In the annals of naval history few ships’ names carry as much distinction as Enterprise. From a sloop of war of the American Revolution to the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the name Enterprise represents the finest traditions of the Navy's past and present. Yet, of the eight ships to carry the proud name, none can match the storied service of USS Enterprise (CV-6), which was commissioned on May 12, 1938 as the Navy's sixth aircraft carrier.
Though not in port during the fateful morning of December 7, 1941, Enterprise experienced her own tragedy that day when one of her squadrons unwittingly flew into the midst of the Japanese attack, losing nine planes, the majority to friendly fire. Undaunted, the carrier began establishing a combat record that by war's end was the envy of the fleet, her crew earning the Presidential Unit Citation and 20 battle stars at places like Midway, the Eastern Solomons, Santa Cruz, the Gilbert Islands, the Philippine Sea, and Okinawa. During the latter campaign, the ship suffered two separate kamikaze hits, the second one destroying her forward aircraft elevator and killing 14 members of her crew. She departed the war zone for the final time on May 16, 1945, sailing eastward across the wide expanse of the Pacific that had been the scene of so many of her great triumphs.
With one of the most highly-detailed models in the museum as its centerpiece, the USS Enterprise exhibit displays truly amazing artifacts connected to the “Most Decorated Ship of World War II.” Original ship’s equipment that includes and engine order telegraph and porthole flank a flag that flew over the ship during the pitched battles off Guadalcanal, the stars and stripes stained by stack gas from the ship. Also included is a case containing a watch and sword that belonged to Medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant Commander Edward H. "Butch" O'Hare, who made his last flight from Enterprise’s flight deck in November 1943, shot down during naval aviation’s first carrier-based night operations.