Changes

''Enterprise's'' scout planes arrived over Pearl Harbor during the attack and, though surprised, immediately went into action in defense of the naval base. The carrier, meanwhile, launched her remaining aircraft in a fruitless search for the Japanese striking force. ''Enterprise'' put into Pearl Harbor for fuel and supplies on December 8 and sailed early the next morning to patrol against possible additional attacks on the Hawaiian Islands. While the group did not encounter any surface ships, ''Enterprise'' aircraft scored a kill by sinking submarine 1-170 in 23°45' N., 155°35' W., on 10 December 1941.

''Enterprise's'' scout planes arrived over Pearl Harbor during the attack and, though surprised, immediately went into action in defense of the naval base. The carrier, meanwhile, launched her remaining aircraft in a fruitless search for the Japanese striking force. ''Enterprise'' put into Pearl Harbor for fuel and supplies on December 8 and sailed early the next morning to patrol against possible additional attacks on the Hawaiian Islands. While the group did not encounter any surface ships, ''Enterprise'' aircraft scored a kill by sinking submarine 1-170 in 23°45' N., 155°35' W., on 10 December 1941.

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 (including two [[Mitsubishi A5M|"Claude"]] fighters downed by Wildcats, the Navy's first air-to-air victories of the war) 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 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.

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.