Tag Archives: USS Enterprise (CV-6)

April Showers

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Artwork titled “April Showers- USS Enterprise,” by artist Commander Edward T. Grigware, shows the flight deck and island of the Yorktown-class aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV 6) in 1944. In the foreground, a “yellow shirt” directs White 79, an F6F Hellcat fighter, as it taxis forward.

NNAM 1963.074.022

Grigware, born in 1889, was already a well-known American artist and illustrator before he moved from Chicago to Cody Wyoming in the 1930s. He attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and spent time working as a commercial artist. During WWII, Grigware created poster art to support the war effort and painted pieces for the Navy, including the haunting work above. 

What a difference 7 months makes

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This throwback picture from 77 years ago today shows Pearl Harbor on a war footing just over a half-year after its Day That Will Live In Infamy.

It is of the fabled fleet carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), taken 12 July 1942 off Ford Island. She would leave Pearl just three days after this image was taken to join TF 61 to support the amphibious landings in the Solomon Islands.

NH 83990

Note Grumman F4F Wildcat on barge aft alongside, also extensive anti-torpedo nets and well-camouflaged buildings on Ford Island. The slick shown in the water is likely from the battleships sunk on Dec. 7, 1941, which were being salvaged at the time.

For reference, planes from Enterprise had just a month before at the Battle of Midway attacked and disabled the Japanese carriers, Kaga and Akagi, leaving them ablaze, then followed up by doing the same to the carrier Hiryu and cruiser Mikuma. All three of the flattops had been in the attack on Pearl.