[rlmorel]

May those men rest in peace, so many cut down in youth.

The Forrestal fire is a vivid illustration of why carrier operations are inherently dangerous.

[Gay State Conservative]

This happened when I was still in High School and,quite frankly,I don't recall having heard about it at the time.However,having now served in the Army I find this story to be incredibly tragic.So many damn fine Sailors lost their lives that day.

[Yo-Yo]

Wasn't a young Ensign McCain on the Forrestal that day?

[ez]

One of my best friends’ brother died on the Forestal. John Lilla. The Manning-Lilla American Legion Post is named in his honor. Just felt like he deserved a mention here tonight.

[rlmorel]

Very nice tribute by you to those men, Revski. Very nice job.

[DJ Taylor]

Would you believe they once landed a C-130 Hercules on the Forrestal? Check it out here:

http://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-c-130-landing-on-an-aircraft-carrier-will-make-you-rethink-physics

[Blood of Tyrants]

In the Navy, we were shown Trial by Fire, a documentary of this event, at our yearly fire fighting training.

[Portcall24]

This past year our American Legion Post here in Virginia lost a patriot who was there. His CPO order him to secure a bulkhead with fellow sailors on the other side. He heard their screams until his passing.

[Wizdum]

The investigation revealed that the rocket (fired) because a freak surge of electricity jumped through the plane's system at the moment the pilot switched from the outside electrical generator to the plane's internal power system.
The voltage surged through five sequential safety devices designed to prevent just such a stray charge from reaching the rockets.

[Oscar in Batangas]

I joined one of the two F-4B squadrons involved in that accident shortly after the fact. We then deployed on two more cruises on Forrestal. My friends who were aboard in July, 1967 were particularly sensitive to ‘fire on the flight deck’ and ‘fire on the hangar deck’ alarms. It was contageous.

I often paused at the memorial plaque between Hangar Bays 1 & 2 and thought about the guys whose names were inscribed thereon.

Thanks for the tribute to them.

[Ace's Dad]

My brother was transferred off the ship just before she left for WESTPAC. His family didn’t know he was off. Terrible time for the family, until I called some contacts and found him on the west coast at a shore station. By then, I was out of active duty but had got a commission in the Reserves. One of the few times I “played officer.”

[montag813]

If only they had done a breathalyzer on Johnny McCain that day, history might have been SO different.

[virgil283]

Thanks for this post.

For those whom want to know the actual story of the fire aboard CVA-59, please read "Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It".

It is much more interesting that what some people are saying here.

[virgil283]

o7jimmy, I like your rendition of “Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior,”. It was with great feeling . Thank You. Virgil.