If one were to choose just one aircraft carrier that operated during World War II to capture the story of the period in which carrier aviation came of age, it would by Enterprise (CV 6). Commissioned on 12 May 1938, she was at sea on the day of the Pearl Harbor attack on 7 December 1941, symbolic of where she would spend most of her time over the course of the ensuing years. From Midway to the waters off Guadalcanal to the doorstep of Japan, the legendary "Big E" became the most decorated ship of World War II, receiving the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, and 20 battle stars for her service. Conning the ship during her time at sea were sailors standing at this helm unit that was removed from the navigation bridge of the ship prior to her scrapping in 1958. In addition to the wheel, the unit features a compass showing the ship's bearing and a dial indicating the degree at which the rudder is positioned. One can only imagine the excitement and fear that gripped the young sailors whose hands were on this unit as the carrier maneuvered while under air attack during the war.

Despite efforts on the part of former crewmen to preserve her, the historic carrier Enterprise (CV 6) was sold for scrap in 1958, thirteen years after she fought her final battles during World War II. During her final months in Bayonne, New Jersey, workers removed sections of the ship to serve as mementos of her storied service, including this porthole, the only one to survive the scrapping. Attached to a section of steel from the original ship, the porthole provides a window to the construction of the "Big E."

Another piece of equipment removed from the navigation bridge of the carrier Enterprise (CV 6) is the engine order telegraph. For those whose familiarity with shipboard operations comes from Hollywood war movies, lines like "all ahead one third" relate to the engine order telegraph. Upon hearing an order from the officer of the deck (OOD), the sailor manning this device would throw the handles forward or backward, triggering a bell in the engine room that signaled personnel there to adjust engine power. This was acknowledged by adjusting the settings of an engine order telegraph in the engine room. Because of the "ringing" that accompanied shifts in power, each setting is called a bell.

The flag has always been one of America's most sacred symbols, whether inspiring Francis Scott Key's poetic words during the War of 1812 or being planted atop Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima in 1945. Among the flags in the museum collection is a 48-star example, tattered and stained by stack gas, that flew over the aircraft carrier Enterprise CV 6) during the Battle of Santa Cruz on 26 October 1942. During the engagement, airplanes from the "Big E" scored hits on enemy forces, while the carrier suffered two bomb hits that killed 44 sailors and wounded 75. Despite serious damage, she continued in action and took on board a large number of planes from the carrier Hornet (CV 8) when she had to be abandoned. The landing signal officer (LSO) responsible for successfully bringing aboard the large number of aircraft was Lieutenant Robin E. Lindsey. This flag was presented to him as a token of appreciation for his efforts by Commander John Crommelin, Enterprise's Air Officer.