Forrestal (CVA 59) - Naval Cruise Book

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A RECORD LANDTNG A It began as a wild plan in Patuxent River, Maryland at the Naval Air Test center. A year later, it became a reality. The assignment: determine the feasibility operation a C-130 'Hercules' aircraft aboard a FORRESTAL-class aircraft carrierf, USS FORRESTAL HCV-592 became the testing platform for the largest aircraft ever to land on the flight deck of a carrier. The C-130 that was chosen for the exercise was on loan from the U.S. Marine Corps. To land on board the ship, modifications had to be made with the plane to adapt it to the carrier environment. Refueling pods on the wings were removed, an improved braking systems was installed, and nose landing gear needed adjustments to handle the landing. Onboard FORRESTAL, the ship flight deck configurations were altered. Arresting cables were removed from the after part of the shipg the C-130 would not rely on a tailhook to land. Additionally, a white centerline was painted from the ramp to the bow to assist the pilots in landing the mammoth plane. The landing signal officer blast shield was also lowered to ensure wing tip clearance. Three separate trials were began on October 30, 1964just 22 days after the Navy received the C-130 from the Marines. Takeoffs and landings were tested with airplane gross weights ranging from 88,000 to 121,000 pounds. Although FORRESTAL C-130 tests were successful, a C-130 never landed aboard another carrier again preserving FORRESTAUS claim as having the largest aircraft ever to land on a carrier flight deck.

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KFIRE ON THE FLIGHTDECK!!! In Hangar Bay No. l, a bronze plaque reads: To the Officers and men of USS FORRESTAL, living and dead, who on July 29, 1967, proved through their comradship and heroism that uncommon valor was their common virtue? FORRESTAL had arrived on L'Yankee Stationi' off Vietnam only four days earlier, following a six-week transit from her homeport of Norfolk. That morning, the first strike had launched and the second strike was preparing to launch at ll a.m. At 10:52, a Zuni rocket was accidentally fired and sent shooting into a drop fuel tank on an A-4E Skyhawk. Within seconds, the after portion of the flightdeck was engulfed in flames. High winds across the deck spread the fire quickly to otheraaircraft, most loaded with ordinance. Within two minutes of the initial fire the explosions from 500, 750 and 1000 pound bombs ripped gaping craters in the flight deck. The largest hole was over 20 feet in diameter. Almost 50 night crew personnel sleeping one deck below were killed instantly. Twenty men were blown overboard by the forces of the explo- sions. Only l6 would be recovered. Although the fire on the flight deck was extinguished within two hours, the residual fires below decks would burn on for 17 hours more until they could be contained. Twenty-one aircraft were destroyed and total damage was estimated at S72 million. The final toll: 134 dead, 164 injured. This was the single biggest loss of Navy personnel during the Vietnam War and the worst U.S. Naval disaster since World War Il. l 8

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