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During the last 2 weeks of December 1941, ''Enterprise'' and her group steamed to the westward of Hawaii to cover those islands while two other carrier groups made a belated attempt to relieve Wake Island. After a brief rest at Pearl Harbor, the ''Enterprise'' group sailed on 11 January to protect convoys reinforcing [[Samoa]]. On 1 February the task force dealt a hard blow to Kwajalein, Wotje, and Maloelap in the [[Marshall Islands]], sinking three ships, damaging eight, and destroying numerous airplanes and ground facilities. ''Enterprise'' received only minor damage in the Japanese counterattack, as her force retired to Pearl Harbor.

During the last 2 weeks of December 1941, ''Enterprise'' and her group steamed to the westward of Hawaii to cover those islands while two other carrier groups made a belated attempt to relieve Wake Island. After a brief rest at Pearl Harbor, the ''Enterprise'' group sailed on 11 January to protect convoys reinforcing [[Samoa]]. On 1 February the task force dealt a hard blow to Kwajalein, Wotje, and Maloelap in the [[Marshall Islands]], sinking three ships, damaging eight, and destroying numerous airplanes and ground facilities. ''Enterprise'' received only minor damage in the Japanese counterattack, as her force retired to Pearl Harbor.

During the next month ''Enterprise's'' force swept the central Pacific, blasting enemy installations on Wake and Marcus Islands, then received minor alterations and repairs at Pearl Harbor. On 8 April 1942 she departed to rendezvous with ''Hornet'' (CV-8) and sail westward to launch 16 Army B-25 bombers in a spectacular raid on Tokyo under Lt. Colonel [[James Doolittle]]. While ''Enterprise'' fighters flew combat air patrol, the B-25s roared into the air on 18 April and raced undetected the 600 miles to their target. The task force, its presence known to the enemy, reversed course and returned to Pearl Harbor on 25 April.

During the next month ''Enterprise's'' force swept the central Pacific, blasting enemy installations on Wake and Marcus Islands, then received minor alterations and repairs at Pearl Harbor. On 8 April 1942 she departed to rendezvous with ''Hornet'' (CV-8) and sail westward to launch 16 Army [[B-25 Mitchell|B-25]] bombers in a spectacular raid on Tokyo under Lt. Colonel [[James Doolittle]]. While ''Enterprise'' fighters flew combat air patrol, the B-25s roared into the air on 18 April and raced undetected the 600 miles to their target. The task force, its presence known to the enemy, reversed course and returned to Pearl Harbor on 25 April.

Five days later, the "Big E" was speeding toward the South Pacific to reinforce the U.S. carriers operating in the Coral Sea. Distance proved too great to conquer in time, and the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]] was history before ''Enterprise'' could reach her destination. Ordered back to Hawaii, the carrier entered Pearl Harbor on 26 May and began intensive preparations to meet the expected Japanese thrust at Midway Island. Two days later she sortied as flagship of Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, CTF 16, with orders "to hold Midway and inflict maximum damage on the enemy by strong attrition tactics." With ''Enterprise'' in TF 16 were ''Hornet'', 6 cruisers, and 10 destroyers. On 30 May, TF 17, Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher in ''Yorktown'' (CV-5), with two cruisers, and six destroyers, sailed to support TF 16; as senior officer, Rear Admiral Fletcher became "Officer in Tactical Command."

Five days later, the "Big E" was speeding toward the South Pacific to reinforce the U.S. carriers operating in the Coral Sea. Distance proved too great to conquer in time, and the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]] was history before ''Enterprise'' could reach her destination. Ordered back to Hawaii, the carrier entered Pearl Harbor on 26 May and began intensive preparations to meet the expected Japanese thrust at Midway Island. Two days later she sortied as flagship of Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, CTF 16, with orders "to hold Midway and inflict maximum damage on the enemy by strong attrition tactics." With ''Enterprise'' in TF 16 were ''Hornet'', 6 cruisers, and 10 destroyers. On 30 May, TF 17, Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher in ''Yorktown'' (CV-5), with two cruisers, and six destroyers, sailed to support TF 16; as senior officer, Rear Admiral Fletcher became "Officer in Tactical Command."

On 6 June 1944, the "Big E" and her companions of TG 58.3 sortied from Majuro to strike with the rest of TF 58, the [[Mariana Islands]]. Blasting [[Saipan]], Rota, and [[Guam]] between 11 and 14 June, ''Enterprise'' pilots gave direct support to the landings on Saipan on 15 June, and covered the troops ashore for the next 2 days. Aware of a major Japanese attempt to break up the invasion of Saipan, Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Commander 5th Fleet, positioned TF 58 to meet the thrust. On 19 June 1944 took place the greatest carrier aircraft battle in history. For over 8 hours airmen of the United States and Imperial Japanese navies fought in the skies over TF 58 and the Marianas. By the end of the day, a United States victory was apparent, and at the conclusion of the strikes against the Japanese fleet on 20 June, the triumph became complete. Six American ships had been damaged, and 130 planes and a total of 76 pilots and aircrewmen had been lost. But with a major assist from U.S. submarines, 3 Japanese carriers were sunk, and 426 ship-based aircraft were destroyed. Japanese naval aviation never recovered from this blow.

On 6 June 1944, the "Big E" and her companions of TG 58.3 sortied from Majuro to strike with the rest of TF 58, the [[Mariana Islands]]. Blasting [[Saipan]], Rota, and [[Guam]] between 11 and 14 June, ''Enterprise'' pilots gave direct support to the landings on Saipan on 15 June, and covered the troops ashore for the next 2 days. Aware of a major Japanese attempt to break up the invasion of Saipan, Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Commander 5th Fleet, positioned TF 58 to meet the thrust. On 19 June 1944 took place the greatest carrier aircraft battle in history. For over 8 hours airmen of the United States and Imperial Japanese navies fought in the skies over TF 58 and the Marianas. By the end of the day, a United States victory was apparent, and at the conclusion of the strikes against the Japanese fleet on 20 June, the triumph became complete. Six American ships had been damaged, and 130 planes and a total of 76 pilots and aircrewmen had been lost. But with a major assist from U.S. submarines, 3 Japanese carriers were sunk, and 426 ship-based aircraft were destroyed. Japanese naval aviation never recovered from this blow.

The [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]] over, ''Enterprise'' and her companions continued to support the Saipan campaign through 5 July. ''Enterprise'' then sailed for Pearl Harbor and a month of rest and overhaul. Back in action waters on 24 August, the carrier sailed with TF 38 in that force's aerial assault on the Volcano and Bonin Islands from 31 August to 2 September, and Yap, Ulithi, and the Palaus from 6 to 8 September. After operating west of the Palau Islands, the "Big E" joined other units of TF 38 on 7 October, and shaped course to the northward. From 10 to 20 October her aviators roared over [[Okinawa]], [[Taiwan|Formosa]], and the [[Philippines]], blasting enemy airfields, shore installations, and shipping in preparation for the assault on Leyte. After supporting the Leyte landings on 20 October, ''Enterprise'' headed for Ulithi to replenish but the approach of the Japanese fleet on 23 October, brought her racing back into action. In the [[Battle for Leyte Gulf]] (23-26 October), ''Enterprise'' planes struck all three groups of enemy forces, battering battleships and destroyers before the action ended. The carrier remained on patrol east of Samar and Leyte until the end of October, then retired to Ulithi for supplies. During November, her aircraft struck targets in the Manila area, and the island of Yap. The "Big E" returned to Pearl Harbor on 6 December 1944.

The [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]] over, ''Enterprise'' and her companions continued to support the Saipan campaign through 5 July. ''Enterprise'' then sailed for Pearl Harbor and a month of rest and overhaul. Back in action waters on 24 August, the carrier sailed with TF 38 in that force's aerial assault on the Volcano and Bonin Islands from 31 August to 2 September, and Yap, Ulithi, and the Palaus from 6 to 8 September. After operating west of the Palau Islands, the "Big E" joined other units of TF 38 on 7 October, and shaped course to the northward. From 10 to 20 October her aviators roared over [[Okinawa]], [[Taiwan|Formosa]], and the [[Philippines]], blasting enemy airfields, shore installations, and shipping in preparation for the assault on Leyte. After supporting the Leyte landings on 20 October, ''Enterprise'' headed for Ulithi to replenish but the approach of the Japanese fleet on 23 October, brought her racing back into action. In the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]] (23-26 October), ''Enterprise'' planes struck all three groups of enemy forces, battering battleships and destroyers before the action ended. The carrier remained on patrol east of Samar and Leyte until the end of October, then retired to Ulithi for supplies. During November, her aircraft struck targets in the Manila area, and the island of Yap. The "Big E" returned to Pearl Harbor on 6 December 1944.

Sailing 24 December for the Philippine area, ''Enterprise'' carried on board an air group specially trained in night carrier operations. She joined TG 38.5 and swept the waters north of Luzon and of the China Sea during January of 1945, striking shore targets and shipping from Formosa to Indo-China. After a brief visit to Ulithi, the "Big E" joined TG 58.5 on 10 February 1945, and provided day and night combat air patrol for TF 58 as it struck Tokyo on 16 and 17 February. She then supported the marines on [[Iwo Jima]] from the day of the landings, 19 February, until 9 March when she sailed for Ulithi. During one part of that period, ''Enterprise'' kept aircraft aloft continuously over Iwo Jima for 174 hours. Departing Ulithi 15 March, the carrier continued her night work in raids against Kyushu, Honshu, and shipping in the Inland Sea of Japan. Damaged slightly by an enemy bomb on 18 March, ''Enterprise'' entered Ulithi 6 days later for repairs. Back in action on 5 April, she supported the Okinawa operation until again damaged (11 April), this time by a suicide plane, and forced back to Ulithi. Off Okinawa once more on 6 May, ''Enterprise'' flew patrols around the clock as the menace of the kamikaze increased. On 14 May 1945, the "Big E" suffered her last wound of World War II when a suicide plane destroyed her forward elevator, killing 14 and wounding 34 men. The carrier sailed for repairs at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, arriving 7 June 1945.

Sailing 24 December for the Philippine area, ''Enterprise'' carried on board an air group specially trained in night carrier operations. She joined TG 38.5 and swept the waters north of Luzon and of the China Sea during January of 1945, striking shore targets and shipping from Formosa to Indo-China. After a brief visit to Ulithi, the "Big E" joined TG 58.5 on 10 February 1945, and provided day and night combat air patrol for TF 58 as it struck Tokyo on 16 and 17 February. She then supported the marines on [[Iwo Jima]] from the day of the landings, 19 February, until 9 March when she sailed for Ulithi. During one part of that period, ''Enterprise'' kept aircraft aloft continuously over Iwo Jima for 174 hours. Departing Ulithi 15 March, the carrier continued her night work in raids against Kyushu, Honshu, and shipping in the Inland Sea of Japan. Damaged slightly by an enemy bomb on 18 March, ''Enterprise'' entered Ulithi 6 days later for repairs. Back in action on 5 April, she supported the Okinawa operation until again damaged (11 April), this time by a suicide plane, and forced back to Ulithi. Off Okinawa once more on 6 May, ''Enterprise'' flew patrols around the clock as the menace of the kamikaze increased. On 14 May 1945, the "Big E" suffered her last wound of World War II when a suicide plane destroyed her forward elevator, killing 14 and wounding 34 men. The carrier sailed for repairs at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, arriving 7 June 1945.

In addition to her Presidential Unit Citation, ''Enterprise'' received the Navy Unit Commendation and 20 battle stars for World War II service.

In addition to her Presidential Unit Citation, ''Enterprise'' received the Navy Unit Commendation and 20 battle stars for World War II service.

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[[category:United States Navy]][[Category:Aircraft Carriers]]

[[category:United States Navy]]

[[Category:Aircraft Carriers]]

[[Category:World War II]]