1967 USS Forrestal fire

The Forrestal disaster occurred during the Vietnam War on July 29, 1967, aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. It cost 134 people lives, 161 were injured. A misfired rocket had set a plane on fire. This triggered an explosion, thereby standing ready ammunition and other aircraft caught fire. The great fire also continued below the flight deck away and could be deleted after several hours.

Course of the disaster

The USS Forrestal had taken in the Gulf of Tonkin position. From aboard the aircraft carrier planes were launched against targets in North Vietnam for four days. On the fifth day, while preparing for a second wave start, the accident occurred.

While extinguishing the fire stop in the lower decks, the Forrestal meets with the hospital ship USS Repose (AH- 16).

The commanding commander of Einsatzgruppe orders the captain of the Forrestal, course direction Subic Bay, Philippine Islands record. The fires in the lower deck 2 and 3 are difficult to combat due to heavy smoke and heat and are only half an hour after midnight, on the morning of July 30, completely erased.

Losses and damages

In evaluation of the disaster, the development of a remote-controlled fighting system for the flight deck is placed. Other measures aim to safeguard attached to the aircraft armament. Fire fighting there for the crews on the ships of the U.S. Navy from now on improved equipment and intensive training.