The Descriptive Finding Guide for the USS Enterprise Special Collection SDASM.SC.10145

Alan Renga
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
11/14/2014
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: USS Enterprise Special Collection
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10145
Physical Description: 0.43 Cubic Feet 1 box, 15”x5”x10”.
Date (inclusive): 1941-1943
Abstract: The USS Enterprise (CV-6) was a 19,800-ton Yorktown class aircraft carrier and the seventh U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.

Preferred Citation

[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

Scope and Contents

1 box, 15”x5”x10”. The majority of the collection was in the chronological order and has been organized to better fit that order. The collection contains primarily plan of the day releases, press and war news bulletins, and also drawn cartoons featuring the vessel.

Related Materials

Related SDASM Resources: Ewing, Steve, USS Enterprise CV-6, the Most Decorated Ship of World War II : A Pictorial History. Missoula, MO: Pictorial Histories Pub. Co., 1982.
Burns, Eugene. Then There Was One: The U. S. S. Enterprise and the First Year of War. New York, Harcourt, Brace and Co. [1944] 1st ed. Related Research Institutions:
Secondary Sources: Naval History & Heritage Command: Online Library – U.S. Navy Ships http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-e/cv6.htm

Biographical / Historical

The USS Enterprise (CV-6) was a 19,800-ton Yorktown class aircraft carrier and the seventh U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name. She was launched in 1936 and was one of only three American carriers commissioned prior to World War II to survive the war (the others being the USS Saratoga and USS Ranger). She participated in almost every major action of the war against Japan in the Pacific Theater, more than any other U.S. ship. She was present at the Battle of Midway, various air-sea engagements during the Guadalcanal campaign, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, strikes in the South China Sea, the Iwo Jima invasion, and the Okinawa campaign amongst others. She had to the return to the U.S. after a particularly damaging hit by a Kamikaze on May 14, 1945 and repairs were not completed until September, after the Japanese surrender.
Inactive after early 1946, the ship was decommissioned in February 1947. The Enterprise earned 20 battle stars, the most for any U.S. warship in World War II, was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy Unit Commendation, and was the only ship outside of the Royal Navy to receive a British Admiralty Pennant in. While laid up, she was redesignated CVA-6 in October 1952 and CVS-6 in August 1953. After efforts to make her into a memorial failed, the USS Enterprise was sold for scrapping in July 1958.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War, 1939-1945
USS Enterprise (CV-6)
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Area

 

Box 01

 

Folder 01 – March 1941

Physical Description: 1. “Olive Bomber” film accommodations, signed by F.B. Stump, Commander U.S. Navy 2. The “North Star,” p. 5-10, March 10, 1941. (p. 9 has cartoon by Joe O’Connell.)
 

Folder 02 – December 1941

Physical Description: 3. (2 copies) Plan of the Day, for December 9, 1941. Humor note signed, “Jitters.” 4. War Information Bulletins, dated December 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21 (2 copies), 25 (2 copies), 27, 28, 29. All signed by T.P. Jeter, Commander, U.S. Navy, Executive Officer.
 

Folder 03 – January 1942

Physical Description: 1. Plan of the Day for January 31, including War Information Bulletin, Prospective Operations of the U.S.S. Enterprise, and Ship’s Order No. 3-42.
 

Folder 04 – February 1942

Physical Description: 1. War Information Bulletin February 1. 2. War Information Bulletin February 2.
 

Folder 05 – April 1942

Physical Description: 1. War Information Bulletins, dated April 12, 13, 18, 20. 2. P-R-E-S-S N-E-W-S, April 21, 1942. 3. Plan of the Day and War Information Bulletin, April 21. 4. War information Bulletin, April 30.
 

Folder 06 – May 1942

Physical Description: 1. War Information Bulletins, May 4, 5. 2. Plan of the Day, May 7. 3. Plan of the Day, May 9, and War Information Bulletin, May 7. 4. War Information Bulletin, May 10. 5. Plan of the Day May 12, War Information Bulletin, May 11. 6. Plan of the Day May 18, War information Bulletin, May 17.
 

Folder 07 – June 1942

Physical Description: 1. “The Battle of Midway,” Tokyo Version. 2. Operations page, June 4-6, W.F. Boone, Commander, U.S. Navy, Executive Officer. 3. Press News, June 6. 4. War Information Bulletin, June 6. 5. War Information Bulletin, No. 124 (June 6 or 7). 6. Press News, June 7, 8, 10. 7. War Information Bulletin, June 12. 8. Press News, June 12.
 

Folder 08 – July 1942

Physical Description: 1. War Information Bulletin, July 24.
 

Folder 09 – August 1942

Physical Description: 1. Recapitulation of losses (US and “enemy losses”) August 7th and 8th. 2. Press News, August 9 (2 copies). 3. Plan of the Day, Sunday, August 9, and War Bulletin, August 8. 4. Plan of the Day, August 10, and War Bulletin, August 9. 5. Press News, August 10, 11, 12 (2 copies) 6. Plan of the Day, August 13. 7. War Bulletin, August 14. 8. Press News, August 14 2 copies, 15. 9. Plan of the Day, August 16. 10. Press News, August 17. 11. Cartoon and Press News, August 18. 12. Cartoon and Press News, August 19. 13. War Bulletin, August 22. 14. Plan of the Day, August 24. 15. War Bulletin, August 25 (2 copies). 16. Plan of the Day, August 24. 17. War Bulletin, August 25 (2 copies). 18. Plan of the Day, August 26. 19. Press News, August 27. 20. Plan of the day, August 28, and War Bulletin, August 27. 21. General Information – Tongatabu, August 31.
 

Folder 10 – October 1942

Physical Description: 1. “Battle for Santa Cruz Islands.” 2. Plan of the Day, October 28. 3. Press News, October 29. 4. Plan of the Day, October 29. 5. Press News, October 30.
 

Folder 11 – November 1942

Physical Description: 1. Press News November 2. 2. “With a Task Force in the South Pacific,” November 7 [delayed], by Eugene Burns, Associated Press Fleet Correspondent. 3. Plan of the Day, November 13. 4. Plan of the Day, November 15, and Operational Information, November 14.
 

Folder 12 – March 1943

Physical Description: 1. Illustrated program for “Happy Hour.”
 

Folder 13 – April 1943

Physical Description: 1. Press of the Day, April 10. 2. Concert Program, April 1921 (4 copies).
 

Folder 14 – May 1943

Physical Description: 1. Ship Church Service, May 2 (2 copies).
 

Folder 15 – July 1943

Physical Description: 1. Pride of the Fleet.
 

Folder 16 – Cartoons

Physical Description: 1. 23 illustrations and cartoons.