USS Forrestal July 29, 1967; North Vietnam

Revski Youtube video's ^ | 5/27/2017 | Revski

[Revski]

This memorial of the USS Forrestal,CVA 59; on July 29-Th, North Vietnam; has actual pictures and the voice of Captain John K. Beling at the time of the fires. The Hymn played is, Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior, with mandolin and verse sung was covered by me, who served at that time.

[BykrBayb]

That was a beautiful tribute, but now my screen’s all blurry.

[silverleaf]

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[Governor Dinwiddie]

Which according to reports, John “Captain Queeg” McCain was among one of the causal factors. Just another of the many disasters Old Yellow Stain a.k.a “the canary” had a hand in.

[Flag_This]

McCain may be a North Vietnamese ace, but he had nothing to do with the Forrestal fire, other than being parked next to an aircraft that was struck my an accidental launch of a Zuni rocket.

[Revski]

I believe that, the North Vietnamese called him, Song Bird. :( thanks for your comment.

[Revski]

Thanks for commenting. It truly was a sad time.

[Revski]

Thank you.

[ez]

A close friend of mine lost her brother on the Forrestal... John Lilla. The American Legion post in Ovid NY bears his name. I like to mention his name on the Forrestal threads so he is remembered for his service.

[zaxtres]

What is your evidence of this?

[Flag_This]

"What is your evidence of this?"

What is your evidence for believing otherwise? McCain's plane was beside the aircraft that was hit by the Zuni rocket. The rocket came off of an F-4 Phantom across the flight deck from McCain.

[zaxtres]

I asked for evidence. You haven’t shown any evidence McCain’s plane was beside the aircraft that was hit by the rocket. Show me evidence as to where McCain’s plane was at the time of the rocket firing. Go through the forestal video again.

[Flag_This]

"A human interest angle is that [Lieutenant Commander, and future] Sen. John McCain was manning one of the A-4's near the one that was hit by the Zuni. I have seen some stories that it was McCain's A-4 that was hit. I think that is incorrect. I believe it was the A-4 of LCDR Fred D. White (VA-46) which was struck by the Zuni. That's what was said in the aftermath of the fire. White did not survive." - TOM WIMBERLY, CAPTAIN, USN (Ret)(XO of VF-74 "Be-Devilers" on 29 July 1967) Link

"The rocket flew across the flight deck, striking a wing-mounted external fuel tank on an A-4E Skyhawk awaiting launch,[1] aircraft No. 405 from VA-46, piloted by Lieutenant Commander Fred D. White.[2][13] The Zuni rocket's warhead safety mechanism prevented it from detonating, but the impact tore the tank off the wing and ignited the resulting spray of escaping JP-5 fuel, causing an instantaneous conflagration. Within seconds, other external fuel tanks on White's aircraft overheated and ruptured, releasing more jet fuel to feed the flames, which began spreading along the flight deck." Link

[Revski]

I agree with mentioning his name because the men that died were young and never could return to there homes and family and to me this is a Honorable death they payed for there country. Thanks a million for your comment. Blessings always in Jesus our Lord.

[cva66snipe]

I dislike McCain politically and don't care much for his as a person. Now that being said...It don't matter how many times facts, reason, and common sense, show clearly what happened onboard that ship the Tin Foil Conspiracy Theories Follies continue.

The Forestall fire changed forever Damage Control and Fire Fighting procedures onboard all ships especially carriers. From that fire came the development of the automatic HICAP System which at the flip of a switch at key locations could foam the decks in seconds with AFFF replacing the traditional bucket brigade and manual foaming. No other Navy fire has been vetted more and seen by more persons than Forestall. Every person in the Navy and likely USMC who enlisted after that fire have seen the raw footage of the fire at least once or in cases like myself several times in a 4 years enlistment.

To be a cover up aka conspiracy it would have to involve hundreds of sailors especially on the flight deck. John McCain had no say in where his plane was spotted Placed there by The Air Boss and ABH's} nor his mission for that matter. He had no say as to weapons loaded onboard aircraft. In short he did what he was supposed to do which when his plane was hit get out and get to safety. Aircraft spotting is highly complicated and takes into consideration everything from mission and launch order to actual weight of the aircraft involved and where they are placed.

Fires on carriers are handled mainly by Ships Company enlisted and overseen by ships company Officers. Several reasons for this. One is the cost of training pilots is astronomical. Kinda a harsh reality but true it's the economics of war. The next is ships company knows their ship. IIRC Air Dept ships company operates Crash and Salvage aka Crash and Smash the guys in the asbestos suits. When a ship goes to General Quarters pilots report to Ready Rooms not repair lockers.

It's sad but Forestall was one of at least 5 Naval tragedies in that era three of which were on carriers and the fourth was the loss of Scorpion. Add to that Pueblo and Liberty as well.

GOD rest the souls of all who died in line of duty.

[Flag_This]

"GOD rest the souls of all who died in line of duty."

I am in total agreement with you in this sentiment.

I've heard they say in the Navy that regulations are written in blood and the Forrestal disaster and its aftermath would seem to be a perfect example of that.

[zaxtres]

“A human interest angle is that [Lieutenant Commander, and future] Sen. John McCain was manning one of the A-4’s near the one that was hit by the Zuni. I have seen some stories that it was McCain’s A-4 that was hit. I think that is incorrect. I believe it was the A-4 of LCDR Fred D. White (VA-46) which was struck by the Zuni. That’s what was said in the aftermath of the fire. White did not survive.” - TOM WIMBERLY, CAPTAIN, USN (Ret)(XO of VF-74 “Be-Devilers” on 29 July 1967) Link

“The rocket flew across the flight deck, striking a wing-mounted external fuel tank on an A-4E Skyhawk awaiting launch,[1] aircraft No. 405 from VA-46, piloted by Lieutenant Commander Fred D. White.[2][13] The Zuni rocket’s warhead safety mechanism prevented it from detonating, but the impact tore the tank off the wing and ignited the resulting spray of escaping JP-5 fuel, causing an instantaneous conflagration. Within seconds, other external fuel tanks on White’s aircraft overheated and ruptured, releasing more jet fuel to feed the flames, which began spreading along the flight deck.”
____________________________________________________

First, the contention is with the “manning part” of the story as the cover up to the actual story. The coverup stems from being McCain going against Naval procedure and performing a “wet start” of his jet. “Wet strats” are against Naval procedures for very good reason. They create a large flame out the rear of the plane and a lot of noise. This in turn caused an electrical surge which caused the inadvertent firing of an armed, erroneously armed by the pilot, weapon from the plane which was not McCain’s. Due to the so-called “maverick” trying to show off his actions led to the firing of the rocket which caused an electrical surge to inadvertently fire an armed rocket which resulted in 134 deaths. https://www.theburningplatform.com/2015/07/23/mccain-the-hero-nearly-sunk-an-aircraft-carrier-killed-134-sailors/

The incident was covered up by the Navy due to McCain’s affiliations with his father and granfather being four-star Naval admirals.

However, McCain’s files are sealed forever as he worked feverishly to have these done so. McCain is and always the Singer.

[Flag_This]

"The coverup stems from being McCain going against Naval procedure and performing a “wet start” of his jet."

There is no evidence of this. Two days after the fire (when they were probably still recovering the dead, and certainly before any investigation had concluded), the captain of the Forrestal told the NYT that he thought an extreme wet start may have set off the Zuni rocket, but he also said this was tentative and there were conflicting reports. He never said McCain was responsible for the presumed wet start. McCain's tail was hanging over the flight deck, towards the sea; so how could a wet start on his part set off a Zuni rocket on the other side of the carrier?

The electrical spike occurred when the F-4 Phantom switched from external to internal power. The Zuni rocket had been prematurely wired to the F-4, before it was on the catapult and a safety pin had also been removed. Without these two occurrences there is no Forrestal fire. I can't stand McCain, but I won't blame him for something that he isn't responsible for.

[zaxtres]

Believe what you want about the traitor and murderer.

[Flag_This]

"Believe what you want about the traitor and murderer."

All you've done is post your beliefs. I've posted testimony and diagrams of what happened. Just explain how an alleged "wet start" on one side of the carrier caused a rocket to launch on the other side of the carrier.

McCain is a POS, but he wasn't responsible for the Forrestal accident, no matter how much you wish he were.