A day late.. on July 29,1967 USS Forrestal Tonkin Gulf
On that day 134 sailor were killed on board Forrestal in a fire caused by a miss fired zuni rocket and aggravated by ancient ordinance cooking off in the resulting fire and explosions. The bronze plaque with the names of the dead once hung the hanger bay of Forrestal, I did a Med. on her ten years later and reading the names on it was quite sobering for a young sailor, a daily reminder of your mortality.
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Michel Verschuere said on July 31, 2019
A sad story indeed, but also one of heroism in the face of great danger by Farrier. May they never be forgotten.
Tom Cleaver said on July 31, 2019
Yeah, the Forrest fire - a sad day.
david leigh-smith said on July 31, 2019
A lovely tribute, @roofrat. And a nice ‘On This Day’ with a personal connection.
‘Liked’
David Mills said on July 31, 2019
Nicely remembered Robert, particularly with the personal angle.
Russell Jurco said on July 31, 2019
Here is a link to the documentary, Situation Critical: USS Forrestal. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HfnlWKdD2fI
Interviews with the captain, pilots and other crew members are wound into the narrative making this a very compelling account of the disaster.
Robert Royes said on July 31, 2019
A very good documentary, a good read of that day is 'Sailors to the End' beside the event of that day it tells personal stories about how some ended up on Forrestal, joining the Navy in order to avoid the possible draft into the Army and jungles of Vietnam.
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Jeff Bailey said on July 31, 2019
Well done, Robert. May the memory of this great ship, and the lives lost while trying to remedy a terrible situation never be forgotten.
Rob Anderson said on August 1, 2019
I remember seeing "Trial by Fire" in bootcamp. I said to myself "What have I gotten myself into".
Allan J Withers said on August 2, 2019
Nice tribute Robert, I built this many years ago, long gone now, a friend gave me the decals, just need an F4B kit !
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Robert Royes said on August 2, 2019
Thanks Allan, an Airfix classic, I built this kit too, while I was in high school, it had the two navy options for VF-31 or VF-74,by coincidence I ended up serving in both squadrons