinity of the forward elevator.

Collection of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, donated in 1973-75.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph, # NH 99384-A, cropped from photo # NH 99384.

"Aircraft Carrier Enterprise."  (From a Russian publication).

Basically, this drawing shows the "Big E" after her 1945 refit, at the very end of the war. However, 40-mm gun mounts forward of the forward pairs of 5" guns were actually two quads and two twins (see below, 020627). Also, the 20-mm battery shown is too large, and is actually closer to that fitted during the ship's July-October 1943 refit.

USS Enterprise (CV-6) making 20 knots during post-overhaul trials in Puget Sound, Washington, 13 September 1945.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives (photo # 19-N-89185).

USS Enterprise, painted in Measure 21, cruising off Puget Sound, 13 September 1945. Two 40mm quad mounts are installed in the positions where the outriggers for the hangar catapults had formerly been fitted, and two forward twins (port and starboard) have been replaced by quads (USN photo).

Naval Air Station, Alameda, California — Four aircraft carriers docked at the Air Station's piers, circa mid-September 1945. The ships are (from front to back): USS Saratoga (CV-3), USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Hornet (CV-12) and USS San Jacinto (CVL-30). Note PBY amphibians parked at the far left.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-701512).

Note that four, out of five, classes of fast Aircraft Carriers that fought in the Pacific (only the one-ship class Wasp is missing) are represented in this photograph.

Gordon G. Buttars comments: "My father, an Enterprise veteran had a large framed 16 x 20 copy of this photo hanging in his home. [...] Behind the picture was a note that must have come with the photograph stating [... it was] taken in [late] September 1945 enroute to the Panama Canal."

Although details in this copy of the photo are not clear enough, it appears that a twin Bofors gun is absent from Big E's bow. It had been installed in 1943 and was removed during her last refit, June–September 1945, as weight compensation for guns added elsewhere. This agrees with Gordon's comment.

USS Enterprise (CV-6) en route to New York to take part in the Navy Day Fleet Review, October 1945. She is steaming in company with a light carrier (CVL) —in the right distance— and another warship.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-6576).

USS Enterprise (CV-6) steams toward the Panama Canal on 10 October 1945, while en route to New York to participate in Navy Day celebrations.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives (photo # 80-G-701166).

Moored to Pier 26 North (Hudson) River, New York, second half of October 1945.

Photo taken on or about 27 October 1945 in the Hudson River, during Navy Day celebrations.