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From The Prairies Of Chicago

by Frank Albert

200 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0196; ISBN 1-55369-383-3; US$19.50, C$22.50, EUR16.00, £11.50

USS Enterprise (CV-6): the most decorated ship of world war II

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpt      catalogue info

About the Book U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6) She was the first carrier to be awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and the Navy Unit Commendation and was the only carrier to receive both. She was the only non-Royal Navy ship in history to be presented the Admiralty pennant by the British government. She was the "Most Decorated Ship" in the U.S. Navy. She was the only carrier in action during the entire period of the war, 1941-1945. She participated in more battles than any other United States ship earning 20 out of a possible 22 battle stars. The next closest ship had 16 and the next carrier 13. The war record of Enterprise far exceeded that of any warship in history and will probably never be equaled. She steamed 275,000 miles and recorded more than 54,000 landings while in pursuit of the enemy, shot down 911 enemy aircraft, sank 75 ships and probably sank or damaged 192 others. In return she was hit 16 times and lost 381 of her own crew. This outstanding record prompted then Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal to state that the Enterprise was "The one ship that most nearly symbolizes the history of the Navy in this war."

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About the Author Frank Albert - I was one of 13 children born and raised in the heart of Chicago during the great depression. It was an honor and a privilege to have served aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) during WWII. She was the ship with the greatest war record in the history of the World and will never be equaled. When the Navy sold her for scrap, America lost forever a great historical monument.

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Sample Excerpt

... After three weeks of repair we left Ulithi Harbor and headed back to join the fleet covering the invasion of Okinawa. The crew aboard the Enterprise was becoming tense. We had been out at sea for over a year and now we were constantly under attack by the dreaded Kamikaze planes. Our luck was bound to run out. After all, with the many, new, front-line carriers with their steel armor plate flight decks, they should be able to relieve us. The Big E was old and battle worn. The old pre-war carrier with its wooden flight deck had been called to action once more. We were told by high command that Enterprise was still needed, not only because of our great fighting record, but also because the fleet was overjoyed whenever Enterprise came over the horizon to join them in battle.

Okinawa, only 360 miles from Japan, had to be taken. It was the largest island of the Ryukyu chain. One hundred eighty thousand American fighting men were invading the island with over 1400 ships at least 350,000 airmen, sailors and support troops. Our forces were stationed all across the Pacific from the Hawaiian Islands, Leyte, Marianas and Guadacanal. Enterprise was engaged in and supporting every one of these islands earlier in the war. Okinawa had to be taken in order to launch the attack on the Japanese homeland. It would be the last stepping stone to launch the invasion of Japan.

We were being constantly attacked by Kamikazes, day after day, off Okinawa. These deadly suicide pilots caused havoc on our fleet. The battle ships Nevada and Tennessee were hit along with the destroyer O'Brien and the cruiser Indianapolis. We also lost 30 ships along with over 300 ships damaged by the Kamikazes. Many of our carriers were also damaged because we were the primary targets.

Enterprise, now operating as a night carrier off Okinawa flew planes both day and night. Were were at battle stations around the clock. Midnight meals were once more served. We were too long out to sea to take general quarters for granted. We could actually see crews on other ships relaxing ans sun bathing. Not us. We always expected the worst. During a Kamikaze attack on May 11, I observed two, diving, suicide planes heading straight for the Bunker Hill from my vantage point in the crow's nest. The carrier was on our starboard side when it took both hits. Her flight deck was loaded with planes, gassed and armed. From my vantage point I could see huge flames bursting in the air and heavy black smoke rising into the sky. The Bunker Hill lost over 390 men and had over 250 wounded.

Bunker Hill was the flag ship when she was hit, with Admiral mitichner and his staff aboard. Because the Bunker HIll could no longer operate, the Admiral and his staff was transferred to the Enterprise. His staff must have been elated to become a part of the mighty Big E....

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Catalogue Information

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