The U.S.S. Enterprise had been prepared for war even before
Pearl Harbour. Now she was in at the start of offensive
operations against the Japanese. Now two Task Forces mounted
assaults on the Japanese naval garrisons in the Marshall
Islands. The raids were a huge boost to U.S. morale and played a
part in provoking the Japanese into seeking a major naval
confrontation with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. Planes from the
U.S.S. Enterprise took off before dawn and hit the Japanese
bases after 0700. One of the official Action Reports summarises
one of the attacks: As Scouting Squadron Six commenced its
attack on Roi, Bombing Squadron Six proceeded southward down the
center of the lagoon searching for ships. At 0705 Enterprise Air
Group Commander ordered Bombing Squadron Six to attack enemy
carrier at Kwajalein Island. At 0725 the squadron arrived
Kwajalein Area at 14,000 feet altitude. No carrier was present,
but several large ships among the many that were present could
easily have been mistaken for carriers in t