On this date in Naval History
2 October:
- 1799: The Washington Navy Yard was estbalished
- 1950: The Bureau of Aeronautics authorized the establishment of Project Arowa (Applied Research: Operational Weather Analysis) at Norfolk for the purpose of developing basic meteorological research data into practical weather forecasting techniques.
- 1952: Aircraft carriers designated CV and CVB were reclassified as Attack Carriers and assigned the designation CVA.(actually occured on 1 Oct – missed this one yesterday along w/Forrestal’s commissioning in 1955)
And finally this note, which bears it’s own special, black mark on naval history:
- 1956: The carrier Enterprise was ordered stricken from the Navy list and put up for sale as scrap. Launched just 20 years before and commissioned 12 May 1938, she was in more action during World War II than any other carrier, was a pioneer in night combat operations, and was recipient of both the Presidential Unit Citation and the Navy Unit Commendation. Decommissioned in the demobilization period following the war, she was laid up with the Reserve Fleet at Bayonne, N.J., and never returned to active service.
If ever there was a ship that should have been preserved, next to Constitution it should have been Enterprise – a warrior ship and crew if ever there was one who served with distinction, elan and which forever will hold a special spot in naval history. Go here and read the list of battles she participated in and remember…
Big E in 1939 enroute to Pearl Harbor
In action at the Santa Cruz islands
Sept 1945
SJS,
Here you go, just to make you feel really old. The Big E being dismantled at Brooklyn Naval Yard while the Indy being initially outfitted in the late 50’s. http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/020642.jpg; You sailed on the Indy didn’t you or at least one of her sister ships?
I’ve got traps on her as well as on FID and Coral Sea (among others)…
The ship I most love to read about in WWII histories.
But if she hadn’t been scrapped, there would not have been another one. The USN should always have an Enterprise on active duty, and she should be among America’s most modern and powerful vessels.
An emotional thought, but that’s my truest thought.