What was the first aircraft carrier that came into Pearl Harbor after the December 7, 1941 attack?

[Mark Copeland]

Hello Everyone!!

I was wondering if anyone could identify the first U.S. aircraft carrier that rerturned to Pearl Harbor after the December 7th attack. Was it the Lexington, Saratoga or Yorktown?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Mark Copeland

[bearoutwest]

I think it may have been Enterprise, as some of its SBD aircraft were in action over Oahu on 7-December, having flown off early.

http://www.cv6.org/ship/logs/ph/ced19411207.htm

[krieghund]

Pearl Harbor

Enterprise was returning to Oahu on the morning of 7 December 1941: 18 SBD Dauntlesses of Enterprise squadrons Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) and Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6) arrived over Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack and, though surprised, immediately went into action in defense of the naval base. VS-6 lost six planes during the attack, while VB-6 lost one. Several of these planes were shot down by the Japanese; however, at least one plane was lost to heavy antiaircraft (AA) fire, and many more were damaged. At one point a radio report was heard: "Do not attack me, this is Six Baker Three an American plane" and later the same pilot (Ensign Manuel Gonzales of VB-6) was heard ordering his radioman/gunner to prepare for a water landing. Lieutenant C. E. Dickinson and his crewmate William C. Miller of VS-6 shot down one Japanese plane before being forced to bail out after their plane caught fire. Dickinson later made his way to Ford Island to man another plane, and participated in the search for the Japanese fleet. He was recommended for a commendation for "displaying a superb courage, stamina, devotion to duty, unexcelled logic and coolness in action."
Enterprise also launched six F4F Wildcats of Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6) in the wake of the attack; all except two were shot down by shell-shocked AA gunners as they attempted to land on Ford Island that night. The carrier, meanwhile, assembled her remaining aircraft in a fruitless search for the Japanese striking force; the search was to the south and west of Oahu, while the Japanese retired to the northwest. Enterprise put into Pearl Harbor for fuel and supplies on the night of 8 December, and sailed early the next morning to patrol against possible additional attacks in the Hawaiian Islands. Although the group encountered no surface ships, Enterprise aircraft sank Japanese submarine I-70 at 23°45′N 155°35′W on 10 December 1941.

[E Sims]

A tough trick for Yorktown. She was tied up at Norfolk NOB on 7 Dec '41 and did not leave for points west until 15 Dec.