McCain was in the pilot seat of a jet when a air to air rocket hit it from the fire. The incident started when loading jets for mission, something we t wrong.
It was NOT an “air to air rocket”, it was a Zuni 5 Inch Unguided Rocket(50 lb explosive warhead). It went where you pointed it.
McCain “Wet Started” his F-4 to haze the newbie behind him. The flare caused a Zuni rocket on that Phantom jet to launch. Hitting McCain’s F-4. Hot dogging started the chain reaction.In the words of Iceman from Top Gun. McCain was dangerous. McCain was the only pilot immediately transferred off the Forrestal. “Wet Starting” was banned after this incident.