Christening Ceremony, September 24, 1960.

From "Shipyard Bulletin," Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, March 1961, Volume XX, Number 11.

Enterprise (CVAN-65) under construction at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., late 1960 (background).

Submarine in the foreground is USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601), leaving Newport News for one of her sea trials.

USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), February 10, 1962. Official USN photo #1059659, released from US Naval Photographic Center, US Naval Station, Anacostia, Washington 25, DC.

USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) underway, February 10, 1962. Official USN photo #1059660, released from US Naval Photographic Center, US Naval Station, Anacostia, Washington 25, DC.

USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) underway with Carrier Air Group 6 (CVG-6.) Official USN photo #1062601, received on October 22, 1962. Released from US Naval Photographic Center, US Naval Station, Anacostia, Washington 25, DC.

Task Group of Nuclear-Powered Surface Ships operating in formation in the Mediterranean Sea, 18 June 1964. The ships are the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVAN-65), at left; the guided-missile cruiser Long Beach (CGN-9), in center; and the guided-missile frigate Bainbridge (DLGN-25), at right. Enterprise crewmembers are spelling out Albert Einstein's equation for nuclear energy on the flight deck.

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. (See also NS026522).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 98108).

USS Independence (CVA-62) (foreground) and USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) rendezvous in the Indian Ocean on 21 November 1965. Independence was en route to Norfolk, Virginia, after six months "on the line" off Vietnam. Enterprise was headed for combat duty in Vietnamese waters. Photographed by PH3 E.R. Pomponio.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. (# NH 97717).

Fire aboard Enterprise, 14 January 1969, in Hawaiian waters — The massive fire started when a Zuni rocket accidentally exploded under the wing of an F-4. Some of the subsequent 18 explosions were 500-lb. bombs cooking of in multiples, leaving 20-foot holes in the armored flight deck. Losses totalled 28 dead, 343 wounded, and 15 aircraft destroyed.

(Thanks to Stan Osterbauer, who provided this information).

USS Rogers (DD-876) alongside helping fight the fire, and Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22) —upper right corner— making approach to lend assistance. (Official USN Photo).

USS Rogers was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Aerial view of Naval Air Station Alameda, summer of 1974. Left to right: USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), USS Hancock (CVA-19), USS Oriskany (CVA-34), and USS Enterprise (CVAN-65).

Left to right: USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Coral Sea (CV-43), USS Kansas City (AOR-3), USS Wabash (AOR-5), and USS Oriskany (CV-34) at NAS Alameda, CA, July-August 1975.

Official US Navy photo from the Naval Photographic Center, Washington, D.C.

USS Enterprise (CVN-65) underway off Point Loma, California, 21 June 1976. The Big E had been in port, San Diego, for three days, then spent 10 days conducting air operations in the Southern California (SOCAL) area before returning to Alameda, her homeport.

Pearl Harbor, April 1978.

Starting in 2003 this photo circulated the Internet captioned as a Navy new "Terrorist Catch and Release Program."

In fact, it was taken in October 1978, as the Big E was leaving the Philippines to return to the US for what was considered "the most extensive and highly complex overhaul" of the ship's history to date (1979–1982.) The world was not very environmentally-concerned in 1978 and this was seen as an acceptable way to get rid of an old, no longer needed car. It has been hotly argued what the brand and model of the car were — looks like it actually was a 1963 Plymouth Savoy.

Underway off Southern California, 11 December 1978. Enterprise was conducting carrier qualifications and refresher operations for Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11); the ship also completed her mine readiness certification two days later. Photographed by PH3 Ted Kappler.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# KN-27606).

"Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier Enterprise." (From a Russian publication).

This drawing shows Enterprise as she appeared in the 1970s, still with her original, distinctive island structure supporting the SPS-32 and SPS-33 "billboard" radar antennas and topped by her unique conical ESM/ECM array.

Carrier Division Three, First Nuclear Powered Task Group in Combat, Vietnam, 2 December 1965. USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), with Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9); USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25); USS Barry (DD-933); USS Samuel B. Roberts (DD-823).

[On 2 December 1965] "Enterprise became the first nuclear powered warship to engage in combat operations when aircraft of Attack Carrier Air Wing NINE launched 118 sorties against the Viet Cong in South Vietnam. For the rest of the month, the Big E carried out a relentless campaign against the enemy, primarily in North Vietnam, blasting military facilities, transportation networks, military storage areas, and barges and junks carrying supplies to the Communist forces in South Vietnam." Quoted from the ship's Command History for 1965.

USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17).

Left to right: Joel Rosen, President, Motion Models Inc.; Admiral James L. Holloway III, former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO, 1974–1978) and former Commanding Officer of USS Enterprise (CVAN-65, 1965–1967); Pete Papa, Motion Models Master Modeler. Permanent installation of a Motion Models-built model of Enterprise at the U.S. Naval Museum in Washington, D.C.