http://www.factcheck.org/2008/09/mccains-plane-crashes/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_USS_Forrestal_fire
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rocket-causes-deadly-fire-on-aircraft-carrier
A close friend who was on the Forrestal (and had burn scars from the fire) told me a different story, much more in keeping with the official history - not in the links I posted but consistent with them. He refers to McCain with a broad range of expletives, so he’s not covering for the Senator, but he said a Zuni rocket fired from another plane hit near McCain’s plane.
But did he see the rocket make its flight?
The three references are not inspiring or believable... factcheck.org, wikipedia, & History Channel.