John McCain Escapes Death

John McCain was sitting in the cockpit of an A-4 jet fighter on the flight deck of the USS Forrestal when he says he heard a "whoosh" and then an explosion. Then, two A-4 aircraft in front of him erupted in flames and were engulfed by flaming JP-5 jet fuel. Lieutenant Commander McCain, a U.S. Navy pilot did not know his aircraft had been hit by a ZUNI rocket, accidentally fired from an F-4 "Phantom" across the flight deck.

The rocket punctured the belly fuel-tank of McCain's aircraft and the explosion caused a 1,000 pound bomb to fall into the spreading fire. In less than two minutes, the bomb exploded killing flight-deck personnel and firefighters. Plus, it ignited other bombs on other aircraft.

The fires engulfed the flight deck and spread to other sections of the ship. It took more than thirteen hours during July 29, 1967 to contain the fires. The losses were devestating including 134 sailors and aviators killed plus 64 men injured. It was the greatest loss of men on an aircraft carrier since the USS Franklin was bombed by Japanese aircraft during World War II.

The Forrestal was removed from duty and immediately departed for Cubi Point in the Philippines. After temporary repairs it continued to Norfolk, Virginia for major repairs. It never returned to Viet-Nam.

However, Lt. Commander McCain subsequently was shot down over North Viet-Nam and held as a prisoner in Hanoi.

The U.S. Navy later blamed Captain John K. Breling, commander of the Forrestal for the alleged faulty firing switch on the F-4 "Phantom" aircraft. But, flight deck and ammunition personnel had long complained about weapons and ordnance problems. However, out of loyalty to the Navy, Breling accepted reassignment and a formal reprimand in his service file, rather than demanding a court-martial which would have produced a public record of the weapons and ordnance problems.

Obviously, the solution to the problem was simply to ignore it. And, that is way it was on the USS Forrestal during July 29, 1967. Do you know someone who was stationed on the Forrestal during the tragedy?