Carrier Forrestal 1967 Fire Incident
In the 1960s, in order to make up for a shortage of troops and firepower in the Vietnam theater, the Americans decided to send some aircraft carriers formerly belonging to the Atlantic Fleet on temporary duty in the Western Pacific.On June 6, 1967. "The aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA 59) departed Norfolk, Virginia, for her first combat cruise. "USS Forrestal was a multi-purpose aircraft carrier and one of the first two 60,000-class carriers in the United States (the other Forrestal was the USS Saratoga, designated CVA60). Its special feature was a 15.5-degree angled deck on the port side of the protruding area.
On July 25, 1967, the USS Forrestal arrived in the intended area and quickly bombed bridges, warehouses, SAM missile sites and airfields in North Vietnam. Over the next four days, her carrier planes flew 150 sorties without loss.
July 29, 1967, the unexpected happened, at 11 a.m. just as the aircraft carrier Forrestal was preparing to eject its aircraft for the second time, a "damping" air-to-ground rocket accidentally fell from under the wing of an F-4 aircraft, which was parked at the end of the transom flight deck. The rocket accidentally ignited under the wing of an F-4 airplane parked at the end of the transom flight deck and struck the fuel tank of an A-4 attack plane. The fuel tank exploded and a fire quickly spread across the flight deck and caused an explosion in the armory. The fire was carried by the wind to the deck and engulfed the entire accommodation below the transom deck, instantly killing 50 men, some of whom were even swept out to sea by the blast. Ships cruising near the Forrestal immediately rushed to support her, and the carrier Oriskany rushed forward to extinguish the fire and provide medical assistance, while other escorts quickly moved in on the burning ship. "Other escorting ships quickly sprayed the burning carrier Forrestal with water. After nearly an hour of intense fighting, the Americans were able to bring the fire on the flight deck under control, but it took 12 hours to bring the fire below decks under control because of the equipment used to fight it.
The accident caused fatal damage to the carrier Forrestal. The deck was covered with airplane wreckage and unexploded bombs littered the deck. A chief petty officer noticed that one of the bombs was surrounded by flames and rushed forward with a small fire extinguisher. Unbeknownst to him, the bomb suddenly exploded in front of him, killing him and several firefighters nearby. Fortunately, with the efforts of the entire crew, the bombs were finally all pulled away and thrown aside from the airplane. Only then did the sound of the explosions ease off a bit. As a result of this disaster, 134 people died, 21 planes were destroyed, and 43 others were seriously damaged. Rebuilding the carrier was estimated to cost $72 million dollars. In desperation, the USS Forrestal ended its aggression in Vietnam and made its way home to the Philippines.
The accidental fire infuriated the U.S. Navy's top brass, who never expected the USS Forrestal, which they had worked so hard to build, to have such a short life.
However, it is interesting to note that 535 days later, on January 14, 1969, the "damping" rockets once again played a joke on the Americans. The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Enterprise was returning to Vietnam before a maneuver to Hawaii, the ship's F-4 aircraft accidentally ignited the "damping" rockets on board during startup, and in a few minutes the flames spread to most of the ship. 3 hours later, the fire was extinguished. The fire was extinguished three hours later. The accident resulted in the deaths of eight people on board and serious damage to 15 planes, and brought a loss of 560 million dollars,
On the vast ocean, a ship like an orphan traveling helplessly, surrounded by death-like silence. Suddenly from the deck came a faintly recognizable voice: Fire! Fire! The deck is on fire!
The U.S.S. Forrestal was struck by its own weapons, and suddenly the flames and smoke rolled into the air, and disaster struck without any preparation. The sound broke the dreadful silence and aroused the nerves of all on board. When the people from the silence of the cry into the reality of the scene more terrible things await them - the ship suddenly caught fire on board the ship either to extinguish the fire, or sink into the sea.
Disasters often leave a lingering shadow in people's memories, but the courage shown in the battle over the fire on the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal was a blessing in disguise. Soldiers protected the ship with their lives and bravery.
Survivors and families of the USS Forrestal held a memorial service to honor the 134 crew members who died in the fire. The decommissioned ship is now stored at the Pennsylvania Naval Shipyard,
Supercarrier Forrestal sold for pennies on the dollar
Oct. 23, 2013 (Stars and Stripes) - The U.S. Navy said in a statement that All-Star Metals Inc. bought the former USS Forrestal Oct. 22, 2013, and that it is now the largest aircraft carrier in the world. "USS Forrestal" for recycling as scrap. The Forrestal is expected to be towed from the Navy Yard in Philadelphia to All Star Metals' facility in Texas by the end of 2013.