McCain and the Forrestal Fire...from 2008

Truth Dig ^ | Oct. 7, 2008 | Mary Hershberger

[blu]

Ever since, McCain has added compelling details at key points in his political career. When his stories are placed beside documented evidence from other sources, significant contradictions often emerge. One such case involves McCain’s experience in the devastating fire and explosions that killed 134 sailors on the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal during the Vietnam War three months before he was shot down over North Vietnam. McCain has made claims about this accident that differ dramatically from parts of the official Navy report and accounts of reliable eyewitnesses.

[DiogenesLamp]

I am active working on getting a copy of the official Navy report on the Forrestal incident, and McCain's role in the 160-death disaster...

Years ago I saw a documentary on the incident in which they claimed the official Navy finding was that a jet powered generator was parked underneath the wing of a plane with the Zuni Missiles and it's hot exhaust is what ignited the rocket motor of the missile that started the disaster.

Apparently they had these mobile generators used to power the planes until their engines were started, and apparently these mobile generators used a jet engine as the power plant, and the exhaust was directed upward.

Rather foolish to park such a device underneath the wing of an aircraft with missiles on it.

[Flag_This]

"I would have to watch the documentary again for the details but well-meaning deck hands made the situation worse."

Here's an example of how they inadvertently made the situation worse:

"On the one hand there were damage control teams spraying fire fighting foam on the deck to contain the flames, which was the correct procedure, while on the other hand, crewmen on the other side of the deck sprayed seawater, washing away the foam and worsening the situation by washing burning fuel through the hole in the flight deck into the decks below." link

[TigersEye]

That led to the majority of crews being involved in at least learning which end of the hose should be pointed in which direction etc.

That was a direct result of the Forrestal's "lessons learned" too. I forget those details as well but I think everyone associated with any of the deck crews is given training in fire suppression since then. I believe flight crews are still exempt from that.

[blu]

Please stop this crap.

You do have the power to scroll on by, you know. And please note: I have not said anything about his days as a POW. That is for fellow POWs to do.

I'm figuring that this is a sensitive subject for you so will not get into it with you about telling me I'm posting "crap". I'm learning, sorry if that bothers you. OH, and I'm learning about truth telling.

[TigersEye]

That’s right, thank you. Been a few years since I watched the documentary on it.

[old curmudgeon]

I read the official navy report

I did not save the link

To
My disappointment it totally obsolved McCain

[Sontagged]

My only comment is the supposed photo of McCain floating after ejection (and that he was hotdogging too low was also an allegation against him)

the photo is OBVIOUSLY a mock up, a true cut and paste job.

There are missing heads that fade into shadow, arms and hands coming out of nowhere, a black paddle handle evidently piercing someone's hand... and that is not McCain's hand being held by someone... who's arm and hand is that?

Why was this fake photo made up? Methinks Jeremiah Denton and those who weren't part of Rove/Steve Schmidt's Swift Boat Veterans for Truth knew the truth about John McCain.

As did Ronald Reagan.

[blu]

Nope, sorry, not gonna pull the thread. I posted it because there is so much misinformation about McCain. I honestly wasn't clear on the Forrestal incident. I lived in Phoenix when McCain was a POW, but I was only 10-11, so I'm now going back to see what all the fuss was about.

This article AND THE LINKS THAT OTHERS HAVE PROVIDED help me round out my knowledge of it. I'm all about learning, dude. If someone is dumb enough to only read one post of the thread and make their “informed” opinion from that, that's their loss.

Sternly signed
A Former Teacher Who Believes in Critical Thinking :)

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https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3682655/posts?page=67#67

See the doctored McCain rescue photo for more FR critical thinking on McCain.

P.S. the Forestal fire footage is edited. And Jeremiah Denton’s take on McCain stands.

[TigersEye]

Whatever

[pfflier]

That missile was an accident nothing more.

It was a violation of arming and safing procedures by the munitions crew. They connected electrical plugs to the pylons of the F-4 before it was ready to launch at the catapult in violation of standing precedures and direct orders. This sent a spurious signal that fired the Zuni.

[hattend]

Thank you.

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"spread to LCDR McCain's A-4E(I don't where all of this "Wet-Start" SH!T came from)"

I can't find the article anymore, but the first reference to a "wet start" came from the Forrestal's C.O., the day after the fire started. The article was in the NYT, and was written by R.W. Apple, Jr. on July 31, 1967. Captain John K. Beling was quoted as saying:"for some unknown reason, a plane parked near the carrier's island, midway up the 1,045 foot flight deck, experienced an 'extreme wet start."

He was completely wrong about the positioning of the aircraft, but at that point, they were probably still recovering bodies and I'm sure no investigation had even begun, but that's the first recorded reference to a wet start that I have been able to find.

[TigersEye]

That was an odd thing for him to say since almost none of the planes were near the island.

Diagram of planes on Forrestal deck.

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I’m sure the article has long been scrubbed by Deep State allies of McCain’s.

Trump should lay a wreath on Jeremiah Denton’s grave the same day of McCain’s funeral. Reagan would’ve.

[TigersEye]

You’re welcome.

[Flag_This]

I thought the same thing...but we are assuming the New York Times quoted him accurately in the first place.

[TigersEye]

I’m a little surprised that a NYTs article from 1967 was ever online. But you saw it once? (not disbelieving you just asking)

He could have been misquoted and the day after the fire he might have been confused about all the facts. A heck of a lot had just happened in a short period of time.

[Flag_This]

"That was an odd thing for him to say since almost none of the planes were near the island."

I found a more complete version of the C.O.'s comment:

"For some unknown reason, a plane parked near the carrier’s island, midway up the 1,045-foot flight deck, experienced an “extreme wet start.” This malfunction, comparable to what happens when a cigarette lighter is ignited after having been filled too full, occurs about once a week on attack carriers, but almost never so severely as it did yesterday.

A thick tongue of flame lashed backward from the parked jet, igniting a missile on one of the dozen or so planes parked near the fantail, their engines turning over in readiness for a strike launching scheduled for 11 A.M.

The rocket “shot across the deck,” Captain Beling said, “and by a quirk of fate smashed into a fuel tank under a plane on the port side.”

[dirtymac]

just speculation but if I was facing discipline for the issues in this article I would probably want to remain in the hand of the communist.

There are some conflicting stories of his behavior as a POW.

The thing is that maybe he was a hero during Vietnam but I judge him on his behavior sin the Senate and therefore he is a slime and evil person.