SHIPS--UNITED STATES

The eighth Enterprise (CVA(N)-65) - the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was laid down on 4 February 1958 at Newport News, Va., by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.; launched on 24 September 1960; sponsored by Mrs. William B. Franke, wife of the Secretary of the Navy; and commissioned on 25 November 1961, Captain Vincent P. de Poix in command.

This page features images from 1958 - 1960s.

Images of the ship from the 1970's

Images of the ship from the 1980's

Images of the ship from the 1990's

Images of life aboard the ship activities

Click on the image for a larger view

L-File Photo Enterprise 1958 USS Enterprise under construction in 1958 U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 1985KB; 2231 x 2868 pixels
L-File Photo Enterprise 1960 USS Enterprise 1960 U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 1455KB; 2848 x 2255 pixels
L-File Photo Enterprise October 1961 Spacius hangar aboard the USS Enterprise, would house the Navy's most modern aircraft. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 2511KB; 5965 x 4831 pixels
L-File Photo Enterprise 1961 The world's largest ship, the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, is shown underway with a five tugboat escort leaving Newport News, VA. Enterprise completed her initial sea trials successfully the day before. She is the second of four nuclear powered U.S. Navy surface ships authorized by congress. Official Navy Photograph, 01 November 1961 Online Image: 48KB; 825 x 638 pixels
L-File Photo Enterprise 1962 USS Enterprise, with aircraft spotted on flight deck. Official Navy Photograph, 01 October 1962 Online Image: 48KB; 638 x825 pixels
L-File Photo Enterprise 1962 Bow on view of USS Enterprise. Official Navy Photograph, 01 October 1962 Online Image: 48KB; 638 x825 pixels
L-File Photo Enterprise 1963 Date of Photo - 30 May 63 Photographer - Swartz, E. B. PH1 National ensign on flight deck of USS Enterprise with date 1776 and 1963 comprised of 1144 men for the flag and 208 for the number, for a total of 1352 sailors and 55 aircraft are spotted on the flight deck. Official Navy Photograph Online Image: 57KB; 638 x 825 pixels
Photo #: NH 98108 USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) Underway in formation with USS Long Beach (CGN-9), center, and USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25), at top, probably in the Mediterranean Sea in June-July 1964. Members of Enterprise's crew are in a flight deck formation spelling out Albert Einstein's equation for nuclear energy. Planes on her flight deck include 9 A-5, 22 A-4; 10 F-4; 14 F-8 and 2 E-1 types. Those aft are parked in an arrowhead arrangement. The photograph was released for publication on 30 July 1964, upon the commencement of Operation "Sea Orbit", the circumnavigation of the World by Task Force One, made up of the Navy's first three nuclear-powered surface ships. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval History & Heritage Command. Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 595 pixels
L-File Photo Enterprise 1966 First come, first served. Part of the 30,000 visitors who turned out to visit the nuclear powered carrier USS Enterprise line the entrance to Pearl Harbor's "H" pier during the huge ship's first public open house Sunday ( November 27 ). The portion of the crowd in the foreground has nearly 1,123 feet of waiting before they will reach the ship's quarterdeck. At the time this picture was taken, crowds lined the pier five and six abreast. Official Navy Photograph, 01 November 1966 Release Number 314-66 sm Online Image: 47KB; 825 x 638 pixels
L-File Photo Enterprise 1960s USS Enterprise underway during the 1960s U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 1583KB; 2879 x 2202 pixels
L-File Photo Enterprise 1968 USS Enterprise during the 1968 U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 1887KB; 2650 x 3451 pixels
L-File Photo Enterprise 14 January 1969 A catastrophic fire erupted on board Enterprise (CVAN 65) while she trained in Hawaiian waters during the forenoon watch on 14 January 1969. Gas turbine exhaust fumes from a No. 6 MD3A Aircraft Starter Unit - known as a 'Huffer' - apparently heated a Mk 32 Zuni warhead fitted onto a McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II of Fighter Squadron (VF) 96. The warhead evidently exploded and the resulting fire ignited fuel and ordnance that spread an inferno across the aft end of the ship. The crew bravely fought the fire and saved Enterprise, but lost twenty-six of their shipmates killed, two men missing, presumed dead and not recovered, and three hundred seventy-one wounded. The fire also destroyed fifteen aircraft and damaged a further seventeen. Big E completed repairs at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, before continuing on her WestPac deployment. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 2677KB; 4733 x 5930 pixels
L-File Photo Enterprise 1969 USS Enterprise underway, 1969 U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 1153KB; 2856 x 2243 pixels

For higher resolution images see: Obtaining Photographic Reproductions

To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.