The FReeper Foxhole Remembers the USS Forrestal Fire (7/29/1967) - Oct 14th, 2003

Naval Aviation News ^ | October 1967 | Senior Chief Journalist John D. Burlage

[snippy_about_it]

Good afternoon now w/w. Tough day getting in here!

[snippy_about_it]

I agree with you, snippy, about the American fighting man (and woman).

We've got the best there is, always have imo.

[w_over_w]

Tough day getting in here!

Sure, that's what they all say . . . HEY! they all ARE saying that! ;^)

[snippy_about_it]

. HEY! they all ARE saying that! ;^)

It's a conspiracy, didn't "they" tell you? LOL.

[snippy_about_it]

The Captain's Prayer

Our heavenly Father, we see this day as one minute and yet a lifetime for all of us. We thank you for the courage of those who gave their lives in saving their shipmates today.

We humbly ask You to grant them peace and to their loved ones the consolation and strength to bear their loss. Help us to renew the faith we have in You. We thank You for our own lives.

May we remember You as You have remembered us today. From our hearts we turn to You now, knowing that You have been at our side in every minute of this day.

Heavenly Father, help us to rebuild and to reman our ship, so that our brothers who died today may not have made a fruitless sacrifice.

Offered by Captain John K. Beling, Commanding Officer, USS Forrestal, July 29, 1967

[w_over_w]

It's a conspiracy, didn't "they" tell you?

Nobody told me anything . . . and while we're at it, why am I missing one sock from each colored pair? 8^)

[Prof Engineer]

The double and triple posts have been fun to sort thru in "my comments" LOL

[Darksheare]

The server demons got restless.
John got them back into their jars, safely tucked in the basement.

[Colt .45]

A salute to my fallen AO brothers, and the rest of the other flightdeck and ships crew who died during that fire. We learned a lot from your travail, and I can relate after surviving a flightdeck fire aboard the USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) on November 30, 1988. For those who think the Navy has it the easiest of all the services ... think again.

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you Colt .45 for posting at the Foxhole today. Thank you for your service to our country.

[radu]

Good afternoon to all at the Foxhole! Hope you're having a wonderful day!

Hellooooo troops and veterans! THANK YOU for your service and for keeping Freedom alive and well.

Just snuck in for a minute while waiting for my hubby to get back with the new pump for our well. The old one poo-ed out on us yesterday and it took a while to figure out exactly what the problem was. Never a dull moment around here, it seems. LOL!
With FR moving slowly today, my time's used up.....I heard the truck pull in a minute ago. pfffffft! I'll be back later once our "mission" is accomplished and I've washed up a few things. Catch ya in a bit. *HUGS*

[snippy_about_it]

C'mon back. I know this story will tug at your heart as we are so close to some special sailors of our own. :)

[Soaring Feather]

Catch ya later Doo!!

Say hey to Petey, please!!

[radu]

I'll be back this evening.....with my Kleenex box close at hand.
Several of us were fortunate to meet some special sailors and Marines, weren't we? They'll always remain dear to my heart.

Gotta go....hubby's in here pacing. *sigh* Catch ya later.

[SAMWolf]

I hope he keeps them there.

[SAMWolf]

Other Carrier Accidents

USS ORISKANY

Two sailors aboard the USS Oriskany were restoring aircraft flares off-loaded from aircraft returning from a mission over Vietnam on October 26, 1966. One of the sailors dropped a flare. The arming mechanism had not been reset to "safe" and somehow the safety lanyard was pulled. Another sailor picked up the actuated flare, threw it into a locker, and closed the door. There were 2.75 inch rocket warheads in the locker!

The flare ignited in the locker, and the heat caused a warhead to detonate, spreading the fire. Subsequent warhead detonations soon followed. Finally, a liquid oxygen tank exploded, killing 44 sailors and injuring 156. Two helicopters and four aircraft were severely damaged.

USS ENTERPRISE

A third aircraft carrier accident occurred aboard the USS Enterprise (Not NCC-1701) on January 15, 1969. The exhaust from an aircraft engine starter unit was directed onto a pod containing four ZUNI rockets. Heat caused a warhead to detonate. Fragments ruptured the aircraft's fuel tank and ignited a fire.

Three more ZUNI warheads detonated less than a minute after the first explosion. The shaped charges blew holes through the flight deck allowing burning fuel to invade the lower decks.

In all, there were 18 munition's explosions and 8 holes were blown through the flight deck. Losses totaled 15 aircraft, 28 dead, and another 344 injured.

USS NIMITZ

Another accident involving munitions explosions occurred on May 26, 1981 aboard the USS Nimitz. An EA-6B aircraft attempting to land at night struck a helicopter, then hit another aircraft and tow tractor before coming to rest. A fuel fire erupted. Improved flight deck fire fighting systems quickly contained the fire, and once the fire was believed to be out, the order was given to start the clean-up.

As sailors approached the scene, a SPARROW missile warhead that was buried in the debris detonated! The explosion restarted the fire and three more warheads detonated before the fire could be extinguished. Fourteen sailors were killed and 39 injured. Three planes were destroyed and nine were damaged.

[SAMWolf]

Afternoon Radu. It's all those "little things" that make life interesting. LOL!

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for posting the Captain's Prayer

[SAMWolf]

Our Military Today
Back To School

U.S. Army Maj. Gregg Softy, operations officer, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, helps a young Iraqi schoolgirl tie her shoes on the first day of classes at Dufaf Al-Neil primary school in Baghdad, Iraq, Oct. 1, 2003. Unit members handed out school supplies, hygiene products and toys that had been donated by U.S. organizations. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shauna McRoberts


Mahmood Al-Jabouri, a former Iraqi Army general who has worked with 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, in repairing more than 20 schools in Baghdad, gives a speech for the first day of classes at Dufaf Al-Neil primary school. 1st Cavalry Regiment Commander Lt. Col. Charles Williams (left) and 1st Armored Division Assistant Commander for Support Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling look on. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shauna McRoberts


Iraqi children at Dufaf Al-Neil primary school hold up the markers they received, along with other gifts, from soldiers from 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shauna McRoberts


A soldier from 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, lends a hand to help an Iraqi schoolgirl cut the ribbon at a ceremony celebrating the first day of school. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shauna McRoberts

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for the pictures SAM.