Forrestal fire: The Burning Ballet Doc. Film Clip

An interview clip from the upcoming 40th anniversary film documentary, Forrestal: The Burning Ballet.
The 80 minute film was made totally by navy vets that that survived the event or were attached to one of the Aircraft Squadrons in 1967. Features multiple interviews
and a second DVD of full plat camera footage and 3 US Navy Forrestal Docs. Due for release Feb 15th 2008.

www.biographicadocs.com www.ussforrestalfire.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• USS
• Forrestal
• fire
• forrestal
• VA-65
• Jerel
• Jones
• filmaker
• The
• Burning
• Ballet

[mcart63]

I know the footage is confusing because what you are seeing is the steam coming from the catapult, making it look like the zuni was launched from the plane on the cat. The sound effect makes it look that way. The zuni is actually aft on the opposite side of mcCains A4 out of view.

[tailspin37]

I served on the USS Forrestal from 1955-1959. I was a

Radioman 2. When I heard about this, my heart broke. I knew the layout down

below the flight deck, and all I could think of was the men sleeping

down below who worked all night.

I left this ship on Oct. 9, 1959 at the end of my active duty.

All I can say is that the crew of that ship are real American Heros.

To all who survived, my deepest sympathy, to all who perished, RIP.

[LongIslandEddie]

At the completion of each Med cruise, the Forrestal would offer a "yearbook", a hardcover journal of the 9 month voyage, complete with as much information, photos, events calender, special moments, etc.

I loved my tour aboard her and I got to see so much more of this world than any other naitive New Yorker could ever hope to see. The Navy made a man of me and I'd recommend it to any potential recruit.

[j71etivac]

hi sir!my uncle was a crew on this ship,hes name is pete valerio, i used to look at the book he got about forrestal and a model of the ship(too bad we lost it),there were photos about the incident,and other stuff the crew is doing,there are even crews who was in costume,and I can clearly remeember the hole in the ship,after the incident,my uncle told us his room is right below on that spot,anyway have a good day,do u sill have the book?

[sidishus]

Huh? The A-4s on the port side of the ship are pointed forward. The ZUNI rocket came from an F-4B which was parked to the left of the camera frame and hit McCain's aircraft from left to right as viewed from the camera perspective.

[motonegros]

Why was the aircraft facing fwd, but the Zuni shot aft?

[LongIslandEddie]

Hi Mac!

Good to find another Forrestaller!

I served aboard CVA-59 between May of 1962 and August of '65, as an AMS-2. I worked all the way forward on the hangar bay level across the corridor from avionics. I was lucky too, our berthing compt. was at the aft end almost right under the arresting gear and if I'd have been aboard in '67, who knows, I might've been among the casualties.

I made 2 med cruises and we lost a few men each time and my luck held out, I made it back to civilian life! Thnx