The Enterprise Air Group was established on 1 July 1938, encompassing all squadrons embarked in. The group was divided into four squadrons, each with eighteen aircraft dedicated to a particular role. The squadrons were designated according to their role, and all were given the unit number six, derived from the hull number of the Enterprise. Bombing Six was equipped with Douglas SBD-2 Dauntlessdive bombers, Fighting Six with Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat fighters, and Torpedo Six with Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers. The fourth squadron, Scouting Six also had the SBD-2 Dauntless, but was more focused on the scout bomber role. This air group was embarked on board the Yorktown-class aircraft carrier at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
WWII
Operations during WWII
On 7 December 1941, eighteen SBD Dauntless scout bombers of squadrons VS-6 and VB-6 arrived over Pearl Harbor during the attack and, although surprised, immediately went into action in defense of the naval base. Scouting Six lost six planes during the attack, and Bombing Six lost one, killing eight airmen and wounding two others. Later that evening, six VF-6 Wildcats attempted to land at Ford Island, but five were accidentally shot down by friendly anti-aircraft fire, killing three pilots and wounding two others. Enterprise’s air group carried out search missions to locate the Japanese carrier task force that attacked Pearl Harbor, but was unable to locate that force. Enterprise aircraft did sink a Japanese submarine on 10 December, but was unable to relieve the U.S. Marine garrison on Wake Island which fell to the Japanese. The Enterprise’s air group launched air strikes against Japanese shipping and military installations on Marshall and Gilbert island groups on 1 February 1942, followed by air raids on Wake Island on 24 February and Marcus Island on 4 March. Enterprise’s air group provided air cover for the Task Force 16 which launched the Doolittle Raid from the carrier on 18 April. This mission prevented Enterprise and Hornet from participating in the Battle of Coral Sea which saw the sunk and the heavily damaged.
The Battle of Midway was the climatic naval battle in 1942, with the Enterprise’s air group sinking the Japanese carriers Kaga and Akagi and contributing to the sinking of Hiryū. Torpedo Six lost ten TBD-1, Bombing Six lost eleven SBD-3, Scouting Six lost nine SBD-3, and Fighting Six lost an F4F-4. During the battle, then-Lieutenant Commander Wade McClusky, leading the Air Group, made a critical tactical decision that led to the sinking of two of Japan's fleet carriers,, and. When McClusky could not find the Japanese carriers where he expected them, and with his air group's fuel running dangerously low, he spotted the Japanese destroyer Arashi steaming north at flank speed. Taking the Arashis heading led him directly to the enemy carriers. He then directed his dive-bombers into an attack which led to the destruction of both Kaga and Akagi.
Guadalcanal
The Enterprise Air Group participated in the initial stages of the Guadalcanal Campaign, flying sorties in support of the invasions of Tulagi and Guadalcanal and performing CAP and antisubmarine patrols for the amphibious shipping in the area. The Air Group fought in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August 1942, which was a strategic and tactical victory that blunted the Japanese counteroffensive during Guadalcanal Campaign. When the Enterprise was damaged during the battle, elements of the Air Group were transferred to Henderson field at Guadalcanal, where they continued to fly in support of the invasion until their supply of aircraft was depleted.
Disestablishment and Legacy
After returning to Pearl Harbor, the Enterprise Air Group was disestablished on 1 September 1942 after which in accordance with the Navy's new air group designation scheme of assigning numbers rather the name of the ship to which the group was assigned, a new air group designated Carrier Air Group SIX was established in March 1943 and assigned to Enterprise. Due to the manner in which the United States Navy determines unit lineage, in which a unit's lineage begins at establishment and ends at disestablishment, the Enterprise Air Group and Carrier Air Group SIX are two separate and distinct units and do not share a lineage.
Awards and Commendations
Presidential Unit Citation
For consistently outstanding performance and distinguished achievement during repeated action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific war area, 7 December 1941, to 15 November 1942. Participating in nearly every major carrier engagement in the first year of the war, the Enterprise and her air group, exclusive of far-flung destruction of hostile shore installations throughout the battle area, did sink or damage on her own a total of 35 Japanese vessels and shoot down a total of 185 Japanese aircraft. Her aggressive spirit and superb combat efficiency are fitting tribute to the officers and men who so gallantly established her as an ahead bulwark in the defense of the American nation.
