DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE

COMMAND

805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD

WASHINGTON DC 20374-50

USS Forrestal (CV-59)

James Vincent Forrestal was born on 15 February 1892, in Matteawan (now

Beacon), New York. His father, an Irish immigrant who arrived in the United States in

1857, managed a construction company. After graduating from high school in 1908,

Forrestal worked for three years on local newspapers in New York State and then

entered Dartmouth College as a freshman in 1911. The following year he transferred

to PrincetonUniversity in New Jersey, but left in 1915 a few credits short of his degree,

apparently due to academic and financial difficulties. During his time at both schools he

also participated in boxing, tennis and wrestling. He then worked briefly as a financial

reporter, a clerk for a zinc company and as a tobacco salesman. The next year Forrestal

joined an investment banking house, William A. Read and Company of New York (which

became Dillon, Read and Company in 1923), as a bond salesman. World War I interrupted

his career in finance, however, and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a seaman second

class on 2 June 1917.

The young sailor became enthused by naval aviation and he took flight training with

British instructors from the Royal Flying Corps at Camp Borden–considered to be the

birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force–and at Deseronto, both in Ontario, Canada. He

commissioned as an ensign, Naval Reserve Flying Corps (NRFC)

at Boston, Massachusetts, on 17 November of that year, and he gained his wings of gold

as Naval Aviator No. 154 [HTA–heavier-than-air] on 6 December 1917. Soon

thereafter, Forrestal served in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

Following the Armistice, Forrestal, discharged from the Navy with the rank of lieutenant,

NRFC, on 30 December 1919, returned to banking through 1940. He rose rapidly in the

company, becoming a partner in 1923, vice president in 1926, and president in

1938. Meanwhile, he met and courted Josephine Ogden, a beautiful 26-year-old chorus girl

for the Ziegfeld Follies, and after a tempestuous romance the couple married on 13 October

1926, a union that would produce two sons, Michael V., and Peter. Although “Jim Forrestal

was the man I wanted” the bride afterward confided to an interviewer, and their

matrimonial voyage began happily, their marriage eventually grounded on the husband’s

extra-marital affairs and his wife's descent into alcoholism and mental illness.

In June 1940, Forrestal accepted a post as a special assistant to President Franklin D.

Roosevelt, serving as a liaison for the chief executive in handling the National Defense

Program, part of the country’s belated rearmament efforts as it prepared for World War II.

In August 1940, the President nominated Forrestal to fill the new position of under

secretary of the Navy. Secretary of the Navy William F. Knox [Frank Knox] assigned his

under secretary to handle contracts, taxes and legal affairs, and as a liaison with several

other government agencies. A highly capable administrator and manager, Forrestal built his

office into an efficient organization, and he ran very effectively the Navy’s machinery for

industrial mobilization and procurement, a vast system that ultimately produced the largest

fleet ever to put to sea. The seemingly tireless under secretary made numerous trips across

the country and to the far-flung battlefields, coming under fire by the Japanese more than

once during inspection and morale-building tours on Kwajalein and Iwo Jima. When a heart

attack took Secretary Knox, Forrestal succeeded him on 19 May 1944. He guided the Navy

through the last year of the war and into the two difficult years of demobilization after the

Japanese surrendered.

Forrestal visited Joint Task Force 1 at Bikini Lagoon in the Marshall Islands for

Test Able of Operation Crossroads to witness the detonation of an atomic bomb and its

effects upon over 90 ships, together with weapons and equipment, during late June and

early July 1946. The explosion stunned the secretary, who made a number of references

during interviews over succeeding days to the tremendous power unleashed by the blast and

its effect upon viewers. Complex global problems made more urgent by the Cold War

confronted the nation, however, and planners developed a new national security system to

begin functioning without delay. Forrestal participated prominently in the development of

the National Security Act of 1947, even though he initially opposed unification

services. Nonetheless, under pressure from President Harry S. Truman and others, Forrestal

made use of the 1945 Eberstadt report and negotiations with Secretary of War Robert P.

Patterson to play a primary role in shaping the initial form of the plans. Although the

President preferred Patterson as his first choice for secretary of defense, the latter intended

to return to private life. The President’s subsequent selection of Forrestal, however ironic it

might appear given the Secretary’s resistance to unification, was deserved and logical

considering his long experience in the Defense establishment and dedication to effective

administration.

Tensions between the West and the East Bloc continued to build and intelligence analysts

feared that Yugoslav Marshal Josip Broz [Tito] might attempt to seize the Adriatic city of

Trieste, still occupied by U.S. and British troops to ensure the orderly transition of power

following the Axis collapse. Therefore, when President Harry S Truman selected Forrestal

as the first secretary of defense, he also directed that be sworn-in several days earlier than

originally scheduled, on 17 September 1947.

Forrestal brought to his new office a deep distrust of the Soviets and a determination to

make the new national security structure workable. He recognized the magnitude of the job;

he wrote to a friend shortly after announcement of his appointment confiding his serious

apprehensions about the future of the new organization. He soon discovered that perhaps

the chief obstacle to accomplishing his objectives would be the inherent weakness in the

secretary of defense’s powers as defined in the National Security Act. Another problem

became the existence of virtually autonomous heads for the military departments. These

organizational difficulties, combined with a steady escalation of Cold War tensions,

ensured 18 months of frustration.

By February 1948, the Russians had largely completed their network of satellite nations

across eastern Europe, as communists supported by Moscow seized control

in Czechoslovakia. That June, the Soviets blockaded land routes from the western zones

of Germany to Berlin, forcing the Americans and their allies to initiate an airlift which

supplied Berlin until Moscow relaxed the blockade more than 10 months later. In the

meantime, war broke out in Palestine between the Arabs and Israelis. As these events

occurred, Congress approved the Marshall Plan, providing economic aid for 16 European

nations, and in June 1948 the Senate adopted the Vandenberg Resolution, encouraging the

administration to enter into collective defense arrangements. The Americans and British led

in developing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), formally established in

April 1949. On the other side of the world, the Chinese communists defeated the

Nationalists and drove them from the mainland, leading in 1949 to their emergence as a

growing threat to freedom within Asia.

The national security apparatus played an important role in the development

of U.S. policies and programs to meet these Cold War challenges. Forrestal believed

strongly in the need for close coordination of defense and foreign policy and saw the

National Security Council as a major instrument for accomplishing this

coordination. Although President Truman deemed the council a subordinate advisory body

he met infrequently with it before the Korean War erupted in June 1950. Forrestal thought

it should originate policy proposals and provide firm guidance for strategic planning. He

labored hard, for the most part unsuccessfully, to increase its influence. In addition, during

these years many Western leaders feared that the Soviets would use their enormous armed

forces to conquer Western Europeans, who World War II largely weakened and made

destitute. These men sought desperately for aid to brunt the (perceived) Russian steamroller

and embraced many former Axis leaders due to the latter’s expertise in and dedication to

containing communism.

Forrestal became one of these leaders who established a chain of contacts and infrastructure

with émigré anti-communists, including the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists [OUN,

better known by their code name ofNactigall, or Nightingale], a group of zealously

xenophobic Ukrainians who fought both the Poles and the Russians from World War I

onward. Some of these men gained a notorious reputation for supporting Nazi efforts to

exterminate Jews, Gypsies and other victims of the Holocaust.

While the public did not become aware of these classified operations for sometime, the

highly publicized War Crimes trials drew attention to the atrocities of the Holocaust, and to

those even remotely affiliated with them in whatever manner. Although it is unknown to

what extent his association with these men affected Forrestal’s mental state, on his final day

the Secretary began to copy a Greek poem entitled The Chorus of Ajax by Sophocles; he

stopped after writing the first syllable of the final word of one of the lines: Nightingale.

National security issues plagued the Secretary and the defense budget became a source of

tension between Forrestal and Truman. Due to public pressures to limit defense

expenditures and his predilection for a balanced budget, Truman would not agree to budget

levels proposed by Forrestal or the larger amounts desired by the services. Disagreements

between the services over roles and missions complicated the matter. Because the budget

limits Truman imposed intensified the competition for scarce funds, the services developed

elaborate rationales justifying their views of roles and missions and the funds to support

them.

The Air Force argued that strategic air power as exemplified by long-range bombers

carrying nuclear weapons could be key factor in future wars, and that service wanted funds

to support 70 combat groups as well as exclusive use of atomic weapons. On the other

hand, the Navy wanted to build large flush-deck carriers from which it could launch naval

aircraft carrying atomic weapons. These and other differences among the services surfaced

especially during annual consideration of the budget.

For all the problems, Forrestal could list 15 “solid accomplishments in the process of

unification” in his first report as secretary of defense in December 1948. These included the

formulation of long-range and short-range strategic plans, the development of an integrated

defense budget for FY 1950, the definition of service roles and missions, the coordination

of service procurement efforts, and the establishment of additional overseas unified

commands. Forrestal observed that “the mere passage of the National Security Act did not

mean the accomplishment of its objectives overnight. The most difficult part of the task of

unification is to bring conflicting ideas into harmony…How fast we complete the process

of resolution will depend on the speed with which we achieve the harmony of thought

which is inherent in true unification. I am confident that we shall reach that accord.” The

1949 amendments to the National Security Act stand as testimony to Forrestal’s

determination to improve the Defense structure. The 1949 amendments began the

legislative process of clarifying and expanding the powers of the secretary of defense.

Centralization of authority in the Office of the Secretary of Defense became a constant

objective under Forrestal and many of his successors. Unfortunately, Forrestal no longer

served in the Pentagon when Congress approved these amendments.

Forrestal struggled with recurring bouts of despair, hopelessness and widely erratic

mood swings, that the strain of the war exacerbated and that caused the Secretary to

resign on 28 March 1949. Psychiatrist Dr. William Menninger of the Menninger Clinic

of Topeka, Kansas, diagnosed his patient’s disorder as “reactive depression,” a malady

then commonly identified among veterans returning from the fronts with combat fatigue.

Although Menninger recommended that Forrestal enter his clinic for treatment, Navy

officials dispatched Captain George N. Raines, the chief psychiatrist at the U.S. Naval

Hospital at Bethesda, Md., a suburb of the nation’s capital, who counseled that Forrestal

should enter that facility instead.

While at Bethesda, however, he continued to experience further attacks of depression and

resolved to take his own life by tying off one end of his dressing gown sash to a radiator

and falling from the window of his room on the thirteenth floor to the roof of a third story

passageway below, on 22 May 1949.

The country acknowledged his services to American security and freedom through two world wars by

interning Forrestal with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery three days later. The

Finnish artist Kalervo Kallio sculpted a bronze bust of Forrestal which officials unveiled at

the Mall entrance to the Pentagon on 22 September 1950. Some months after he left office,

the House Armed Services Committee, with which he worked closely, described his

administration as secretary of defense as “able, sensitive, restrained, and far-sighted.”

(CVA-59: displacement (1) 56,000; length 1,036’; beam 129’4”; extreme width 252’; draft

35’9”; speed 33 knots; complement 4,000+ ; armament 8 5” 54 caliber guns;

class Forrestal)

Built by: Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va.

Keel Date: 14 July 1952

Launched: 11 December 1954

Sponsor (Christened): Mrs. Josephine Forrestal, widow of the late Secretary of Defense.

Commissioned: 1 October 1955

Redesignated: to CV-59 on 30 June 1975; to AVT-59 on 4 February 1992.

Decommissioned: 11 September 1993

Strike Date: 11 September 1993

Final Disposition: To be determined (on "donation hold" as a museum and memorial)

Forrestal (CVA-59) was laid down on 14 June 1952 at Newport News Shipbuilding and

Dry Dock Company at Newport News, Virginia; launched on 11 December 1954;

sponsored by Josephine Forrestal, widow of Secretary Forrestal; and commissioned at

Norfolk Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth, Virginia, on 1 October 1955,

Ship Insignia:

Chronology and Significant Events:

1 Oct 1955: Secretary of the Navy Charles S. Thomas, RADM Ingolf N. Kiland,

Commandant of the Fifth Naval District, and W.E. Blewett, Jr., President of the Newport

News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, attended the ceremony when the ship

hoisted aloft her commissioning pennant at 1430 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard

at Portsmouth, Virginia; Captain Roy L. Johnson was the first commanding officer. The

huge aircraft carriers of the Forrestal class were so large when compared to previous

carriers that veterans referred to them as ‘supercarriers.’ Forrestal commissioned with

four steam catapults–two forward and two on her angled flight deck–enabling her to

launch aircraft more rapidly. During the post-World War II period several developments

prepared naval aviation to provide a credible nuclear deterrent against East Bloc

expansion: building Forrestal, reducing the weight and dimensions of nuclear weapons,

and developing aircraft capable of dropping them, including Douglas A-

3 Skywarriors.[i]

From her home port in Norfolk,Virginia, Forrestal spent the first year of

her commissioned service in intensive training operations off the Virginia capes and in

the Caribbean. An important assignment became training aviators in the use of her

advanced facilities, a duty on which she often operated out of Mayport, Florida.

Dec 1955–Jan 1956: Helicopter Utility Squadron (HU)-2 Detachment 42 operated a pair of

Piasecki (Vertol) UH-25B Retrievers on board for search and rescue purposes to winch

survivors of downed aircraft out of the water. Meanwhile, a pair of McDonnell Douglas A-

4 Skyhawks, one a night attack variant and the other an electronic warfare conversion,

together with a couple of Beech TC-45J Kansans, also flew from the ship to qualify their

pilots to operate from carriers. Just after the New Year Fighter Squadron (VF)-41 flew 11

McDonnell F-2C Banshees on board for carrier qualifications, joined by 14 Douglas A-

1H Skyraiders and oneKansan from Attack Squadron (VA)-42 and 13 Vought F7U-

3M Cutlass’ from VA-86. These became the first aircraft to operate from the carrier.

3 Jan 1956: CDR Ralph L. Werner, commanding Air Task Group-1, made the first fixed

wing aircraft landing on board Forrestal when he made three touch-and-go landings after

which he made the first full-stop landing, in his North American F-1C Fury during the

afternoon watch at about 1440. A few hours later he piloted the same aircraft to make the

first catapult launch from the huge carrier. Meanwhile, CDR William M. Harnish,

commanding officer of VF-21, made the second landing, also in a Fury, at approximately

1445. LT Vincent Darcey of the air group was the landing signal officer for both traps.

Sailors painted both aircraft in the Navy's new white and gray 'atomic' paint scheme. The

ship sailed to the east of Norfolk.[ii]

A North American F-1C Fury launched from the angled flight deck catapult of Forrestal (CVA-59) as a

second Fury from Fighter Squadron (VF)-21 moved into position to join him, in March 1956. National

Archives and Records Administration No. 80-G-687790.

24 Jan–28 Mar 1956: Forrestal completed her shakedown cruise in Caribbean waters,

operating principally off Guantánamo Bay in Cuba.

23–27 Apr 1956: The ship accomplished her final acceptance trials in Virginian waters.

4 May 1956: The carrier entered the yard for repairs which included replacing her original

propeller shafts. Forrestal’s Command History Report noted that completing this work

“greatly improved her performance.”

29 Oct–12 Dec 1956: Worsening tensions in the Middle East erupted into

Operation Kadesh, Israeli attacks against the Egyptians in the Sinai Peninsula and along

the Suez Canal. The next day the British and French issued an ultimatum to the Israelis

and Egyptians to pull their forces back 10 miles from either side of the vital waterway

“…to bring about the early cessation of hostilities and to safeguard the free passage of the

canal.” The Israelis accepted the terms of the ultimatum but the Egyptians angrily refused

to comply. ADM Arleigh A. Burke, the Chief of Naval Operations, alerted the Sixth Fleet

to standby to evacuate Americans stranded by the crisis in Haifa and Tel

Aviv, Israel, Beirut, Lebanon, and Alexandria, Egypt. By 4 November, ships evacuated

1,702 people, naval helos took out 165 more and Air Force crews pulled 310 refugees

from harm’s way, often during extremely perilous situations from gunfire, errant bombs or

navigational hazards. Just as destroyer Strong (DD-758) arrived at Gaza and anchored

3,000 yards off the port to disembark 21 members of a UN truce inspection team, an

Egyptian ammunition dump exploded, showering the area with molten fragments and

debris. From their vantage point crewmembers also observed mortar and small arms fire as

the Israelis and Egyptians fought over the strategic city, culminating in strafing and

bombing runs by Israeli aircraft against Egyptian troops who refused to surrender. The

sailors also witnessed the pitiable spectacle as the fighting forced hundreds of people to

leave on foot, carrying their few belongings as they drove sheep and goats before

them. Meanwhile, the Anglo-French ultimatum expired at 0430 on Halloween, and the two

allies dispatched a huge expeditionary force that bombarded Egyptian forces across Egypt.

At dawn on 5 November they began Operation Musketeer, landing commandoes, marines

and specialized troops at key points along the strategic canal to prevent the Egyptians from

closing it by sinking ships or laying mines. The fighting raged into the next day, when

British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden announced a cease-fire notice to take effect at

midnight of the 6th

. Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester B. Pearson

proposed the creation of a UN peacekeeping force to separate the combatants, and a

majority of that body’s members agreed to support his resolution. Orders directed a vast

number of American ships to rendezvous and concentrate in Atlantic waters off east coast

ports, including Forrestal, which put to sea from Mayport. Due to concerns over possible

Soviet submarine attacks should the crisis escalate, CINCLANTFLT authorized ships

proceeding independently to do so at high speed “consistent with weather and sea

conditions.” Ships set sail from various U.S. ports, arriving at holding areas and mustering

ports as type commanders desired by 10 December. By 17 November, RADM Murr E.

Arnold, Commander, Carrier Division 4 and Task Force 26, broke his flag

from Forrestalin command of a powerful concentration of ships

that rendezvoused near 36°30’N, 27°18’17”W, in the eastern Atlantic around the Azores

Islands, also including; attack aircraft carrier Franklin D. Roosevelt(CVA-42), heavy

cruiser Des Moines (CA-134), radar picket destroyers Charles P. Cecil (DDR-

835), Corry (DDR-817), O’Hare (DDR-889) and Stickell (DDR-888), destroyers Douglas

H. Fox (DD-779),Healy (DD-672), John Hood (DD-655), Laffey (DD-724), Lowry (DD-

770), Robinson (DD-562), Sigourney (DD-643) and Stormes (DD-780), store

ship Rigel (AF-58) and oiler Severn (AO-61). Additional ships relieved some of these

vessels during the following days to enable the original ships to take on fuel or achieve

repairs. The carriers conducted air operations ‘as practicable’ to enhance their readiness,

and utilized their aircraft to evaluate experiments determining the maximum air group

loading for ‘executing war missions’ as they maintained readiness to enter

the Mediterranean should their presence be necessary. CINCLANTFLT tentatively

scheduled attack aircraft carrier Lake Champlain (CVA-39) to relieve Franklin D.

Roosevelt. Forrestal returned to Norfolk to prepare for her first deployment with the Sixth

Fleet in the Mediterranean.

The ship awaited her turn to refuel while steaming in the Mediterranean Sea during the Jordanian

crisis, on 29 April 1957. Oiler Caloosahatchee (AO-98) is ahead, with attack aircraft carrier Lake

Champlain (CVA-39) and heavy cruiser Salem (CA-139) alongside. National Archives and Records

Administration No. 80-G-K-22688.

15 Jan–22 Jul 1957: The ship made her first deployment to the Mediterranean. On this, as

on her succeeding tours of duty in the Mediterranean, Forrestal visited many ports to

allow dignitaries and the general public to come on board and view the tremendous power

for peace she represented. For military observers, she staged underway demonstrations to

illustrate her capacity to bring air power to and from the sea in military operations on

any scale.

2–3 Feb 1957: The ship passed through the Strait of Gibraltar for the first time and entered

Mediterranean waters. During this deployment she also conducted underway

demonstration cruises for Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco, and

for Mohammad R. Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran.

29 Mar–3 Apr 1957: Forrestal steamed off the Greek isle of Rhodes.

5–7 Apr 1957: The ship appeared briefly off Beirut, Lebanon.

17 Apr 1957: VADM Charles R. Brown, Commander, Sixth Fleet, escorted Sir Robert

Laycock, the British Governor of Malta, and 26 other high ranking British government and

military officials including VADM Durnford Slater, RN, RADM Geoffrey Brittian, RN,

and RADM Lee Barber, RN, onto the ship to witness flight operations and aircraft

demonstrations. The British officials visited as guests of RADM Arnold and CAPT

William E. Ellis, the commanding officer of Forrestal, and VADM Brown arrived on

board from his flagship, the heavy cruiser Salem (CA-139).

24 Apr–5 May 1957: A crisis occurred in the Middle East concerning rising pan-Arab

nationalism, the withdrawal of European colonial powers and intrigues between Western

and East Bloc factions, which threatened the throne of Jordanian King Hussein bin Talal

(also known as King Hussein I). On the evening of the 25th

Admiral Burke directed VADM

Brown to deploy his forces to the eastern Mediterranean to ensure that the Jordanians

maintained their independence and not be subverted from within or attacked from without.

“Once again” explained VADM Brown in a message to all hands of the Sixth Fleet, “we

find ourselves dropping everything and rushing to the scene of the fire.” By the next

day Forrestal, Lake Champlain, heavy cruisers Des Moines and Salem and their destroyers

rendezvoused and proceeded eastward at best possible speed into the crisis. Crew

members worked at a feverish pace to prepare for action and at 0705 on the 27th

, VADM

Brown reported that he could launch attack aircraft and fighters at “first light tomorrow”

should the emergency escalate. Concerns that they would have to evacuate Americans

within the country prompted planning to deploy marines into the Jordanian capital

of Amman as armed escorts while helicopters flying fromForrestal covered the

evacuations. Meanwhile, amphibious forces made for Beirut, Lebanon, and upon arriving

they stood ready to deploy additional troops and equipment ashore or to evacuate United

States civilians. These two groups of ships continued to maintain station in the

eastern Mediterranean until diplomats diffused the tension. “In ten short days” VADM

Brown told his men as they returned on the 5th

, “from the time of our sudden departure for

the eastern Mediterranean the striking fleet is back in Italian waters, for a NATO exercise

which begins tonight. While everyone must be pleased to be back, I hope no one loses

sight of the larger significance of what has happened. In the brief period of time we have

successfully carried out an important national mission in the eastern Mediterranean and we

have met an important NATO commitment in the centralMediterranean. The distance

between the two assignments is about 1,500 miles as the crow flies. This performance has

been a dramatic demonstration of the mobility and flexibility of the fleet and one in which

all can be proud to have had a part.”

13–14 Jul 1957: The ship passed through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic.

Attack aircraft carrier Randolph (CVA-15) relieved Forrestal at the British dockyard and

naval station at “The Rock” on 14 July.

22 Jul 1957: Forrestal returned to Norfolk for exercises off the North Carolina coast in

preparation for her first NATO exercise in the North Sea, Operation Strikeback.

24 Jul–11 Aug 1957: The carrier completed work at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

3 Sep–22 Oct 1957: During Strikeback, Forrestal drilled in the highly important task of

coordinating United States naval power with that of other NATO

nations. Forrestal steamed off the Clyde River Estuary inScotland (14–16 September)

and visited Southampton in England (30 September–11 October). Observers estimated that

as many as 65,000 people visited or viewed the ship at the latter port, including U.S.

Ambassador to the Court of St. James John H. Whitney.

20 Dec 1957–20 Feb 1958: Forrestal’s crew and shipyard workers accomplished repairs

and upkeep at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

28 Mar–24 May 1958: The ship participated in a series of major fleet exercises off

the North Carolina, Georgia and Florida coasts, as well as taking part in experimental flight

operations. She also made a brief visit toMiami, Florida (19–21 May). During LantRaEx 1-

58 in May, LTJGs Strang and Woods of VA-85 flew two A-

1H Skyraiders from Forrestal as she steamed off the coast of Jacksonville nonstop

to NAS North Island inCalifornia. They completed their flight normally flying at altitudes

below 1,000 feet to demonstrate the low level and long range capabilities of their squadron,

and then returned nonstop to the carrier two days later.

11–17 Jul 1958: Rival Lebanese political and religious factions clashed resulting in rioting

that threatened that Levantine country. Tensions produced a crisis when Muslims rebelled

against the Lebanese government at the same time that Iraqi army officers overthrew the

pro-Western Hashemite monarchy in a coup d’état in Baghdad on 14 July. Lebanese

President Camille Chamoun requested assistance from President Dwight D. Eisenhower

and the latter initiated Operation Blue Bat on the following day, which included the Sixth

Fleet and supporting Air Force and Army commands landing over 14,000 marines and

soldiers at Beirut to restore order and protect Americans trapped in the fighting. During the

crisis Forrestal operated in the eastern Atlantic to back-up naval operations in

the Mediterranean, and to be ready to intervene if the crisis escalated. She

sailed fromNorfolk to embark CVG-10 at Mayport two days later, and then she

patrolled the Atlantic until returning to Virginian waters when the crisis subsided and the

Americans ultimately withdrew most troops fromLebanon.

2 Sep 1958–12 Mar 1959: Setting sail from Norfolk at 0800 Forrestal began her second

tour of duty in the Mediterranean as she combined a program of training, patrol,

and participation in major exercises with ceremonial hospitality and public visiting.

The A-4Bs of VA-12 became the first Skyhawks to deploy on board the ship.

12 Sep 1958: The ship passed through the Strait of Gibraltar.

16–17 Sep 1958: Forrestal relieved attack aircraft carrier Saratoga (CVA-60) at

Augusta Bay, Sicily.

14–27 Oct 1958: The carrier encountered “a major failure” of her No. 1 Catapult, however,

and her crew and civilian technicians accomplished the extensive repairs while

visiting Naples, Italy, the first time that they attempted such work outside of a

shipyard. Secretary of Defense Neil H. McElroy led her guest list during this cruise.

2 Dec 1958: RADM Roy L. Johnson relieved RADM Charles D. Griffin as Commander,

Carrier Division 4, during a ceremony on board Forrestal at Barcelona, Spain.

18 Dec 1958–3 Jan 1959: The crew and civilian workers again accomplished extensive

repairs to a catapult while visiting Naples, Italy–this time to No. 2. The ship then led Task

Force 60 in Operation Big Deal, a joint Second and Sixth Fleet exercise.

Forrestal (CVA-59) entered Naples, Italy, circa early 1959 (the Department of Defense released the

photograph on 19 May 1959), as Mount Vesuvius towers over her in the distance. Aircraft visible on the

crowded flight deck include Douglas A-3B Skywarriors of Heavy Attack Squadron (VAH)-5, Douglas

F-6 Skyrays of Fighter Squadron (VF)-102 and McDonnell Douglas A-4B Skyhawks of Attack

Squadron (VA)-12. Naval Historical Center Photo No. 97658.

1–2 Mar 1959: Franklin D. Roosevelt relieved Forrestal at Pollensa Bay at Palma de

Mallorca in the Balearic Islands.

3–4 Mar 1959: Forrestal passed through the Strait of Gibraltar westbound.

12 Mar 1959: Returning to Norfolk, Forrestal continued to train new aircrew, constantly

maintaining her readiness for instant reaction to any demand for her services brought on

by international events.

28 Mar 1959: King Hussein I of Jordan visited the ship for a luncheon while she moored

to Pier 12 at Norfolk.

1 Apr 1959: Forrestal entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for her first regular overhaul.

30 Sep–1 Oct 1959: Forrestal sortied to evade Hurricane Hannah as the storm swept

toward the Virginia area with winds that peaked at 130 mph on 1 October, however, the

hurricane turned to eastward and dropped to an extra tropical storm south of Iceland.

Nov 1959: The ship completed a weapons evaluation exercise with USAF pilots.

14 Feb 1960: Forrestal relieved Saratoga at Pollensa Bay. Among the ports she

subsequently visited usual to a Mediterranean deployment the ship put

into Split, Yugoslavia, a port-of-call that generated heated controversy in the media

due to the tensions still existing between the communists and the West.

A pair of Douglas EA-1E Skyraiders (BuNos 135163 and 135183) from Carrier Airborne Early

Warning Squadron (VAW)-12 flew over Forrestal (CVA-59) as she sailed with the Sixth Fleet in the

Mediterranean Sea, on 25 April 1960. Naval Historical Center Photo No. NH 97655.

7 Mar 1960: The Bureau of Ships issued a report concerning the endurance

of Forrestal and her sister ships, which stated in part that “Conventionally powered

Aircraft Carriers should have sufficient range and endurance to allow approach to

the target, high-speed run-in, attack, retirement, and a sufficient amount of reserve

fuel to replenish Escorts.”

9 Sep–22 Oct 1960: The carrier completed repairs and maintenance in drydock at

the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

26 Oct 1960: RADM Forsyth Massey relieved RADM Robert E. Dixon as Commander,

Carrier Division 4, during a ceremony on board at Norfolk.

21 Mar 1961: Archbishop Makarios III, President of Cyprus and ethnarch [national leader]

of Greek Cypriots, visited the ship as the guest of VADM George W. Anderson, Jr.,

Commander, Sixth Fleet, and RADM Massey.

9 Aug 1961: Secretary of the Navy John B. Connally visited the ship and spoke to the

crew over her closed circuit television system, congratulating the men for achieving their

second coveted Battle Efficiency “E” award.

25 Aug 1961: By the time Forrestal returned from her fourth deployment to

the Mediterranean, CVG-8 amassed 26,000 flight hours, the equivalent of almost three

years flying during less accelerated operations. In addition, the ship herself celebrated her

60,000th

arrested landing. USMC LTV F-8 Crusaders from Marine Fighter Squadron

(VMF)-333 also qualified for carrier operations on board Forrestal.

Sep 1961–13 Jan 1962: Forrestal completed work at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

18 Jan–late Feb 1962: The ship accomplished a six-week refresher training cruise off the

east coast that extended down into Caribbean waters, focusing upon

the Guantánamo Bay area. She also visited Port-au-Prince,Haiti. In addition, Mercury-Atlas

6 [MA-6] launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 0947 on 20 February 1962.

LCOL John H. Glenn, Jr., USMC, the 40-year-old astronaut, completed three orbits about

the earth in four hours 55 minutes to become the first American to orbit the planet. Glenn

flew spacecraft Friendship 7 in her 75,679 mile voyage at a maximum speed of 17,544.1

miles per hour. Describing his re-entry as a “real fireball” Glenn splashed down in the

Atlantic some 166 miles east of Grand Turk Island in the Bahamas, about 800 miles

southeast of Bermuda. Destroyer Noa (DD-841) recovered the astronaut after he spent 21

minutes in the water, and a helo flew him on to antisubmarine warfare support aircraft

carrier Randolph (CVS-15) at 1745. Although Glenn did not land nearby, Forrestal stood

ready as one of the potential tracking and measuring stations for the epochal flight.

9–14 Apr 1962: Forrestal combined operations with aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVAN-65)

for a presidential cruise. President John F. Kennedy and his entourage arrived on

board Enterprise on 14 April. The busy day included sea and air power demonstrations for

the President and many distinguished guests, including most of his cabinet, the Joint Chiefs

of Staff, many congressmen and about 30 foreign ambassadors, all hosted by VADM John

M. Taylor, Commander, Second Fleet. About 20 ships participated in the exercise off

the Virginia and North Carolina coasts. A “spectacular display” culminating in a mass flyby

and recovery by naval aircraft entertained guests. CDR Joseph P. Moorer, commanding

officer of VF-62, LCDR Joseph S. Elmer, LT Richard C. Oliver and LT William F. Heiss

of that squadron shook hands with President Kennedy on boardEnterprise at the conclusion

of the demonstration. Forrestal also hosted Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and several

senators and congressmen during the cruise.

Mid to late Apr 1962: Following the Presidential Cruise, Forrestal returned to the

Caribbean for the Atlantic Fleet exercise LantPhibEx 1-62, and took advantage of the

opportunity to visit Port of Spain, Trinidad, where the Carrier Division 4 band entertained

crowds.

Jul 1962: The ship visited New York City for Independence Day festivities. During one of

the days of her week-long stay, almost 22,000 “curious” visitors swarmed on board.

6–12 Jul 1962: Leaving New York waters, Forrestal participated

with Enterprise in LantFlex 2-62, a nuclear strike exercise under the command of RADM

Reynold D. Hogle, Commander, Carrier Division 4 and Commander, TF

24. Enterprise launched eight “pre-planned” strikes and six call strikes while operating in

the Virginia capes area against targets ranging from the Tidewater area to central Florida.

3 Aug 1962: Forrestal weighed anchor and set sail for another Med deployment. This sail

included 12,900 officers and men from commands along the east coast assigned initially to

the Second Fleet, manningEnterprise and Forrestal, guided missile heavy

cruiser Boston (CAG-1), from which RADM Robert H. Weeks, Commander, Cruiser

Destroyer Flotilla 10, broke his flag, heavy cruiser Newport News (CA-148), from which

VADM John M. Taylor, Commander, Second Fleet, broke his flag, 13 destroyers from

Destroyer Squadrons 8 and 14, ammunition ships Shasta (AE-6) and Suribachi (AE-21)

and oiler Chukawan (AO-100). This became the last time that A-1 Skyraiders of VA-85

deployed on board Forrestal, and her first deployment with Mach 2.2 capable McDonnell

Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs of VF-74. Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 [Tu-20]Bears would fly the

huge journey–hundreds of miles–from their fields near Murmansk in the Kola Peninsula

to find the ship as she crossed the Atlantic. Russian electronic specialists operated their

sophisticated sensors probing for the carrier’s radar, and when they discovered her they

would drop down for a closer look, but Phantom IIs from the ship would intercept the

intruders and escort them out of the area. Even during the tensions of the Cold War

most of these encounters were professional and the rivals often waved to each other.

13–17 Aug 1962: Forrestal participated in RipTide III, an exercise with allied aircraft

carriers in the eastern Atlantic that demonstrated interchangeability, compatibility and

reliance with NATO allies including the British, French and Portuguese.

7 Sep 1962: Forrestal participated in Lafayette II, an exercise that involved 14 scheduled

conventional strikes coordinated with aircraft from Enterprise against multiple targets to

the French Low Level Route in southernFrance. French air force and naval aircraft opposed

them.

6 Oct 1962: NATO chiefs of staff embarked Forrestal for a one-day cruise.

16–17 Feb 1963: Enterprise relieved Forrestal at Pollensa Bay.

2 Mar 1963: Forrestal returned to Norfolk. Russian reconnaissance bombers overflew

the carrier en route her return home. Her aircraft flew over 10,300 missions and logged

over 23,000 hours in the air during this deployment.

Early-May–Mid-Jun 1963: The ship completed repairs and upkeep at the Norfolk

Naval Shipyard.

9–19 Sep 1963: Forrestal and ships of Task Force 23 visited Boston, Massachusetts,

for the annual convention of the East Coast Navy League. The ship moored at the South

Boston Naval Annex on the 12th

. The next day RADM John J. Hyland, Commander,

Carrier Division 4, welcomed more than 400 delegates to the League and their families

as they boarded his flagship for a day’s cruise. The carrier stood out of the port on the

16th

to return home.

12 Oct 1963: RADM Samuel R. Brown, Jr., one of the ship’s former skippers, relieved

RADM Hyland in hanger deck ceremonies.

30 Oct, 21–22 Nov 1963: LT James H. Flatley, III, and LCDR Walter W. “Smokey”

Stovall from the Naval Air Test Center at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, and ADJ1 Ed

Brennan, a flight engineer from Fleet Tactical Support Squadron (VR)-1, completed 29

touch-and-go landings and 21 full-stop landings and takeoffs in a Lockheed C-

130F Hercules (BuNo 149798) on board Forrestal. Flatley and his crew, who also

included at times Ted H. Limmer, Jr., a civilian safety test pilot from Lockheed-

Marietta, made some minor modifications to the Hercules–which marines loaned to

them–by replacing its standard C-130 antiskid braking system with the Hytrol Antiskid

Braking System Mk II used in Boeing B-727s and by removing refueling pods from the

wings. Crewmembers painted a white center line along the ship’s axial deck from bow

to ramp to aid Flatley in guiding the huge aircraft. As they made their first landing on

the 30th

, surface winds of 25 to 30 knots and the resulting choppy sea caused moderate

deck motion with a “noticeable” yaw, which forced Forrestal to increase speed an

additional 10 knots to reduce the yaw motion and to stabilize wind direction. “I was up

on the captain’s bridge” recalled Lockheed-Georgia Engineering Vice President Arthur

E. Flock. “I watched a man on the ship’s bow and that bow must have gone up and

down 30 feet.” Although the Hercules crew encountered 40 to 50 knot winds over the

deck, their problems “considerably lessoned” as they landed. The plane’s right wing tip

cleared the ship’s island control tower by just under 15 feet as it roared down the flight

deck. As Flatley brought the aircraft to a halt crewmembers gathered topside cheered

their arrival, and many commented upon the message specially painted on the starboard

nose of the fuselage for the occasion: “Look ma, no hook.” Lieutenant Flatley received

the Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts. From these tests the Navy concluded

that Hercules’ could carry 25,000 pounds of cargo and people approximately 2,500

miles and land on board aForrestal-class or larger carrier, accomplishing their missions

with gross weights of up to 121,000 pounds. Analysts also decided, however, that using

the huge aircraft for Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) flights would be too risky.

LT James H. Flatley, III, and his crew brought their Lockheed C-130F Hercules (BuNo 149798) on

board, on 30 October 1963. The intrepid pilot completed his mission despite heavy seas and surface

winds, for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Naval Historical Center [Aviation] Photo

No. NAH-0002005.

6–16 Nov 1963: In between the Hercules trials the ship engaged in various task force

operations off the east coast.

4–6 Dec 1963: Forrestal operated with Enterprise in StrikEx I, a combined strike,

antisubmarine and air defense exercise conducted in the southeastern United

States under Commander, Carrier Division 2.

29 Jul 1964: The ship relieved Enterprise at Pollensa Bay, enabling the latter to

rendezvous with guided missile cruiser Long Beach (CGN-9) and guided missile

frigate Bainbridge (DLGN-25) for Operation SeaOrbit, the first global

circumnavigation by nuclear-powered ships.

29 Nov 1964: LT John F. Barr of VA-83 made the 100,00th landing on board, in his A-

4E Skyhawk as the ship steamed in the Mediterranean.

1 Mar 1965: Attack aircraft carrier Shangri-La (CVA-38)

relieved Forrestal at Pollensa Bay.

11 May 1965: Miss America 1965 Vonda Kay Van Dyke, Miss Virginia 1965 Mary

Montgomery, Miss Portsmouth 1965 and 13 contestants for the Miss Portsmouth crown

visited the ship.

21 Nov 1965: RADM Allan K. Fleming, Commander, Carrier Division 4, shifted his

flag to Franklin D. Roosevelt at Golfo di Palmas, Sardinia.

14–15 Jan 1966: An Air Force Douglas C-47 Dakota crashed up at 7,680 feet

atop Mount Helmos in the Peloponnesian Peninsula in Greece. Later that evening the

Sixth Fleet alerted two Kaman UH-2Seasprite crews (BuNos 149741–an A model–and

150142–a B) from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC)-2 Detachment 59

embarked in Forrestal, to stand by to assist in the search and rescue. Helo

crewmembers assigned included CDR Russell–a doctor–LCDRs Raymond K.

McCullough and William S. Munro, LTs Mullen–also a doctor–and L.R. Grant, II,

LT(JG) Michael E. Howe, ADJ1 Ests P. Morrow, ADJ3 John E. Keto, AE3 Richard T.

Ream and AMS3 George T. “D and S” Vaughn, III. Lieutenant Commander

McCullough flew the ‘A’ Seasprite and LCDR Munro piloted the ‘B.’ The men flew to

the Royal Hellenic Air Force Base at Araxos overnight, lifting off from Forrestal at

around 2000. After an Air Force captain briefed them on the weather and terrain

conditions peculiar to the area, the rescuers set off at 0840 the next morning. Although

they enjoyed clear weather, bitter cold, high winds up to 35 knots and dangerous

turbulence at the mountain crest hampered the helo crews, who also needed to exercise

caution while landing due to their concerns regarding the strength of the ice-crusted

snow and whether it would bear their weight. LCDR McCullough persevered through

six approaches and had to dump his fuel and auxiliary tanks to lighten the aircraft. He

finally found a barely adequate landing spot on a saddle-back ridge a few hundred feet

above the crash site where the snow leveled off just enough to allow him to touch down.

They rescued two Air Force crewmembers from the wreckage, LCOL Dick N. Crowell,

USAF, and CAPT Thomas D. Smith, USAF, and LCDR Munro and LT Grant flew in

right behind them and pulled SSGT J.L. Ferguson out in a litter. All of the survivors

suffered from frostbite and fatigue. The two crews refueled and returned to the scene

and retrieved their crewmembers on the ground–who disembarked to assist the victims

to board the helos–and the bodies of the victims, returning with them to the base camp

at 4,000 feet. The weather remained clear until later in the afternoon, when clouds and

visibility closed in and caused problems. Because the atmospheric conditions caused

their UHF radios to fail, the helo crews relied on a Grumman E-1B Tracer, known as a

‘Willy Fudd’ and ‘Stoof With A Roof’ to its crew, from Carrier Airborne Early Warning

Squadron (VAW)-12, and AF 783, an Air Force plane, to relay communications between

the rescuers and Forrestal. The Tracer also guided the helos to Araxos during the darkness

as the operation began. In addition, an Air Force Kaman H-43 Huskie and Greek

mountain climbers assisted the rescuers, and the Huskie evacuated LCOL Frank Bailey,

USAF, the last survivor, as well as transporting the bodies down the mountain from the

base camp. An Air Force Hercules waited for them at Araxos and when they returned

the C-130 flew the casualties out for intensive medical care. Six other crewmembers

perished during the crash, and the searchers could not locate two of the bodies due to

the extreme circumstances of the crash site.

24 Jan 1966: Forrestal sailed from Taranto, Italy, and in company with guided missile

destroyer Conyngham (DDG 17) and destroyers Forrest Royal (DD

872), McCaffery (DD 860), Charles R. Ware (DD 865) and Yarnall (DD 541)

comprised Task Group 60.2.

2 Feb 1966: Early in the evening Backwash 100, an F-4B Phantom II, (BuNo 152285),

LT William H. Brinks and LT Edward E. Weller of VF-74, launched for a routine night

intercept training mission whileForrestal steamed in the Tyrrhenian Sea, at 1802.

As 100 climbed through 1,500 feet with both engines at full thrust, a “loud explosion”

shook the aircraft. The Phantom II immediately began to decelerate, though it finished

its climb to 2,200 feet before descending inexorably back to earth. Both men checked

their instruments, however, they could not regain control of the F-4B and they ejected,

approximately three miles from the ship. A UH-2A crew from HC-2 Detachment 59,

LT(JG) Howe, LT Louis R. Grant, AME3 Gary Steele and ATN3 Bill Toth, spotted the

survivors within four minutes, thanks largely to the flares and strobe lights which the

aircrew deployed fortuitously, and rescued the pilot and radar intercept officer and

returned the shaken men to the ship.

5–12 Feb 1966: While Forrestal visited Naples a group of men from the ship attended

an audience with Pope Paul VI at Vatican City in Rome.

26–27 Feb 1966: Spanish LGEN Avales, that country’s air defense force commander,

visited Forrestal for an underway orientation.

28 Feb–3 Mar 1966: The ship participated in Fairgame IV, a joint exercise with the

French, including their aircraft carrier Arromanches (R-95), in the Mediterranean.

RADM Leslie J. O’Brien, Jr., Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla 10, transferred

over to guided missile frigate MacDonough (DLG-8) on the last day of Fairgame IV,

from which he broke his flag until returning to the carrier.

22 Mar 1966: Forrestal put into Taranto for a fleet commander’s conference with the

Sixth Fleet. Officers and men from numerous commands arrived on board attack aircraft

carrier America (CVA-66).

30–31 Mar 1966: Saratoga relieved Forrestal at Pollensa Bay. The next day the latter

passed through the Strait of Gibraltar beginning at 2100 on 31 March into

the Atlantic en route her home port. The ship completed a deployment that the Navy

extended by an additional two weeks. During this deployment, pilots logged 19,000

flight hours and flew over 11,000 sorties.

11–14 Apr 1966: Forrestal offloaded her ammunition prior to entering Norfolk Naval

Shipyard for an overhaul.

15 Apr 1966–27 Jan 1967: Forrestal sailed up the Elizabeth River as tugboats then

eased her into her berth to prepare for what the ship’s Command History Report

referred to as a “massive facelifting” at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Vice Admiral Charles

T. Booth, II, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet, inspected the ship on 10 June

1966. The admiral took the opportunity to award CDR Joe D. Adkins, the ship’s air

operations officer, the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery while flying missions

over North Vietnam as the commanding officer of VA-72, embarked in attack aircraft

carrier Independence (CVA-62). Forrestal completed about one-third of the overhaul

when she floated from drydock on 10 July. Beginning on 1 August sailors and civilian

technicians commenced installing the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) into the

ship’s systems. The NTDS, an automatic combat direction system designed to eliminate

human error by doing away with “grease-pencil plotting,” became the principal system

of her CombatInformation Center. The speed of modern warfare demanded an increase

in plotting and disseminating information and the Navy intended NTDS to provide a

comprehensive picture of ships, aircraft and subs. Meanwhile, RADM Harvey P.

Lanham, Commander, Carrier Division 2, shifted his flag to Forrestal, which relieved

Carrier Division 4 (19 October). The admiral awarded LCDR Richard T.

Theriault, Forrestal’sFirst Lieutenant, with the Bronze Star for his distinguished service

in Vietnam, on 28 October. The crew celebrated their gradual return to operational status

when they lit-off one of their eight boilers on Halloween, which provided the men their

own steam and electrical power after receiving pierside services after seven months.

Tragedy struck the men at the shipyard at 1333 on 1 November, however, when a UH-

2B (BuNo 152193) from amphibious assault ship Guadalcanal (LPH-7), moored across

from Forrestal at Berth 35 at Pier 5, crashed onto the pier between the two ships.

The Seasprite entered what investigators determined to be an “uncontrolled flight

immediately upon lifting” off from the flight deck of Guadalcanal for a brief test ‘hop’ to

NAS Oceana; after barely reaching four to five feet into the air the helo’s rotor blades

struck the flight deck and then the aircraft careened over the starboard side

of Guadalcanal onto the pier. The Seasprite’s impact threw debris and shards–including

lethal metal fragments from the helo’s disintegrating rotor blades–at people working in the

vicinity, killing four men: three Navy; LCDR John C. Thoma, AN Joseph A. Anzalone,

AN Garry A. Whipp; and one civilian, Mannie McCutcheon of the yard’s riggers and

laborers shop, and injured 19 more men. Debris also flew into a railroad car on the pier

and at both ships, damaging a pair of boats on the flight deck of Forrestal, and hurtled

into nearby buildings with such force that they tore holes into cement block

walls. Forrestal’s crew joined other men from across the yard to help their shipmates to

provide damage control and to aid victims, and over 100 crewmembers volunteered to

donate blood to injured men. Following the catastrophe, the crew held a ‘fast cruise’–

which simulates at sea operations while still moored to a pier (10–11 December). Just

after the New Year’s the ship stood down the channel for the first time since her

overhaul began for post repair trials off the Virginia capes (0800 on 9–15 January 1967).

The ship actually completed her trials, which included limited air operations, at 1300 on

Saturday 14 January, however, dense fog rolled in and the shipyard refused the carrier

permission to moor due to navigational hazards, so the carrier anchored off Pier 12 at the

naval station until the next day, when the shipyard allowed her to return. Forrestal sailed

from the yard on the 23rd

and returned to Norfolk.

6–10 Feb 1967: The carrier reached the ammunition anchorage to load a full

complement of ammunition for the first time since her repairs.

14 Feb–16 Mar 1967: The ship completed refresher training in Cuban

waters. Forrestal anchored out at NS Guantánamo Bay (17–18 February). She attained her

120,000th

arrested landing on the third day of actual refresher training (22 February).

11 Apr–6 May 1967: Forrestal completed a series of exercises in the Atlantic Fleet

Weapons Range designed to simulate the grueling conditions her men could expect during

the Vietnam War, including alpha strikes against major targets. In addition, she took part in

Operation Clovehitch III, providing support for ground forces in the all-service exercise.

13 May 1967: While testing her automatic carrier landing system off

the Virginia Capes the ship recorded her 124,000th

landing using that system, when LT

Howard L. Reedy of VA-65 trapped on board.

6 Jun 1967: Embarking CVW-17 the ship sailed at 1630 from Pier 12 at Norfolk for her

only western Pacific deployment. Forrestal held drills on most days while sailing into

harm’s way and pilots and aircrew studied charts and held briefings during the voyage.

Grumman A-6As of VA-65 and Grumman E-2As from VAW-123 embarked as the

first Intruders and Hawkeyes, respectively, to deploy on board Forrestal.

13–16 Jun 1967: RADM Lanham and observers from Independence led the ship’s

Operational Readiness Inspection.

19–20 Jun 1967: Forrestal’s Command History Report observed that 4,330 pollywogs

“fearing for their lives” revolted and held 500 Loyal Shellbacks captive.” Just after

midnight the pollywogs stole many of the shellback’s cards and held a mock initiation

during an “illegal ceremony.” The next day as the ship crossed the equator, however, the

shellbacks gained their justice against the “disloyal and scurvy Pollywogs,” many of the

latter sans hair and sporting red tails.

23–25 Jun 1967: While rounding South America en route to Pacific

waters Forrestal anchored at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The air wing presented an air show for

distinguished visitors including United States Ambassador John W. Tuthill and Brazilian

ADM Rademaker, Minister of that Navy, during the morning watch on 23 June, following

which the ship anchored in Guanabara Bay, at 1300.

16 Jul 1967: Detachment Charles, a briefing team which flew out from the South

Vietnamese capital of Saigon, boarded to brief the men on the war they entered.

18–21 Jul 1967: At 0530 the ship moored to Leyte Pier at NAS Cubi Point, at Subic

Bay, Philippines. The wing examined survival gear and conducted survival training,

installed additional electronic countermeasures equipment and made final aircraft

modifications before entering battle.

22 Jul 1967: Forrestal sailed from Subic Bay into war. RADM Lanham broke his flag

from the carrier in command of Task Group 77.6, which also included destroyers Henry W.

Tucker (DD-875) and Rupertus (DD-851). Aircraft practiced night operations, coordinated

attacks and honed bombing accuracy while en route to Vietnamese waters.

25 Jul 1967: Forrestal arrived at Yankee Station and at 0600 she launched her first strikes

in the Vietnam War against an enemy often just a few miles over the horizon from the

ship. The Americans created two carrier operating areas to prosecute the war

in Southeast Asia. Initially designating the northernmost one in the Gulf of Tonkin as

Point Yankee, they redesignated it Yankee Station as the primary operations area from

which carriers operated against North Vietnam. Evolving as the war continued, Yankee

Station actually consisted of several stations. In April 1966, the Navy moved it

northward to 125 miles east of Dong Hoi at 17º30’N, 108º30’E, which reduced the

distance aircraft had to fly to reach their targets in North Vietnam, but subsequently

reassigned it to its original position in 1968. When the Americans resumed intensive

bombing against the north in 1972 they again moved the station northward, and

designated it as North, Mid and South, at 19º, 17º and 16º N, respectively. The carrier

rearmed from ammunition ship Diamond Head (AE-19) later that evening.

25–29 Jul 1967: The North Vietnamese supplied communist forces fighting in South

Vietnam through a variety of well-defended and highly secretive routes collectively known

as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. To cut these routespilots flew alpha strikes, reconnaissance,

armed reconnaissance and barrier combat air patrol missions against key transportation

nodes and supply points supporting the trail, as well as flying radar patrols,

from Forrestal as she steamed in the Gulf of Tonkin. Although many of their targets lay

within heavily defended areas bristling with North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gunners and

surface-to-air missiles, CVW-17 flew more than 150 missions over North Vietnam without

losing a single aircraft. Their most significant strike became a massive raid against the

Thanh Hoa Bridge Railroad Bypass and Ferry Terminals.

29–30 Jul 1967: Forrestal spent barely five days ‘on the line’ when tragedy struck on

Saturday. SN K. Dyke of 1st Division fell overboard over the starboard side at 0316. The

ship immediately stopped and backed-up 1/3, then maneuvered slowly in the area searching

for SN Dyke. At the same time she launched a helo to scour the area, which spotted the

man and directed Rupertus to him, which lowered a motor whaleboat to recover the shaken

man, the carrier securing from her man overboard orders by 0513. The ship then launched

her first strike of the day. Shortly thereafter during the morning watch Forrestal swung her

bow into the wind and the crew prepared to launch their second strike as the ship steamed

050° at 27 knots about 150 miles off the North Vietnamese coast, at approximately

19°9’5”N, 107°23’5”E, at 1050; she began an “early launch” of two Douglas KA-

3B Skywarrior tankers from Heavy Attack Squadron (VAH)-10 Detachment 59, a

Grumman E-2A Hawkeye from VAW-123 and a Grumman EA-1 Tracer. Two of the four

aircraft launched when suddenly, a Zuni 5” rocket accidentally fired, probably

from Aircraft No. 110, a McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II (BuNo 153061), LCDR

James E. Bangert and LT(JG) Lawrence E. McKay from VF-11, and slammed into

either Aircraft No. 405 or 416, an A-4E Skyhawk, further aft on the port side waiting to

launch, less than two minutes later.[iii]

Within five seconds, the fire, fed by a ruptured 400-

gallon fuel tank, rapidly enveloped the Skyhawks on either side of the wounded aircraft.

Barely two minutes into the unfolding holocaust the first of many high and low level

detonations erupted as the heat started to cook-off bombs, rockets and 20 mm rounds. An

explosion shattered the windows of Primary Flight Control, almost bowling CDR David B.

Lember over. Rockets and shells shot across the deck, and ejection seats fired into the air.

Seven major explosions shook the ship during the first four minutes of the horrific crisis,

and some 40,000-gallons of JP-5 jet fuel from aircraft on deck spread the inferno. Huge

clouds of black smoke billowed upward, blinding crewmembers racing to battle the flames,

which engulfed the fantail and spread to below deck on the 01, 02 and 03 levels, touching

off ordnance, trapping some men and wreaking havoc with the crew and ship. Survivors

attested to bombs that appeared to be growing red from the heat dropping to the flight deck

and blasting holes into the ship. More ruptured fuel tanks spewed volatile jet fuel from

beneath aircraft onto the deck, feeding the flames. Some of the liquid sloshed down into the

hanger deck where it posed a deadly hazard for men stationed there. Huge gusts of fire shot

into the air along the flight deck, trapping pilots in their aircraft with no recourse but to

escape through the flames or be incinerated in their cockpits. LCDR Fred D. White, waiting

to launch in Aircraft No. 405, leapt out of his Skyhawk. Other men came to his aid but as

the first bomb exploded it killed the pilot. LCDR Herbert A. Hope of VA-46 (and

operations officer of CVW-17) jumped out of the cockpit of his Skyhawk between

explosions, rolled off the flight deck and into a safety net. Making his way down below to

the hanger deck, he gallantly took command of a firefighting team. “The port quarter of the

flight deck where I was” he recalled, “is no longer there.” LCDR John S. McCain, III,

sitting in Aircraft No. 416 preparing to launch, afterward described the horror: “I thought

my aircraft exploded” he recounted as the first blast ripped through the aircraft assembled

on the flight deck. “Flames were everywhere”. The young pilot climbed out of hisSkyhawk,

poised perilously on the A-4C and then leapt through the flames and ran for his life. As he

did so the naval aviator saw another pilot jump and roll clear of his aircraft but the flames

caught his uniform ablaze. LCDR McCain turned back to help the man when a bomb

exploded and knocked him off his feet and backward about 10 feet. He never saw his

shipmate again. The son of the famed pioneering admiral in naval aviation, LCDR McCain

would survive being shot down and held as a prisoner of war by the North Vietnamese

(1967 through 1973); he eventually received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star

and Purple Heart, and went on to a prominent political career. Nearby LT(JG) Lee V.

Twyford also ran in to help a couple of men play a hose onto the conflagration as the

detonation bowled him over. Climbing to his feet he saw the hose torn and spilling water

over the deck, both men struck down saving their ship. Another man stumbled by LT(JG)

Twyford. “He had no clothes, he had no skin” explained the lieutenant. Wounded in his

ankle and unable to walk, he crawled below to lend a hand among sailors and marines

gathering there. A burst of flames which AE3 Bruce Mulligan of VA-106 described as a

“fireball” hurtled toward the crewman, who hit the deck and barely survived as it roared

over him. Looking around he spotted two men rolling over on fire, and several near him

began to tear at their uniforms in fear and pain as their fabric ignited. As he prepared to

help his friends a second explosion knocked him down, and the sailor found himself

literally by himself. Undaunted, the young (22-year-old) petty officer headed for a fire hose

when fragments flew into him. Nonetheless, AE3 Mulligan helped a friend wounded in the

leg down to Sick Bay, and returned to help battle the blaze. Twice more he made his way

below to rest, at one point noting that he felt “kinda groggy,” but returned to help his

fellows. AE3 Mulligan passed out the second time but a friend brought him topside, where

he finally collapsed from exhaustion later that evening, trying to sleep on a life preserver he

used as a pillow up on the flight deck, though only resting fitfully. When a chief ran from

burning Hanger Bay No. 3 to call for five volunteers, 30 men joined him to attack the

raging fires. LT James J. Campbell recoiled for a few moments in stunned dismay as

burning torches tumbled toward him, until their screams awoke him to the peril of his

shipmates enveloped in flames and he leapt into action to help them. Repeated explosions

blew some men overboard, and others made the deadly leap from the flight deck high above

the cooling waters below to escape the inferno. Within the first minute the crew had two

hoses on deck, and with the crash and salvage officer and chief directing their efforts,

already began to ply one of the lines to battle down the flames; mute testimony to their

determination to save their ship. Nonetheless, the first bomb explosions hurtled fire and

molten fragments into the hose teams, shredding skin and cutting down the men, which

temporarily drove back the firefighters moving toward the scene on the flight deck and cost

the crew precious minutes as their shipmates bravely advanced into the fray to take their

places. Sailors resolutely manned firefighting equipment and played water upon live

ordnance to chill it while others braved the flames to disarm bombs and missiles or roll

them overboard, and others moved aircraft forward and out of danger. Men frantically

jettisoned ordnance from the ‘bomb farm’ located on the ramp outboard of the island, as

well as from the hanger bay and on loaded aircraft, as the fire began to move up the

starboard side aft through the row of parked North American RA-5C Vigilantes from

Reconnaissance Attack Squadron (RVAH)-11. Fear and the urgency of their emergency

produced superhuman strength in some men, and survivors recalled seeing 130-pound LT

Otis G. Kight single-handedly carry a 250-pound bomb to the edge of the hanger deck and

heave it overboard! LT John E. Carpenter of VA-106 escaped from his aircraft only to

discover a man lying on the flight deck with severe arterial bleeding. The pilot remained

alongside his shipmate applying a tourniquet to staunch the flow of the precious fluid while

bombs and rockets exploded around him, until a corpsman arrived and took over his life-

saving efforts. Throughout the day the ship’s medical staff appeared in the midst of fire and

smoke to sacrificially assist their comrades. HM2 Paul Streetman, one of 38 corpsmen

assigned to the carrier, spent over 11 grueling hours on the mangled flight deck tending to

his shipmates. Investigators noted that survivors recalled that ADJ3 James G. Smith

“seemed to be everywhere”–throwing bombs over the side, manning hoses in the hanger

bay, carrying the wounded out of the 03 level, and at one point hauling a man so badly

burned that no one wanted to touch him to first aid, an action that probably saved the

wounded man’s life. ABH3 Larry W. Cope of V-1 Division jumped up onto a forklift and

completely disregarding his own safety persisted in pushing a Vigilante over the side while

flames surrounded him. His shipmates watered him down with a constant stream from a

hose while ABH3 Cope persevered through his ordeal. “I am most proud” CAPT John K.

Beling observed “of the way the crew reacted.” At 1117 the ship passed over her 1MC that

all men trapped aft by the flames should try to make their way forward via the hanger deck

and second deck levels. Beginning at noon the radar systems failed for four crucial minutes,

though operators assiduously restored them. SN Milton Parker of S-6 Division fought the

fires topside for nine hours, and discovered that the heat of the charred deck literally burned

the soles off of his shoes, but commented that “my feet are okay because I put on some

flight deck shoes and went back in.” Down in Hanger Bay No. 2, SFC Daniel H. Ringer of

R Division joined a team that could not open the hanger bay doors and had to first cool

them down, finally going through the side. At one point they applied salt water to a

bulkhead only to watch in dismay as the water turned to steam from the intense heat. The

chief made his way up to the flight deck and gathered some men to cut their way through

with torches. He finally grabbed some sleep by 1100 on Sunday, but he awoke five hours

later to note that fire still re-flashed. “The majority of the men were all right” remembered

SFC Ringer. “There was no trouble in getting them to fight the fire. Most of them were

eager to help in any way they could.” The heat, however, became unbearable for many

men, and without proper protection some suffered frightful burns as fire ignited their

uniforms or literally melted material onto their skin. RADM Lanham reached the bridge

and gazed down in horror at the carnage below, noting that the firestorm engulfed the aft

end of the flight deck and that men fought to halt the inferno from moving forward. A

bosun grabbed his arm and pulled him down, mentioning that the Plexiglas would not be

safe. “As I dropped down” reflected the admiral, “another explosion shook the ship. A large

piece of shrapnel crashed through the plexiglass where my face was.” CDR John R.

Dewenter, Commander, CVW-17, proudly noted that most of his men “chipped right in”

and fought alongside Forrestal’s crew. LTJG Francis R. Guinan observed: “No one had

better say to me that American youth are lazy. I saw men working today who were not only

injured, but thoroughly exhausted and they had to be carried away. They were trying so

hard to help, but were actually becoming a burden.” Different men reacted to the stress in

different ways and the fires trapped 13 sailors in compartment 1-217-4-Q port side aft. As

they tried to escape via an alternative door blasts and flying objects forced them back

within, and some men bravely attempted to rally their shipmates and seek a way out, while

others prayed and still others wept or struggled with their fears. The men finally stumbled

over aircraft and yellow equipment and escaped from the hatch near the shop on the hanger

deck. The smoke became so thick that even with a few flashlights they could not see more

then a couple of feet in front of them and some sailors became separated in the confusion.

The large number of casualties quickly overwhelmed the ship’s Sick Bay staff, who worked

diligently to treat the ghastly wounds which the disaster inflicted. Meanwhile, the stricken

ship signaled her attendant destroyers, Henry W. Tucker and Rupertus–the latter acting as

her plane guard–to “Close to assist at best speed.” Rupertus raced in and her men valiantly

played hoses onto the fire, staunchly keeping close aboard to Forrestal’s starboard side,

although flames lapped out at them and smoke rapidly enveloped the destroyer. Other ships

and aircraft came to the rescue. Destroyer George K. MacKenzie(DD-836) steamed eight

miles away as one of attack aircraft carrier Oriskany’s (CVA-34) plane guards when a

lookout spotted the smoke, which her historian described as rising up “hundreds of feet

into the air,” from the wounded ship, at about 1100. Oriskany and George K.

MacKenzie gathered destroyer Samuel N. Moore (DD-747) and all three ships sped to the

scene. George K. MacKenzie recovered three men from the water and took another trio on

board from Rupertus’ motor whaleboat, before the destroyer took station

on Forrestal’s starboard quarter. The destroyer’s busy crew also directed Samuel N.

Moore to pick up a further 11 survivors they spotted in the water. For almost an hour and a

half George K. MacKenzie’s firefighting parties sprayed the carrier with as many hoses as

they could bring to bear. Henry W. Tucker retraced Forrestal’sroute searching for survivors

floundering in the water. A Kaman UH-2A Seasprite, ENS Leonard M. Eiland, Jr., ADJ3

James O. James, Jr., and AN Albert E. Barrows of HC-1 Detachment Golf embarked

inOriskany–but flying as an additional plane guard for Forrestal–picked up five men from

the water in the first hour alone, and later flew other men to sick bays of nearby ships.

Helos from attack aircraft carriers Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) and Oriskany and from

the Da Nang area of South Vietnam also raced in to help. Firefighters discovered to their

horror that they used their available oxygen breathing apparatuses quickly, but helos from

the carriers dropped-off additional apparatuses and canisters to enable men to continue the

fight. Antisubmarine warfare support aircraft carrier Intrepid (CVS-11), embarking CVW-

10, learned of the fire while en route to Yankee Station from Japanese waters, and she

arrived alongside of Forrestal later in the day. Men from Intrepid transferred fog-foam to

the smoldering carrier by helos, and sent a medical team over toOriskany to assist her crew

with treating casualties. Explosive ordnance disposal sailors carefully defused unexploded

bombs. When LT(JG) Robert P. Cates, the ship’s explosive ordnance demolition officer,

noted two bombs–a 500 and a 750 pounder–still smoking in the midst of the flight deck,

he disregarded the danger, resolutely walked over to them, defused the bombs and worked

with other men to jettison them overboard. The sailors and marines who survived brought

the flames under control on the flight deck by 1215, although they continued to clear smoke

and to cool hot steel on the 02 and 03 levels until they reported all fires under control by

1342, and finally declared the fire defeated at 0400 the next morning, due to additional

flare-ups. Crewmembers searched through smoky or flooded compartments below deck for

their fallen friends. Some 132 officers and men died in the catastrophe, two disappeared

(missing, presumed dead), and another 62 suffered injuries. Sixteen ANM-65 1,000, four

M-117 750 and eight Mk-82 500 pound bombs ripped seven frightful holes through the

armored flight deck, and scorches from the intense heat marked the flight deck, while

melted and twisted debris and wreckage choked the area. Twenty-one aircraft also

sustained enough damage from fire, explosions and salt water to be stricken from naval

inventory, including: seven Phantom IIs (BuNos 153046, 153054, 153060, 153061,

153066, 153069 and 153912); eleven A-4E Skyhawks (149996, 150064, 150068, 150084,

150115, 150118, 150129, 152018, 152024, 152036 and 152040); and

three Vigilantes (148932, 149282 and 149305). The crew fought back heroically, however,

the men compounded errors due to their lack of intensive firefighting training, and on at

least one instance a team beat the fire by laying down a protective covering of foam, only to

have a second (well intentioned) team follow them up and wash it away with water, with

the flames leaping up almost immediately again and cutting the sailors off. The Navy

circulated the lessons which the men of Forrestal re-learned at such cost throughout the

Fleet, and the flight deck film of the flight operations, subsequently entitled Learn Or Burn,

became mandatory viewing for fire fighting trainees for years. Although investigators could

not identify the exact chain of events behind the carnage, they revealed potential

maintenance issues including concerns in circuitry (stray voltage) associated with LAU-10

rocket launchers and Zunis, as well as the age of the 1,000 pound ‘fat bombs” loaded for the

strike, shards from one of which dated it originally to the Korean War in 1953. The fire also

revealed that Forrestal required a heavy duty, armored forklift to jettison aircraft more

efficiently, particularly heavier types such as Vigilantes. Investigators did, however,

absolveLCDR Bangert and LT(JG) McKay of any errors and noted their exemplary service

prior to the catastrophe. Henry W. Tucker escorted Forrestal to rendezvous with hospital

ship Repose (AH-16) at 2054, allowing the crew to begin transferring their dead and

wounded shipmates at 2253. Shortly thereafter destroyer Bausell (DD-845) also reached the

carrier to help.

Crew members played hoses onto the fires on the flight deck as explosions erupted around them, in the

Gulf of Tonkin, on 29 July 1967. The conflagration began as sailors prepared heavily-armed and fueled

aircraft to launch for their second major strike of the day against the North Vietnamese. Navy

Photograph No. 1124794.

30 Jul 1967: “I don’t apologize for my inability to talk to you quite clearly” explained

LCDR Geoffrey E. Gaugham, a Benedictine chaplain who held mass on board Forrestal in a

cluttered hanger at noon. “I was self-contained about this tragedy until I heard confessions

this morning. Your emotions became my emotions. We must pray for the dead amongst us,

and pray also that we deserve to have lived.” Crewmembers finished transferring their

stricken comrades over to Repose at 0220, which allowed the hospital ship to detach at

1410, however, the carrier continued to suffer several brief flash fires, though without

casualties. Meanwhile, Intrepidserved as host ship for media representatives and VIPs

flown out to the scene during the day.

31 Jul–11 Aug 1967: During murky skies laden with monsoon

rains Forrestal somberly moored at Subic Bay on the evening of the 31st to make

emergency repairs, however, a minor blaze erupted briefly during her navigation and sea

and anchor details. As the crew manned the rails and edged the carrier closer in toward

Leyte Pier, a fire broke out among a pile of still smoldering mattresses. Some men stepped

away from their stations to respond and quickly extinguished the fire without casualties,

though with little of the urgency they displayed during the previous disaster. “They’re

probably immune to it by now” mused an officer standing on the pier concerning the

reactions of the weary crew, as the fire alarm announcement over the 1MC became clearly

audible to people waiting ashore. The damage from the main fire proved to be beyond the

means of the facilities there to repair, and the ship continued on to the United States to heal

from her wounds. Meanwhile, Henry W. Tucker faithfully shepherded Forrestal to the area

and then detached to escort attack aircraft carrierConstellation (CVA-64) toward

Vietnamese waters, and Intrepid relieved Forrestal’s place on the line at Yankee

Station. Skywarriors from VAH-10 Detachment 59 flew back to NAS Whidbey Island

in Washingtonfor immediate redeployment, and Grumman A-6A Intruders from VA-65

transferred to VA-196 embarking Constellation. About 450 relatives and friends of men on

board Forrestal attended an inter-faith memorial service at the Chapel of the Good

Shepherd at NAS Oceana, on 3 August. As the people left the chapel 16 jets from CVW-17

flew overhead to honor their fallen shipmates. The Navy later dedicated its Farrier Fire

Fighting School Learning Site at Norfolk for ABC Gerald W. Farrier, who made the

ultimate sacrifice for his fellow crewmembers that terrible day. As the fire erupted the chief

grabbed a CO2 bottle and courageously rushed past stunned crewmembers toward the

burning aircraft, but the initial explosions killed him instantly.

The cost: sailors carefully lowered the first of their shipmates killed in the fire of 29 July 1967, when

they moored at Leyte Pier at NAS Cubi Point in the Philippines. Navy Photo by PHC William M.

Powers.

12–13 Sep 1967: Forrestal returned to the United States when she sailed up the St.

John’s River and arrived at NS Mayport at 1830. The ship unloaded aircraft and the crews

of squadrons based in Florida, before continuing on at 1300 the next day for Virginian

waters. CAPT Beling ordered speed increased to an average of 27 knots to enable the

carrier to reach home and loved ones as planned.

14 Sep 1967: As the ship hove into sight during the afternoon watch over 3,000 family

members and friends gathered on Pier 12 and on board Randolph, Forrestal’s host ship,

burst into frenzied cheering to welcome home their loved ones to Norfolk following the

tragic deployment.

19 Sep 1967–8 Apr 1968: Forrestal completed extensive repairs at Norfolk Naval

Shipyard. She entered Drydock No. 8 (21 September 1967–10 February 1968). While in

the yard the crew manned their battle stations for general quarters drills every other Friday

morning, and over 1,000 men attended the five-day dual firefighting and damage control

course at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania. The ship floated from drydock

and shifted to Berths 42 and 43 in front of the drydock to complete repairs.

8–15 Apr 1968: CAPT Robert B. Baldwin sailed the carrier down the Elizabeth River and

out into the waters off the Virginia capes for her post repair trials, the ship’s first time at

sea in 207 days. RADM John D. Bulkeley,[iv]

President of the Board of Inspection and

Survey, and his staff inspected the ship for any discrepancies or concerns requiring

additional repairs. While accomplishing trials the ship also recorded her first arrested

landing since the fire when CDR Robert E. Ferguson, Commander, CVW-17, trapped on

board.

23 Apr–22 May 1968: Forrestal completed refresher training in Caribbean waters. The

ship loaded and unloaded her wing at Mayport en route on both voyages, and the crew also

went ashore for liberty at Montego Bay in Jamaica.

11–27 Jun 1968: The carrier completed a variety of training exercises and pre-deployment

work-ups off Jacksonville, Florida. Although the Navy originally scheduled her training

through 5 July, the ship suffered problems with a steam turbine, which forced her to

terminate her training before scheduled.

1–20 Jul 1968: Forrestal repaired the turbine at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

27 Jul 1968: Forrestal relieved Shangri-La and commenced operations in the Med, her

first return to that sea in three years since the summer of 1965.

17 Aug 1968: LT Robert P. Eicher of VA-34 completed the ship’s 130,000th

trap in an

A-4C Skyhawk one day out from Marseilles, France, where the ship made a brief stop

(9–15 August).

1–3 Oct 1968: Forrestal anchored in Argostoli Bay in Greece for a fleet commander’s

conference held on board Independence.

20 Nov 1968: VADM David C. Richardson, Commander, Sixth Fleet, and Senator John

C. Stennis of Mississippi, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, visited

the ship.

3 Jan–13 Jan 1969: Following a visit to Cannes, France (23 December 1968–3 January

1969) Forrestal operated in the Ionian Sea, before anchoring at the Grand Harbor of

Valletta on Malta. Poor weather and high winds caused a cancellation of boating and

only allowed a single day of general visiting for curious Maltese.

17–22 Feb 1969: The ship operated in the Aegean Sea after

visiting Istanbul in Turkey (10–17 February).

1–17 Mar 1969: Operations in the Adriatic Sea through the 11th

afforded the crew the

unique opportunity of visiting Trieste in northeastern Italy (11–17 March).

15–19 Apr 1969: Although the ship experienced several uneventful visits to harbors

during this deployment, she encountered her second burst of poor weather while making

port at Marseilles, when the boating conditions so much that Forrestal cancelled

general public visitation.

22 Apr 1969: Attack aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVA-67)

relieved Forrestal during the morning at NS Rota, Spain. At 1900 Forrestal weighed

anchor and set sail for home.

29 Apr 1969: Forrestal moored to Pier 12 at Norfolk after an uneventful seven day

voyage from the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar and across the Atlantic,

completing a nine-month deployment–her longest to the Mediterranean to date.

5–9 May 1969: Following her return the ship spent several days offloading

ammunition.

9 May–1 Aug 1969: Forrestal completed a restricted availability at Norfolk Naval

Shipyard.

11 Aug–27 Sep 1969: The ship accomplished a combination of exercises and training

evolutions designed to ready her for battle, including refresher training, which took her

to Caribbean and western Atlantic waters. Forrestal anchored at Guantánamo Bay on 20

August, and again on 13 September. She also stopped by both times on her way

southward and again returning to Pier 12, Norfolk, to load and offload aircraft and their

crews from the wing and ammunition at Mayport.

13–17 Oct 1969: The carrier conducted a firepower demonstration for 400 guests of

various service colleges. She spent the first two days rehearsing and performed the

demonstration on the 16th

and 17th

.

11–12 Dec 1969: The ship passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the

Mediterranean overnight, relieving John F. Kennedy at Pollensa Bay the next

morning. Forrestal then proceeded to operate in the western Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian

and Ionian Seas.

10–20 Jan 1970: The carrier visited Marsaxlokk at Malta. Occasional foul winter

weather plagued this visit and the crew could only complete two of their four planned

days of general visiting for the public, and limiting a third day, due to the dangerous

boating conditions.

16 Feb–2 Mar 1970: Forrestal operated in the Ionian Sea (16–23 February) and then

again visited Trieste (23 February–2 March). CDR Douglas C. Coleman of RVAH-13

made the 150,000th

arresting landing on board Forrestal as she steamed in the Ionian

Sea, in a Vigilante on 20 February.

10–19 Mar 1970: Heavy weather again restricted boating conditions for visitors and for

liberty parties going ashore, when the ship put into Barcelona, Spain, reducing boating

visitation from three days to two.

9–15 Apr 1970: After sailing in the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas (2–9

April), Forrestal anchored at Argostoli Bay in Greece. RADM George C. Talley, Jr.,

relieved RADM William H. House as Commander, Carrier Division 4, during a

ceremony on board, on 10 April.

20 Apr–1 May 1970: The ship anchored off Valletta and St. Paul’s Bay, Malta.

Crewmembers contributed to a variety of charitable projects to help people whenever

they made port, but this particular visit included a hitherto distinctive event. Some men

from the carrier displayed their love of romance when they provided the funds and help

to hold a wedding celebration, cake, band and a dowry of $380.00 collected from their

shipmates, for the marriage of two Maltese at an orphanage at Gozo.

1–23 May 1970: Following her Maltese call the carrier steamed in the Ionian Sea,

broken by a call at the Greek capital of Athens (7–18 May). Chief of Naval Operations

(Designate) VADM Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., visited the ship to observe flight operations

overnight on 22 and 23 May. During his stay the affable admiral also answered

questions from the crew and sailors from WFOR-TV, the ship’s television station,

interviewed the prospective and outspoken CNO.

23–27 May 1970: Forrestal anchored at Argostoli Bay. Unfortunately, the ship did not

hold liberty call for her disappointed crew.

28 May–4 Jun 1970: The ship put into Corfu.

4–21 Jun 1970: After steaming in the Ionian Sea for Operation Dawn Patrol, a joint

NATO readiness exercise to prepare for possible East Bloc attacks in the event of a

European war, Forrestal anchored inSouda Bay at Crete (4–9 June). The Sixth Fleet

intended Forrestal to visit Naples on 16 June, however, civil strife erupted in Jordan,

forcing the ship to curtail her visit and rush to the eastern Mediterranean. The carrier

patrolled that area and prepared to provide air support to cover evacuations of

Americans from Jordan, but the situation calmed and she came about and made for her

abbreviated visit to Naples, on the 21st.

28–29 Jun 1970: Forrestal departed the Mediterranean and conducted an underway

turnover with Saratoga the next day.

13 Jul–25 Sep 1970: The ship offloaded her ammunition at Norfolk ammunition

anchorage through 17 July; she then moored to Pier 5, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, to

complete a restricted availability.

30 Sep 1970: Forrestal hosted the change of command ceremony for Commander in

Chief Atlantic Command and Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, when ADM Charles

K. Duncan relieved ADM Ephraim P. Holmes, at Pier 12 at NS Norfolk. Secretary of

the Navy John H. Chaffee, Jr., led the entourage of dignitaries present.

1–9 Oct 1970: The carrier stood out of Norfolk for post repair trials, returning to onload

ammunition (5–9 October).

16–30 Oct 1970: Whenever carriers assigned to the Atlantic Fleet completed restricted

availabilities at this time, they normally conducted their refresher training and carrier

qualifications in Caribbean waters. As an experiment and economy measure,

however, Forrestal accomplished her scheduled training and qualifications off

the Virginia Capes, broken only be a brief return to Norfolk on 22 October.

30 Nov–7 Dec 1970: While training and working-up, Forrestal witnessed a unique

operation when two Air Force pilots, MAJ George Weeks, USAF, an exchange officer

assigned to VF-11, and LCOL Clifford Allison, USAF (the radar intercept officer

serving from the staff of Commander, Second Fleet) flying with that squadron, landed

their F-4B Phantom IIs for what the ship’s Command History Report referred to as an

“all-Air Force carrier landing,” on 5 December.

5–24 Jan 1971: While en route to the Mediterranean, Forrestal onloaded VA-81, VA-

83 and RVAH-7, the remaining squadrons of CVW-17, at Mayport on the 7th

; she then

conducted an operational readiness inspection (13–15 January), and anchored off St.

Thomas in the Virgin Islands on the 15th

. The carrier then continued onward steaming

easterly courses, arriving at NS Rota to relieve Independence on 24 January. Grumman

EA-6B Prowlers of Marine Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron (VMAQ)-2

embarked for this initial phase of the deployment. Forrestal steamed through

the Strait of Gibraltar in theMediterranean that night.

29 Jan–3 Feb 1971: The ship made her first visit to a Mediterranean port during this

deployment to the Sixth Fleet when she anchored off Valletta’s sea wall. Choppy seas

interfered with liberty ashore and visitation by the normally friendly Maltese, however,

and forced Forrestal to restrict visitation.

3–8 Feb 1971: While steaming in the Ionian Sea Forrestal received word that

Panamanian-flagged ore ship Flamingo lost power and drifted at the mercy of the wind

and tide off southern Italy, on 7 February. Sixth Fleet destroyers attempted to take her

in tow, however, rough seas prevented them from aiding the stricken

ship. Forrestal sent four Sikorsky SH-3D Sea Kings from HS-3 through winds gusting

up to 60 knots and over what the ship’s Command History Report described as

“extremely heavy seas” to rescue all 20 crewmembers and passengers from Flamingo.

The carrier’s crew fed and provided medical attention to the survivors, who they flew

on to Naval Air Facility (NAF) Sigonella in Sicily the next day to be transported to

reunions with their loved ones.

8–10 Feb 1971: As Forrestal anchored in St. Paul’s Bay at Malta, Secretary of the

Navy Chaffee and VADM Isaac C. Kidd, Jr., Commander, Sixth Fleet, paid the ship a

visit. The secretary appeared onForrestal’s WFOR-TV for a question and answer

session with the crew and presented medals to the 16 men who participated in the

rescue of the people from Flamingo. Secretary Chaffee also gave the crew the exciting

news that they could wear civilian clothing while on liberty and to store them on board

as a feasibility study for wider circulation. The concept proved so popular amongst

sailors that the Sixth Fleet later adopted the policy throughout the Mediterranean.

Previously, only officers, chiefs and first class petty officers enjoyed that privilege.

10–22 Feb 1971: The carrier operated in the Ionian Sea, during which she hosted a visit

on the 18th

by the American ambassador to the Netherlands and the Dutch Foreign

Minister Joseph Luns, who later became the Secretary General of NATO.

22 Feb–2 Mar 1971: As Forrestal put into Valletta poor weather restricted visiting.

12–17 Mar 1971: The ship steamed in the Aegean Sea. Former West German Air Force

Chief of Staff GEN Johannes Steinhoff, newly-elected as the Chairman of NATO

Military Committee, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe [SHAPE], visited for

a carrier orientation (12–13 March).

1–3 Apr 1971: Following a brief visit to Athens, Forrestal transited the Strait of

Messina and anchored off Naples to off-load a damaged aircraft, however, rough seas

precluded the transfer from the carrier to a barge, so Forrestal stood out of the bay into

the Tyrrhenian Sea before she could return the next day as the weather calmed to

complete the transfer.

28 Apr–17 May 1971: Forrestal participated in Operation Dawn Patrol, a NATO air

and sea exercise involving more than 60 ships and submarines and over 300 aircraft

from the American, British, Greek, Italian and Turkish forces. Dawn Patrol took the

carrier from the western Mediterranean to the Tyrrhenian Seas and back again as the

struggle for supremacy between the ‘rival powers’ sea-sawed across the region during

the simulated war. A VF-11 Phantom II, LT William G. Pfeiffer and LT(JG) Jake T.

Walters, Jr., lost its right main landing gear after bolstering, on 2 May. The crew

erected the emergency barricade and LT Pfeiffer landed the Phantom II safely. Deputy

Secretary of Defense David Packard visited during his tour of American military

installations ashore in Europe and ships operating in European waters.

16–22 May 1971: The ship visited Naples. Before Forrestal entered port aircraft

performed a “massive” flyover as the height of the 20th

anniversary celebration of the

establishment of Allied Forces South Europe [AFSOUTH].

25–26 May 1971: Following a transit of the Strait of Messina the carrier anchored at

Argostoli. ADM Horacio Rivero, Jr., Commander-in-Chief South, RADM Pierre N.

Charbonnet, Jr., Commander, Fleet Air Forces Mediterranean, and RADM George L.

Cassell, Deputy Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe,

stayed on board overnight.

11–13 Jun 1971: Following a visit to Corfu (3–11 June) the ship steamed in the Ionian

Sea to hold flight operations, during which Belgian MGEN Avi I. Du Monceau,

commanding their Tactical Air Force, visited the carrier, on the 12th

and 13th

.

14 Jun 1971: Forrestal entered the western Mediterranean. Cartoonist Henry K.

“Hank” Ketchum, a chief photographic specialist during World War II who created the

cartoon character Half Hitch, a naval counterpart to the Army’s Sad Sack, and who went

on after the war to develop his more popularly known comic protagonist Dennis the

Menace, visited the ship at the behest of ADM Zumwalt to interview sailors concerning

changes in their service and lifestyles since 1945.

27–30 Jun 1971: Saratoga relieved Forrestal at Rota, and VMAQ-2 crossdecked over

to Saratoga. The ship then immediately sailed for home on the same day. While en

route to the United States three days later, RADM Donald D. Engen relieved RADM

Talley as Commander, Carrier Division 4. Meanwhile on the same

day, Forrestal attempted an evolution she hitherto never before completed when she

offloaded most of her ordnance to ammunition ships while still returning from

deployment, alleviating the need to spend time at the ammunition anchorage and the

back-breaking hours that her men would spend after doing so after completing an

exhausting deployment and while needing rest and time with their families.

2 Jul 1971: At about 1300 Forrestal rounded Sewell’s Point in Hampton Roads and

moored to Pier 12 at Norfolk.

16 Jul 1971–10 Apr 1972: Shortly after noon the ship stood down the channel to

offload her remaining ammunition, and then she entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for an

overhaul. Forrestal completed work in drydock (28 August–2 December 1971). Among

the many projects which the crew and shipyard workers completed while she remained

in drydock, they removed the posts for both rudders to check them for wear, the first

time that such work was accomplished since the ship commissioned. She then moored

to Pier 5 at the yard, where she remained until 10 April, when ongoing international

tensions generated by NATO and Warsaw Pact rivalry over the European balance of

power forced her to curtail her work two months earlier than originally scheduled to

relieve America, herself ordered to relieve John F. Kennedy, which became overdue to

return home.

10 Apr–28 Jun 1972: At various times during this period the ship completed her type

training and carrier qualification exercises off the Virginia Capes instead of in Cuban

waters, because her accelerated deployment precluded the usual refresher training

conducted off Guantánamo Bay. RADM Frederick C. Turner relieved RADM William D.

Hauser as Commander, Carrier Division 2, during a ceremony on board, on 18 May. During

these trials (16–28 June), the ship also celebrated her first operations with Grumman F-

14As when two Tomcats (BuNos 158613 and 158614) completed a number of trials on

board Forrestal.

10 Jul–18 Aug 1971: A fire broke out on the 03 Level in Flag Country during the early

morning hours. The blaze gutted the flag mess and galley, as well as flag living quarters.

Peripheral heat and smoke damage extended considerably after and slightly forward of the

main fire area. Firemen from Naval Station Norfolk valiantly backed-up crewmembers who

rushed to contain and extinguish the blaze, which they finally controlled by about 1500

during the afternoon watch, however, investigators could not penetrate the heat and smoke

adequately for almost two days, so heavily did the blaze engulf the area. Although the ship

did not report any casualties, investigators later apprehended and charged YNSN Jeffrey

Allison, a yeoman assigned to the staff of Commander, Carrier Division 2, for setting the

fire, which gutted spaces, destroyed sophisticated CIC electronics equipment and wiring,

and inflicted total damages estimated at $7.5 million. Forrestal steamed under her own

power to Norfolk Naval Shipyard for repairs, returning to Pier 12,Norfolk.

29 Sep 1972: Forrestal arrived at Rota during her 10th

Mediterranean deployment. Marine

Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA)-531, flying F-4B Phantom IIs, relieved VF-74, which

transitioned to F-4Js on boardForrestal. The latter squadron deployed with CVW-8

embarking America.

6 Oct 1972: The ship rendezvoused with attack aircraft carrier Franklin D.

Roosevelt (CVA-42) at Pollensa Bay. Both carriers conducted cross-decking to transfer flag

officers and their staffs as Commander, Carrier Division 6 and his staff left Forrestal to

embark in Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Commander, Carrier Division 2/Commander, Task

Force 60 embarked in Forrestal.

20 Feb 1972: When Forrestal sailed from Istanbul, Turkey, her first visit to that crossroads

of the Orient since 1969, she departed without a pair of marines from VMFA-531, who the

Turks detained in Istanbul on charges of possession of drugs. The Turks later returned one

of the men to U.S. custody, however, the other man remained in the notorious Turkish

prison system.

22 Oct 1972: An Olympic Airways NAMC YS-11 airliner crashed after taking off

from Athens International Airport during reduced visibility conditions, off the coast of

Voula near Athens. Four SH-3D Sea Kings from HS-3 embarking Forrestal, the only

helicopter crews in the immediate area qualified for night rescues, flew to the scene and

assisted in the rescue of three crewmembers and 16 passengers, however, 37 people (one

crewmember and 36 passengers) died during the crash or by drowning–although the Sea

King crews did not locate survivors they recovered one of the bodies. Ironically, throughout

this period controversy concerning the homeporting of a Sixth Fleet carrier

in Athens manifested itself through adverse publicity by the media, and servicemembers on

liberty ashore experienced a number of altercations with Greek taxicab drivers during

several visits to Athens, though not during a stop at Thessaloniki. One of the reasons that

the situation gradually diffused became the practice by Forrestal crewmembers of renting a

civilian nightclub (a closed discothèque) near the fleet landing, which offered sailors and

marines a reasonable alternative to civilian establishments, of arranging a direct-dial

overseas telephone and of improving shore patrol communications system.

8 Nov 1972: A Sea King crew from HS-3 conducted an anti-submarine exercise with Italian

guided missile escort cruiser Andrea Doria (C-553).

12–19 Nov 1972: Forrestal participated in National Week 14, a multi-national NATO

exercise involving the Sixth Fleet and a number of countries bordering

the Mediterranean designed to improved tactics in modern naval warfare, assist NATO

commands in training for operations, and to find weaknesses in concepts and

communications. A post exercise brief and general board meeting on board the carrier at

Souda Bay at Crete concluded the exercise, on the 18th

and 19th

. In addition, two Sea

King crews from HS-3 detached from the carrier to fast combat support ship Seattle (AOE-

3) to fly experimental anti-submarine missions from a “non-aviation ship” during the

exercise.

20 Nov 1972: As Forrestal prepared to leave Souda Bay a ground accident interrupted her

departure. Crewmembers taxied Helo No. 007, a Sea King (BuNo 156499) from HS-3, to a

wash rack in close proximity to a hanger, when suddenly the rotor blades struck the hanger

door. Flying pieces of 007’s rotor blades killed two men, including HM1 Richard H.

Nadeau of the ship’s company, and seriously injured a third sailor.

21–27 Nov 1972: When the ship visited Athens unfavorable media reaction reached its

peak due to another confrontation between a Greek taxicab driver and a pair of sailors

from Forrestal. The Greek government prosecuted the sailors, despite the efforts of

CAPT James B. Linder to return the men to U.S. jurisdiction. The attention this incident

received across European media prompted the rapid enforcement of the policies ashore that

the crew developed during this deployment. During subsequent visits, including an

extended stay over Christmas and New Years to enable the crew and their dependents to

enjoy charter flights to loved ones, the crew succeeded in reducing these liberty incidents.

28–30 Nov 1972: Aircraft conducted two days of cross-deck operations with their

British counterparts from aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (R-09) in the

southeastern Mediterranean.

6–10 Dec 1972: The ship visited Rhodes, however, high seas and a strong tidal current

in the Bay of Rhodes prevented normal boating, making it possible only for dependents

and their sponsors to disembark the carrier. In addition, AN C.E. Roberts of VAQ-135

leapt into the bay on the 8th

. Two helo crews from HS-3 conducted an extensive search

but could not recover their shipmate due to the extremely heavy seas, high winds and

poor visibility.

18 Feb 1973: Beginning on this date Forrestal participated in National Week 15,

conducting the post exercise de brief in Augusta Bay.

28–31 Mar 1973: While preparing to take part in NATO exercises, Forrestal received

orders directing her to proceed to Tunisian waters at speed to assist victims of a flood in

the Medjerda River Valley of that North African country. The carrier led two other Sixth

Fleet ships, a destroyer and an amphibious assault ship, toward Tunis,

where Forrestal appeared at first light on the 29th

(about 13 hours after receiving the

request) ready to assist the beleaguered people of the area. Altogether, helo crews flew

about 40 sorties, pulling 729 persons from the rapidly rising waters, moving 27 tons of

cargo, lifting 17 doctors to evacuation centers, carrying an emergency appendectomy to the

carrier, and evacuating the entire sheep herd–227 sheep–from one flooded village. Sea

Kings flying from Forrestal evacuated about 200 people and airlifted four tons of relief

supplies to flood victims. In addition, the carrier's bakery provided 1,200 loaves of bread

for distribution, and crew members contributed money to buy supplies for homeless

children. Many of the ship’s air traffic controllers joined men from the Operations and Air

Operations Departments as a detachment ashore at Tunis Airfield, where they worked from

the control center directing flights. In addition to the danger the men faced due to the bitter

weather, they also exercised considerable skills dealing with Tunisians who desired to

remain with their homes and livestock, regardless of the rising flood waters or incessant

downpours. As the crisis began to subside on the third day, Tunisian President Habib

Bourguiba decorated RADM Turner and CAPT Linder for their efforts on behalf of his

countrymen. French, Italian, Libyan and Tunisian disaster relief teams also supported the

efforts of Sixth Fleet crews.

14 Apr 1973: The ship anchored at Kithira, accompanied by several Soviet

ships. Forrestal conducted flight operations while anchored, an unusual evolution that

appeared to greatly interest the Russians.

4–14 Jun 1973: The ship participated in Dawn Patrol NATO exercises.

25–27 Jun 1973: Forrestal stood out of Palma de Mallorca, where she put in for a brief

visit (16–24 June), and from where her “early bird” charter flight flew off for home, and

steamed westerly courses to Rota. After turning over to her relief, she passed through

the Strait of Gibraltar and into the Atlantic.

6 Jul 1973: By the time the ship returned to Pier 12 at NS Norfolk, aircraft completed

11,957 recoveries and flew 28,355 total flight hours, accomplishing 13,731 sorties, during

this deployment. The carrier steamed underway 148 days, and made port 140 days at

anchor.

Aug–2 Nov 1973: The first week of the month found Forrestal in Norfolk Naval Shipyard

for a three-month overhaul, during which a major project became replacing the hanger bay

sprinkler system and other firefighting equipment with more modern systems. The crisis

that erupted in the Middle East due to the Arab attack against the Israelis (known variously

as the Yom Kippur, October, Ramadan or Fourth Arab-Israeli War, 6–26 October),

precipitated frenzied shipyard activity and crewmembers joined civilan laborers working at

what the ship’s Command History Report described as a “feverpitch” for seven days a week

for a month. Shipyard workers went into extra shifts and these collective efforts

brought Forrestal out of overhaul two months earlier then planned.

26 Nov 1973: Lockheed S-3A Vikings accomplished their first landings on

board Forrestal during carrier qualifications as the ship steamed off the Virginia capes. In

addition, crewmembers claimed that the ship attained 34-knots during these trials,

exceeding her designed speed after years of service and wear.

14 Dec 1973: Tomcats returned to the ship during carrier qualifications on board off

the Virginia capes. LCDR Commander Warren B. Christie, Jr., however, ejected from his

LTD A-7E when the Corsair IImalfunctioned at 22,000 feet. The carrier’s plane guard helo

rescued the pilot during his ordeal.

31 Dec 1973–1 Jan 1974: The crew saw the old New Year out and welcomed the new one

in with a party in Hanger Bay No. 1, while moored at Pier 12, which many men from ships

berthed in company also attended.

7–18 Jan 1974: The ship underwent carrier qualifications off the east coast in preparation

for her operational readiness evaluation. Of significance concerns her urgent need to moor

at Mayport on the 19th

, to investigateCorsair II minor engine problems.

14 Mar 1974: Forrestal relieved Franklin D. Roosevelt in mid-Atlantic waters while en

route to the Mediterranean.

20–21 Mar 1974: Forrestal passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and arrived for duty in

the Mediterranean, putting into Rota. Extended deployments and long line periods

produced a nearly intolerable strain on sailors and marines, fueled by racial tensions

endemic throughout the armed forces, and a racial incident flared up on board Forrestal.

LTJG Abraham R. Stowe, the ship’s Assistant Electronics Material Officer, recalled that

they learned about racial crises on board other ships including attack aircraft

carriers Constellation and Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), and then began to experience problems

during this deployment. The officer–himself an African American–related how the

operations officer announced during an all-officer’s meeting in the operations department

that sailors had discovered a burning cross on board. When the men discussed the hateful

symbol and how it could insult shipmates, Stowe replied: “…as a black man I’m going to

advise this group that when a burning cross is found, a white person might wonder,

or possibly construe that as a racial slur. But a black person, there is no question about

what the meaning of that is.” Stowe recommended to his chain of command that they

approach what he described as a systemic problem and quickly diffuse it, though they

(apparently) did not locate the culprits of the hate crime, and he spent most of the

remainder of the cruise on “pins and needles.” The crew did not experience any additional

problems, however, and Stowe noted that most of his shipmates served proudly, and that

they returned to a routine of pride and professionalism as quickly as the men could under

the trying circumstances.

22 Mar 1974–5 Jun 1975: RADM Brian McCauley arrived in Cairo, Egypt, with a small

military planning staff to clear the Suez Canal of wreckage and unexploded ordnance

resulting from fighting between the Arabs and Israelis since 1967 (the Six-Day War, War

of Attrition and Yom Kippur or October War), which closed the vital artery to

international shipping. Operations Nimbus Star directed Navy minesweeping efforts of the

canal; Nimbus Moon (water) focused on training and assisting Egyptian mine clearance

and salvage operations, and Nimbus Moon (land) directed Army explosive ordnance

disposal teams to train and supervise Egyptians ashore. The British and French also

participated in the extensive program. The Navy established contingency Task Force 65 on

8 April 1974, the first teams of which began their crucial work from amphibious assault

ship Iwo Jima (LPH-2), initially anchored in Port Said harbor. A Sikorsky RH-53D Sea

Stallion from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM)-12 lifted off from Iwo

Jima, picked up a Mk 105 magnetic minesweeping sled from support people ashore, and

began sweeping the approaches to Port Said, on the 22nd

. Task Force 65 grew

proportionately to the magnitude of the problem and tank landing shipsBarnstable

County (LST-1197) and Boulder (LST-1190), salvage ships Escape (ARS-6)

and Opportune (ARS-41) and heavy lift craft Crilley (YHLC-1) and Crandall (YHLC-2)

were among vessels that later joined Nimbus Star, and amphibious assault

ship Inchon (LPH-12) relieved Iwo Jima in mid-May 1974. Meanwhile, through

Operation Nimrod Spar they cleared 10 large ships and a number of smaller vessels such

as dredges which the Egyptians scuttled as blockships in 1967. The canal finally reopened

to maritime commercial traffic on 5 June 1975. Whenever Forrestal operated in

the Mediterranean during this period, her aircraftoften received tasking regarding flying

reconnaissance, combat air patrol and support missions for Task Force 65.

1 Apr 1974: Forrestal operated in the central Mediterranean to back-up America, which

steamed in the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to respond to a Middle East crisis. Israeli

and Syrian tanks and artillery dueled and Israeli aircraft bombed Syrian troops along

the Golan Heights many times during this tense period.

4 Apr 1974: Helos from HS-3 joined with destroyer Davis (DD-937) to track and make

simulated attacks against attack submarine Greenling (SSN-614). The exercises afforded

crewmembers the opportunity to evaluate coordinated aircraft tactics.

28 Apr–2 May 1974: Forrestal participated in Dawn Patrol, a two-phase NATO exercise.

11 May–16 Jun 1974: Following a visit to Athens (5–11 May), the ship covertly transited

the Mediterranean to take part in Umpire’s Decision (15–27 May), a carrier strike exercise

in the eastern Atlantic and westernMediterranean. Passing through

the Strait of Gibraltar on the 15th

, she conducted what HS-3’s Command History Report

emphasized as “special coordinated operations” in the vicinity of the Canary

Islands. Aircraftplayed cat-and-mouse with the men of Tinosa (SSN-606) as they hunted

the attack submarine in simulated wartime conditions. An HS-3 helo from the carrier

rescued a man overboard from escort ship Patterson (DE-1061) within six minutes after he

entered the water, on 30 May. Forrestal passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and returned

to the Mediterranean the next day, in time to commence International Week II, a major

NATO exercise with four other countries in the western Mediterranean over 4 and 8

June. Forrestal anchored in Soudha Bay on Crete to allow her first group of midshipmen

to disembark and a second group to embark, after which she continued on to Corfu for a

brief visit (10–16 June). At least once during this period she also operated with America.

17–20 Jun 1974: While the ship participated in Operation Poopdeck, an exercise with the

Spaniards, HS-3 crews flew Spanish President Don Carlos A. Navaro, Duke of Calabria,

and VADM Daniel J. Murphy, Commander, Sixth Fleet, out to the ship to view the flight

operations, on the 19th

.

8–9 Jul 1974: An F-4J Phantom II, LT Irwin H. Nelson and LTJG Bruce A. Ridley of VF-

74, crashed while conducting operations from Forrestal. Although SH-3D crews from HS-

3 searched the area for 40 hours, they failed to locate either of the men. In addition, the

harried Sea King crewmembers also assisted a merchant ship afire.

11 Jul 1974: An RA-5C Vigilante (BuNo 156614), LT Wesley N. Rutledge and LTJG

Larry S. Parr of RVAH-6, experienced a bomb bay fire that caused a loss of hydraulics,

about four minutes after launching fromForrestal. A helo from HS-3 rescued both men

after they ejected.

15 Jul–2 Sep 1974: Greek Cypriot National Guardsmen and their officers from the Greek

Army seized control of the government of Cyprus. The Americans held America at Rota

(the Navy originally scheduled her to return to Norfolk) and Forrestal (initially anticipating

a visit to Athens, Greece) in the central Med due to the rapidly deteriorating situation on the

island. By the 19th

Forrestal steamed southwest of Crete, about a day’s sail from Cypriot

waters. The next day Turkish troops began landing at the Kyrenia area of

northern Cyprus and their paratroopers stormed down near Nicosia. Fighting continued

between rival Greeks, Turks and Cypriots–some of whom supported the Greeks and some

fought with the Turks–until they agreed upon a cease fire which took effect at 1700 on 22

July (though violations occurred afterward). The Turks halted their offensive as they took

control of the northern third of the island, digging-in along their ‘Atilla Line’ extending

from Lefka on the west through Nicosia to Famagusta on the east. Meanwhile on 20 July, a

helo flying from Forrestal spottedDouce Folie 2, a small yacht crippled by a recent storm

and adrift. The crew suffered in dire straights without fresh water and the helo crew

dropped the survivors a container of cold water alongside, which they eagerly retrieved.

Through that day and into the next helo crews also participated in a 30-hour search for a

downed Sea Stallion flying from Inchon. In addition, the next day the busy SH-3D men of

HS-3 also retrieved a man who fell overboard from the carrier. As a result of the Cypriot

conflict United States Ambassador Roger Davies requested the evacuation of Americans

trapped by the fighting, on the 22nd

. Vice Admiral Murphy broke his flag from guided

missile light cruiser Little Rock (CLG-4), from which he directed sailors and marines from

Task Force 61 for Operation Patience, the U.S. response. People journeyed from the capital

of Nicosia to a British installation at Dhekelia in a convoy of private vehicles, where helos

from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM)-362 operating from Inchon evacuated

466 persons, 384 of them United States citizens, in 22 sorties over only five hours, to

amphibious transport dock Coronado (LPD-11) steaming offshore. Coronado carried the

evacuees to Beirut, Lebanon, in an 11-hour transit, disembarking her passengers there the

next day. Amphibious transport dock Trenton (LPD-14), dock landing ship Spiegel

Grove (LSD-32) and tank landing ship Saginaw (LST-1188) also participated in the

evacuations. Aircraft flying from Forrestal includingPhantoms of VF-11 and VF-

74 covered the dangerous operation. Meanwhile, British helos from a task force including

aircraft carrier HMS Hermes (R-12), destroyer HMS Devonshire (D-02), frigates

HMS Brighton(F-106) and HMS Ryl (F-129) and a tanker and a supply ship rescued at least

1,630 people from beaches around Kyrenia and along the northern coast of the island.

British Royal Air Force (RAF) Hercules’ and additional aircraft also flew people out from

King’s Field. Hermes carried 219 people–114 Americans and the balance foreign nationals

from 19 countries–to a British field at Akrotiri. From there landing craft transferred the

people in a little over four hours to Trenton as she anchored offshore. Trenton then moved

to a point south of Dhekelia where British helos from Hermes lifted an additional 85

evacuees to her. Accompanied by escort shipBlakely (DE-1072) she then made for Beirut,

where the ship offloaded her passengers the next day, on the 25th

. Forrestal steamed to the

south of Cyprus with guided missile frigate William H. Standley (DLG-31) and escort

ships Jesse L. Brown (DE-1098) and Patterson (DE-1061), monitoring the situation as the

firmness of the cease-fire remained in doubt among observers. Aircraft

carrier Independence, which sailed with CVW-7 from the east coast on the 19th

, arrived off

the southwest of Crete after a hurried transit to support Forrestal, on 4 August. The ships

subsequently came about to depart from the area, however, during mob rioting a sniper shot

and killed Ambassador Davies in Nicosia on 19 August. Marines stood to at the embassy to

hold back the angry crush and urgent messages recalled Sixth Fleet ships

including Forrestal, Independence and Inchon, which returned from their duties across

the Mediterranean to again operate off the embattled island. Among some of the ships that

participated in these operations

were: Independence, Inchon, Coronado, Trenton,Saginaw, Spiegel Grove, guided missile

frigates Dahlgren (DLG-12) and William H. Standley, destroyer Richard E. Kraus (DD-

849) and escort ships Blakely, Bowen (DE-1079), Jesse L. Brown and Patterson.

Altogether, the Americans handled 752 evacuees including 498 United States citizens. The

Turkish invasion forced Archbishop Makarios to escape from the island to seek

international support during the crisis, and he could not return to resume his obligations

until 7 December 1974.

9 Sep 1974: Tropical Storm Elaine threatened to overtake Forrestal and her escorts with

winds reaching 70 mph as they returned home across the Atlantic, beginning about 1,000

miles southeast of Norfolk. The ship also rendezvoused with America, which allowed

VAW-126 to cross-deck over to the latter during a potentially dangerous evolution.

10 Sep 1974: A boiler explosion ripped through tanker Eliane of Global Bulk Carriers,

Inc., of Liberian registry. Forrestal responded to her distress and evacuated two

crewmembers to Sick Bay, and sailors took them from there on to the mainland. One man

died from his horrendous burns, though the other survived his ordeal. Some crewmembers

noted the similarities between the names of the storm and ship.

11 Sep 1974: Forrestal returned from her deployment to Pier 12 at Norfolk. Aircraft

completed 8,750 sorties, 16,906 flight hours and 8,121 traps during the deployment.

5–16 Mar 1975: En route to the Mediterranean, Forrestal received a call for assistance

from Liberian freighter Freights Queen, which suffered a catastrophic explosion. Searchers

discovered one body, a life raft and some debris. During this deployment four EA-

6B Prowlers of VAQ-134 also embarked with CVW-17, an important reorganization of the

wing.

17 Mar–16 May 1975: The ship relieved Saratoga at Rota on the 17th

. Forrestal barely

arrived in the Mediterranean, however, when her No. 1 shaft support bearing failed,

requiring a hitherto unprecedented decision to bring shipyard workers all the way from

Norfolk to replace the bearing and worn shaft while continuing her operations underway.

Arrangements and planning took time, and the carrier stopped briefly

at Augusta Bay before she anchored at Taranto for a few days to enable workers and

crewmembers to bring her back to full duty, on 16 May. In the interim, Forrestal took part

in Shabaz 75.

22 May 1975: Forrestal sailed from Taranto and conducted a joint ship attack exercise

with Franklin D. Roosevelt. Aircraft flew low level navigation over Sicily and

southern Italy during the exercise.

25–28 Jun 1975: Forrestal stood out of Palma de Mallorca for flight operations in the

western Mediterranean. Shortly before nightfall on the 25th

, Buckeye 511, an A-6E (BuNo

152918), LTJGs Lloyd T. Hunt and Brian L. Cardiff of VA-85, collided in mid-air

with Aircraft No. 611, a Grumman EA-6B (BuNo 158814), LCDR Joseph R. Capute, LT

William B. Bierbower and LTJG Robert W. McConchie from VAQ-134. Although the

crew enjoyed a mostly clear evening, lookouts reported some haze. The aircraft launched

by 1855 but flew separate missions–the Prowler crew investigated a shipping contact

during their submarine and surface surveillance coordination plan, and the Intruder flew

spar bombing and ‘basic airwork practice.’ As the two aircraft completed their runs and

returned to Marshal (Forrestal), they turned into a 30° left bank turn toward the inbound

heading and slammed into each other, near 38°40’N, 4°30’E, at 2001. Buckeye 511 rolled

three to five times to the left and 611 pitched down and rolled left, at which point the crew

ejected. Although searchers rescued the other men they could not recover LTJG Cardiff,

and despite an exhaustive search overnight they terminated further efforts and declared the

naval aviator “lost at sea” at 1740 on the 26th

. The crew held a memorial service for their

fallen shipmate two days later as the ship transited the Strait of Messina.

2–18 Jul 1975: Following a visit to Naples (2–6 July) the carrier spent a week operating in

Mediterranean waters before she anchored off Bari, Italy, for a four-day visit, and then she

moved on to Augusta Bay. WhileForrestal anchored briefly there (17–18 July),

Commander, Task Force 60 shifted his flag to John F. Kennedy, and Commander, Cruiser

Destroyer Group 12 broke his flag from Forrestal.

26 Jul–16 Aug 1975: Forrestal extended a stay in Naples (26 July–7 August) as her arrival

coincided with Settima Aeromotonautica week, a series of celebrations which the

Neapolitans set aside within the Bay of Naples area involving water and motor sports. The

ship then participated in National Week exercises with John F. Kennedy.

An Intruder experienced a mishap on the 10th

, however, both men escaped without serious

injuries. A highlight of National Week became a strike force tactics exercise with John F.

Kennedy on the 13th

.

17 Aug 1975: Another A-6E suffered an accident, though both men escaped.

31 Aug 1975: Aircraft took part in a close air assault exercise over southern Sardinia.

12–13 Sep 1975: Forrestal arrived at Rota, put in for 12-hours and then sailed for home.

22 Sep 1975: By the time Forrestal returned to Pier 12 at Norfolk, aircraft flew 13,433

sorties and 24,946 flight hours and made 12,321 recoveries during the deployment.

27 Oct 1975–1 Feb 1976: The carrier completed a selective restricted availability at

Norfolk Naval Shipyard. She spent several days anchored offloading ammunition (27–30

October) and the remainder of the time in the yard.

1–20 Feb 1976: The ship accomplished sea trials.

17–26 Mar 1976: CVW-17 embarked for refresher training off the east coast.

1–8 Jul 1976: Forrestal sailed from Norfolk with Task Force 200 to New York harbor as

the host ship for the International Naval Review, to celebrate the bicentennial anniversary

of the Declaration of Independence of the United States from the British crown. The carrier

arrived on the 3rd

and Governor Brendan T. Byrne of New Jersey and Mayor Abraham

D. Beame of New York City, visited the ship. From the flight deck the next

day President Gerald R. Ford, Jr., rang in the Bicentennial 13 times, symbolizing the

original Thirteen Colonies and triggering the simultaneous ringing of bells across America,

and then beginning at 1406 he delivered an address as the keynote speaker during

ceremonies on board Forrestal honoring the birth of the Republic. The President then

reviewed 40 “tall ships” from countries across the globe from the carrier. A huge entourage

of distinguished guests also attended including Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller,

Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf, III,

Chief of Naval Operations ADM James L. Holloway, III, ADM Isaac C. Kidd, Jr.,

Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, Chairman Emil Mosbacher, Jr., of

Operation Sail, Governor Byrne, Mayor Beame, John W. Warner, Administrator of the

American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, Prince and Princesses Rainier III

[Rainier L.H.M.B. Grimaldi], Grace and Caroline [Louise Marguerite] of Monaco, and

Crown Prince and Princess Harold and Sonya of Norway.

President Gerald R. Ford, Jr., rang in the Bicentennial 13 times from the ceremonial bell while on the

flight deck. John W. Warner, Bicentennial Administrative Head, stood by the chief executive during

the momentous event. PH2 Terry C. Mitchell, Navy Photo No. 1167793

23–26 Aug 1976: The ship took part in a special shock test, which involved detonating

high explosives near her hull to determine if a capital ship can withstand the strain of

close quarter battle and remain operational.

1 Oct 1976–24 Jun 1977: The carrier completed a nine-month overhaul at Norfolk,

during which many men lived ashore at Dale Hall barracks in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Crewmembers worked two daily shifts and civilian workers manned three shifts around-

the-clock. The New Year found the ship in Drydock No. 8, which shipyard workers

flooded up to the 17-foot level on Forrestal’s hull to test sea valves and hull work they

performed, and lit-off the emergency diesels, over 14 and 15 January. Workers pumped-

up the drydock the next day due to excessive leaks in some of the ship’s

pipes. Forrestal left the drydock and moored starboard side to Pier 5 at the shipyard, on 22

January. The ship sailed to complete sea trials over 15 to 20 June, returning to Pier 5. The

next day the carrier left the shipyard en route to the Virginia capes for work slated to

include a full power run, testing the anchors and a test of the flight deck wash down

system. Forrestal returned to Pier 12 , Norfolk, on 24 June.

6 Sep 1977: The ship onloaded over 900 tons of ammunition, the first time that the crew

loaded live ordnance on board in over a year, during an underway replenishment with

ammunition ship Suribachi (AE-21).

8–19 Sep 1977: Forrestal anchored off Norfolk, and three days later she moored to Pier 12

in preparation to shift her home port to Mayport. The crew spent days laboriously loading

automobiles, motorcycles and household goods on board. The ship sailed on 17 September

and moored to Pier C-1 at Mayport. Many male dependents up to age eight accompanied

the carrier during her shift. Two days later, Jacksonville Beach and the USO rolled out the

red carpet and held a “Welcome to Florida” reception and dance for crewmembers.

27 Sep–24 Oct 1977: The ship embarked CVW-17 and sailed from Mayport for refresher

training in Caribbean waters. Forrestal anchored off Guantánamo Bay over 1 and 2

October, and then she stood out of the bay to continue operations. After an intense ten days

of evaluations with Fleet Training Group sailors, the carrier visited Port-Au-

Prince in Haiti (7–10 October). Haitian President Jean-Claude Duvalier, known as Bébé

Doc [Baby Doc], and Ambassador William B. Jones led a delegation including members of

the Haitian armed forces chief of staff on board during the visit. Fine weather enabled the

crew to complete most of their assignments and for aircraft to fly almost daily missions

while underway before and after their visit to the island republic.

12 Nov 1977: Dr. Lynn E. Davis, Deputy Assistant of the Secretary of Defense

(International Security Affairs) and an entourage of key defense officials completed an

orientation tour of the ship.

22 Dec 1977: Forrestal served as the host ship for Saratoga as the latter returned from a

deployment to the Mediterranean.

13 Jan–3 Feb 1978: Forrestal stood out of Mayport for a three-week at sea period in the

Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range of Roosevelt Roods Operating Area to complete the third

phase of type commander’s training. The crew accomplished general quarters drills, and an

air-to-air missile, ‘downed pilot’ and ship-sinking exercises. Tragedy struck the ship on the

evening of 15 January, however, as she steamed about 49 miles off St. Augustine, Florida.

A Corsair II of VA-81 crashed on the flight deck, killing two flight deck crewmen, ABH2

Jesse R. Puente and ABH3 Johnny C. Gill, and injuring 10 others. The Corsair II struck a

parked Corsair IIand a Prowler on the aft portion of the deck packed with aircraft, and

careened across the ship in a ball of flames. Crewmembers rapidly extinguished a small fire

aft caused by fuel spilled onto the deck during the mishap. The pilot ejected and a helo

crew from HS-3, LT Brian K. Young, LTJG Leland S. Kollmorgen, AW3 Lawrence L.

Johnson and AW3 Michael E. Meier, recovered the man, who suffered only minor

injuries. Sea Kingsalso flew all night to evacuate their injured shipmates to hospitals

ashore, and scoured the sea for possible victims blown overboard. The crew held a

memorial service for their fallen friends on 19 January. A man fell overboard on the 25th

,

but another HS-3 Sea King crew, LT Stephen G. Hawkins, LTJG Frank S. Cina, AW3

Johnson and AW3 Michael D. Kurtz, retrieved the sailor.

4–11 Apr 1978: The carrier deployed from Mayport to

the Mediterranean. Forrestal rendezvoused with six other ships southeast of Bermuda to

form Task Group 20.6, on 6 April. RADM William F. Clifford, Commander, Cruiser-

Destroyer Group-12, took command of the task group and broke his flag from the carrier.

Twice en route to the Mediterranean she suffered mishaps, however; the first a fire that

erupted in No. 3 Main Machinery Room, as hot steam lines set freshly painted lagging in

No. 3 Main Engine Room smoldering, at 2200 two days later. Fortuitously, the fire

occurred just minutes after the crew secured from a general quarters drill, so that many men

already were at or near their stations and firefighting equipment, and watchstanders within

the space activated an extinguishing system and put out the fire within seconds without

casualties. Three days later a fire broke out in a catapult steam trunk in the forward part of

the ship at about the 01 level, around midnight just after crewmembers relieved their

shipmates for the midwatch. Within the first few minutes as the at-sea brigade responded,

men also discovered a second fire erupting in an adjoining storeroom, however, working

with area repair lockers, responders defeated both fires within the hour.

14–19 Apr 1978: The ship visited Rota to begin operating with the Sixth Fleet during this

deployment, and relieved America. RADM Robert F. Schoultz, Commander, Task Force

60, broke his flag from Forrestal. The admiral’s deployment became an affable one with

crewmembers as he previously commanded the ship (1971–1972) and knew her well.

Meanwhile, RADM Clifford departed for aircraft carrier Nimitz (CVN-68) to assume his

duties as Commander, Task Group-60.2. In addition, a detachment from VA-83 embarking

the ship, detached to operate with British Royal Air Force crews flying from their station

at Lossiemouth, Scotland, to exchange tactical techniques.

19–29 Apr 1978: Forrestal conducted training exercises in the Western Mediterranean

basin and the Tyrrhenian Sea, focusing upon anti-submarine warfare during a specially

prepared program entitled “ASW Week.”Vikings and Sea Kings flying from the ship hunted

subs and fired practice torpedoes, passing on data they collected to the

ship’s Tactical Support Center. In addition, the carrier opened ‘Seamart,’ a walk-in and

larger supply store for her men then any previous designs, that operated like shore-based

servmarts, on the 21st. LTJGs Eric A Hitchcock and John A. Barnet, III, of VF-74

completed the ship’s 227,000th

arrested landing, in aPhantom II, as Forrestal steamed in

the Mediterranean the next day. Meanwhile, one of Forrestal’s escorts gained sonar contact

on a possible submarine. A Sea King from HS-3 quickly attained an active sonar contact

and criteria for a hover torpedo attack. A second helo joined their shipmates, and verified

via their magnetic anomaly detection gear the submarine’s maneuvers as the latter

attempted to escape her hunters. This boat became the first of several more submarines

from a number of different countries that the determined helicopter crews tracked during

the course of their deployment. As the ship steamed in the Tyrrhenian Sea while conducting

night flight operations on the 29th

, a Grumman KA-6D tanker from VA-85, crashed, though

an HS-3 Sea King, LT William E. Christman, LT Michael N. Lewis, AW3 Brad A. France

and AWAN Gary R. Gearhart, recovered the pilot, while a second squadron crew, LTJGs

John F. McKean and Julian A. Ferguson, AW1 Grant H. Morrison and AWAN Eugene C.

Crowley, III, retrieved the bombardier/navigator.

9–18 May 1978: Following a visit to Naples (30 April–8 May), the ship completed an anti-

air warfare exercise in the eastern Mediterranean, principally steaming to the north of Crete

and into the Ionian Sea. On the 10th

, however, flooding began in an aft pump room and the

inrushing water rose to a height of 20 feet before crewmembers could control the influx. In

the interim, flooding also spread to adjacent food storage rooms, which destroyed most

of Forrestal’s stocks of fresh milk and produce. Divers from the ship’s explosive ordnance

disposal team valiantly risked their lives by dropping into the pump room to plug the leak.

The flood inflicted total damages estimated at $30,000, though the ship did not report

casualties. As the exercise culminated, the carrier integrated into another set of (separate)

exercises.

19–29 May 1978: Over 80 ships and submarines from six NATO countries: the Americans,

British, French, Greeks, Italians and Turks, tangled in Dawn Patrol, one of the largest

NATO exercises that Forrestalparticipated in to date, stretching across the central and

eastern Mediterranean. Forrestal’s aircraft tested their mettle against their counterparts

flying aircraft from aircraft carriers Nimitz and French FS Foch (R-99), as well as against

Air Force and NATO aircraft, as they protected a Turkish amphibious task group.

30 May–22 Jun 1978: Following a visit to Catania, Sicily (30 May–5

June), Forrestal steamed across the Ionian Sea and made port at Marseilles, France (7–22

June), to conduct an intermediate maintenance availability for some minor repairs. The visit

generated media attention, especially among European journalists, however, due to her

mooring at the pier rather then anchoring out, as the first U.S. carrier to do so for sometime,

and her stay became a cause of concern to environmental and anti-American activists.

Nonetheless, 125 French shipyard workers replaced armored covers for jet fuel pipes on the

skin of the ship, made structural repairs to the flight deck, repaired about 15 watertight

doors and worked on maintaining the ship’s boats.

22–26 Jun 1978: Forrestal took part in an anti-submarine and mine warfare exercise in the

western Mediterranean and Ionian Seas, a training evolution that proved costly to the men

on board. At 1508 on the 24th

, LCDR Thomas P. Anderson, the operations officer of CVW-

17, died when his A-7E Corsair II (BuNo 157561), crashed into the sea during a practice

bombing mission against Pachino Target, a buoy anchored approximately two miles to the

south of Sicily. The pilot flew as a wingman on a two plane daytime dive bombing mission

with a section leader. The weather was clear with good visibility, but with no definite

horizon due to haze. During his second run LCDR Anderson began a steep dive of almost

60° and continued until below the altitude normally considered optimal for recovering from

such descents. The pilot apparently attempted to pull up during the final moments of his

plunge, however, his Corsair II slammed into the water tail first about one-quarter of a mile

beyond the buoy. A Sea King crew from HS-3, LTJG Thomas J. Henderson, ENS David P.

Smouse, AW2 James H. Cox and AWAN Harold R. Rhodes, performed the sad duty of

retrieving LCDR Anderson’s body, which rescuers located beneath his life raft in the midst

of a slick created by the crash. The next day another pilot from VA-83, also flying

a Corsair II, crashed shortly after takeoff during the day. A rescue crew from an SH-

3D Sea King from HS-3, LCDR Donald A. Wright, LTJG Russell E. Hall, AW2 Cox and

AWAN Gearhart, recovered the man, who suffered only minor injuries in the crash, and

returned him to the ship in barely eight minutes. Both crashes occurred while the ship sailed

in the Ionian Sea.

5–11 Jul 1978: The ship led a task group of six vessels into Tridente, a joint exercise in the

eastern Mediterranean and the northern Ionian Sea with the British, French, Germans,

Greeks and Italians, that focused on establishing sea control in the face of simulated

opposition forces. The carrier anchored at Augusta Bay to enable RADM Schoultz to depart

for John F. Kennedy, while RADM Clifford embarked Forrestal, on the 8th

.

12–17 Jul 1978: The ship anchored in the bay at Naples, where folksinger Harry Chapin

entertained the crew in the Hanger Bay on the 16th

. In addition, RADM William R.

Smedberg, IV, relieved RADM Clifford during a ceremony on board.

19–20 Jul 1978: During Operation BuzzardEx, aircraft and ships attempted to intercept and

shoot down RIM-8 Talos surface-to-air missiles fired by guided missile

cruiser Albany (CG-10). The Talos’ represented enemy aircraft attacking at speeds of Mach

2.

23–31 Jul 1978: Forrestal completed National Week XXV training with southern NATO

members, including sea control, power projection and anti-submarine warfare. John F.

Kennedy, Albany, two nuclear-powered attack submarines, Lockheed P-3 Orions and

French and Italian forces were among the commands which joined Forrestal as they

wrestled for control of the western Ionian Sea.

1–14 Aug 1978: Forrestal moored for the first time at a newly-completed deep-draft pier

at Valencia, Spain. Over 30,000 visitors toured the ship, but the highlight for the men on

board undoubtedly occurred when the Miss America Variety Show, highlighting Miss

America 1978, Susan Perkins, and reigning beauty queens Linda Hallstrom from Nebraska,

Mary D’Arcy from New Jersey, Kathy Fleming from North Carolina, Catherine Hinson

from South Carolina, Lori Smith from Texas and Kristy Deakin from Utah, sang and

danced before a crowd packed into the hangar bay, on the 4th

.

15–23 Aug 1978: The ship completed training exercises in the western Mediterranean.

A Phantom II from VF-74 crashed over 60 nautical miles from Forrestal to the south

of France on the 17th

. A helo crew from HS-3, LCDR Ormond C. Fowler, Jr., LT

Christman, AW2 Robert G. Purinton and AW3 Dante F. Quinquinio, rescued both men,

who survived without serious injuries. At about noon on the 21st the general quarters alarm

sounded as widespread smoke appeared on the third deck amidships. Shortly thereafter, fire

brigade members discovered burning boxes in a fourth deck storeroom. The responders

extinguished the blaze within 10 minutes of the initial alarm. During Dasix the next

day, aircraft participated in an air defense exercise against French Air Force pilots, flying

mock attacks on the French coast, which allowed the men of CVW-17 to practice fighting

their way through enemy defenses and the French the experience of attempting to stop them

and defend their homeland.

24 Aug–27 Sep 1978: After a brief stop in Palma (24–28 August), the ship left the

Mediterranean en route to the Atlantic and the North and Norwegian Seas to take part in the

huge NATO exercise Northern Wedding(4–18 September). En route she put into Rota to

allow RADM Norman K. Green, Commander, Carrier Group-6, to embark, and for RADM

Smedberg to disembark and transfer his flag to guided missile cruiser Harry E.

Yarnell (CG-17). Northern Wedding involved over 40,000 men and women, 22 subs and

800 aircraft from nine NATO countries. Planners geared the exercise to simulate allied

abilities to reinforce Western Europe in the event of an East Bloc attack. Forrestal and

HMS Ark Royal led separate task groups that steamed in a two-carrier formation to gain sea

control and deploy their aircraft to support amphibious landings in the Shetland Islands and

the Danish Jutland Peninsula. Heavy seas and high winds, however, curtailed flight

operations during the first phase of the exercises, but conditions improved just barely

enough in the harsh northern climbs to permit the ship and her embarked air wing to

support the planned objectives. The professionalism and dedication to completing their

tasks which the British and Canadians displayed especially impressed crewmembers, who

noted these specific allies’ pride in more than one report. Forrestal conducted sea control,

power projection, air support and reconnaissance missions. VADM Wesley L. McDonald,

Commander, Second Fleet, gave a news conference to a group of both U.S. and

international journalists in the carrier’s ‘War Room’ on the 9th

, describing in some detail

the significance of the exercise–which NATO normally held every four years–in preparing

the allies to resist a Soviet-led attack against the West. After completing the exercise the

ship returned to the Mediterranean, pausing in the Spanish port of Malaga (22–27

September).

28 Sep–8 Oct 1978: The carrier participated in Display Determination, a NATO southern

region exercise involving eight countries practicing rapid reinforcement and resupply of the

alliance’s southern flank during wartime, and the third and final exercise of this

deployment. Aircraft flew a large number of sorties principally against their British, Italian

and Portuguese counterparts.

11–15 Oct 1978: Forrestal transited the Strait of Gibraltar by steering westerly courses

to Rota. The ship put to sea on the 13th

to conduct a one-day exercise with Saratoga and her

task group, which enabled aircraft to practice mock attacks against the ships and for the

latter’s gunners to train in anti-air warfare. SN Williams from the deck department of fast

combat support ship Detroit (AOE-4) fell overboard just as the ship completed refueling

the carrier that night and the vessels broke away from each other, but a Sea King crew, LT

Henderson, LTJG Smouse, AW2 Purinton and AWAN Bryan K. Bailey, retrieved him.

Their rescue became especially difficult and challenging due to the lack of a visible horizon

for pilot reference and insufficient wind to aid hovering, and in addition, the sailor did not

wear reflective tape on his flotation garment and did not use signaling devices.

Nonetheless, the helo crew preserved and saved his life. The shaken seaman recovered in

the carrier’s sick bay, and a helo returned him the next day to Detroit. The next

day Saratoga relieved Forrestal, enabling the latter to begin her voyage home before dawn

on the 15th

.

15–26 Oct 1978: On her homeward transit, Forrestal steered an extreme northerly course

to participate in Operation Windbreak, a special program designed to introduce sailors and

their equipment to relatively unfamiliar waters and conditions, and to gauge how well the

Russians monitored American ships sailing to and from Mediterranean

waters. Forrestal steamed as far north as 62°N, about 150 miles south of Iceland, where

seas raging to 34-feet and winds in excess of 70-knots slammed into the ship. The wind

chill factor dropped to 0° and drove sailors inside to avoid frostbite and exposure. Guided

missile cruiser Harry E. Yarnell (CG-17) and destroyer Arthur W. Radford (DD-968) also

joined the carrier for the unique exercise, and VADM McDonald

embarked Forrestal during Windbreak.

13 Nov 1978–early 1979: Forrestal completed a four-month extended selected restricted

availability at Mayport. In addition to several different shore establishments, destroyer

tender Yosemite (AD-19) agreed to take on over 700 “intermediate-level” repairs involving

welding and pipe fitting. On the eve of the Gator Bowl

contest, Ohio State University football coach Wayne W. “Woody” Hayes, a World War II

Navy veteran known forbringing his experiences from the Fleet into his coaching style, led

an entourage of 100 team members on board, on 28 December. Sailors noted that Coach

Hayes “had a smile and handshake” for shipmates as he “eagerly roamed” the ship. On 28

January 1979, however, hydrogen sulfide fumes overcame four civilian workers from

Pepper Industries of Jacksonville, and two sailors, while the workers pumped out a fuel

tank. The two men from the ship gallantly rushed to aid the civilians when the fumes

overcame them, though all six victims recovered without serious injuries. A spokesman

from Forrestal noted that “hydrogen sulfide is not stored in any form aboard ship.”

12 Apr 1979: The first jets to land on board following her availability roared over the

fantail and hooked the arresting cable.

27 Apr–May 1979: Forrestal sailed from Mayport for several weeks of refresher training

in Caribbean waters. The carrier and fast combat support ship Savannah (AOE-4) collided

while refueling on 9 May. A resistor/capacitor in the 400 cycle power supply to the master

gyro on board Savannah failed, which prevented the automated shift of power from 400

cycle to battery power. The gyro failure alarm did not actuate in the pilot house on board

the replenishment ship until the collision. Both ships sustained minor damage but no

casualties among their crews, and the impact inflicted limited damage on Forrestal’s port

side which affected her refueling rigs and hoses. Savannah continued to fulfill her busy

schedule and replenished guided missile cruiser Texas (CGN-39) that afternoon, while the

carrier continued to match her previous records while under the auspices of the Fleet

Training Group inspectors.

4 Jun 1979: Secretary of the Navy W. Graham Claytor, Jr., visited the ship.

1 Jul 1979: AA Melton H. Coleman was murdered and his body thrown overboard, off the

coast off Jacksonville. Despite an intensive search rescuers could not retrieve him. In early

September investigators sentenced SA Wayne A. Bishop to life imprisonment for

conspiracy to commit murder, and charged a second crewmember, Michael K. Nicolson,

with conspiracy to commit murder and premeditated murder.

2–16 Aug 1979: RADM Bryan W. Compton, Jr., commanded Forrestal as she participated

in CompTuEx 3-79, a Second Fleet readiness exercise. Training included missile, surface,

anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare and gunnery exercises. British frigates

HMS Alacrity (F-174) and HMS Galatia (F-18) also joined the carrier. Undersecretary of

the Navy R. James Woolsey embarked overnight (15–16 August).

21 Sep 1979: Aircraft No 100, an F-4J, LCDR Curry M. Lawler and LTJG Joseph M.

Foster from VF-11, struck the ramp, sheering the starboard mainmount, and crashed on the

flight deck during nighttime flight operations off the Jacksonville Operating Area at 2123,

near 30°56’1”N, 79°34’6”W. Helo searchers picked-up LCDR Lawler and returned him to

the ship, where crewmembers treated the pilot for shock in sick bay. LTJG Foster also

ejected but the co-pilot landed on the flight deck, where their burning Phantom II pinned

him beneath the wreckage before his shipmates could release the man from his harrowing

ordeal. The naval aviator suffered fractured ribs and internal injuries which required several

weeks of recovery in a hospital.

Nov 1979: During this period the pro-Western Iranian government collapsed, forcing the

Shah into exile in the United States. Tensions among opposing groups produced a state of

near-anarchy within the troubled land. One of the more radical groups, “Students Following

the Imam’s Line,” blamed America for the discord, and sought to mobilize support for their

policies by seizing the U.S. Embassy in Teheran on 4 November 1979. Receiving tacit

approval from the Ayatollah R. Khomeini, the extremists continued to hold 52

hostages. The crime outraged Americans and the U.S. government responded by ordering

naval forces to the region, tentatively to include Forrestal.

30 Nov 1979: Secretary of the Navy Edward Hidalgo visited the ship to view flight

operations and also spoke to crewmembers via the ship’s closed circuit television.

5–6 Dec 1979: While she steamed en route to the Med, Forrestal launched simulated air

strikes against Independence as the latter returned from deployment. Forrestal ten

conducted a ‘blue-water turnover’ withIndependence.

9–13 Dec 1979: The ship visited Rota to accomplish briefings tailored to

the Mediterranean and NATO environment, and which enabled RADM Robert F. Dunn,

Commander, Carrier Group 10, to break his flag from the carrier.

14–20 Dec 1979: As they prepared for contingencies due to the Iranian

crisis, Forrestal and Nimitz participated in MultiPlEx, an exercise incorporating two carrier

task forces in combined operations in theMediterranean. Both carriers operated as

adversaries and sent mock air strikes against each other, and in addition, they hunted attack

submarines Shark (SSN-591) and Italian Gianfranco Gazzana Priaroggia (S-502).

21 Dec 1979–4 Jan 1980: The ship visited Marseilles. French families flooded

the U.S. consulate there with offers to invite sailors and marines into their homes during the

Christmas holidays. On New Years, however,Forrestal sailed for Naples to relieve Nimitz,

which enabled Nimitz to respond to the Iranian crisis by leading a nuclear-powered battle

group comprising guided missile cruisers California (CGN-36) and Texas from the

Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean. Their voyage left Forrestal as the only American

carrier deployed to the Mediterranean during this time of heightened international tensions.

2 Mar 1981: Forrestal sailed on her 16th

Mediterranean deployment and second quarter

century of service to the Republic. During a crisis between the Israelis and Syrians the crew

maintained a heightened state of readiness as the ship steamed for 53 consecutive days at

sea.

18–19 Aug 1981: Libyan strongman CAPT (later COL) Muammar al-Qadhafi, encouraged

and supported an ongoing series of terrorist attacks against Westerners during the 1970s

and 80s, which heightened friction between the West and the dictator across the

region. Forrestal and Nimitz conducted an open ocean missile exercise in the Gulf of Sidra,

and aircraft from both ships intercepted potentially threatening Libyan aircraft on a number

of occasions. On the 19th

newspapers across the nation proudly carried the headlines: “U.S.

2 – Libya 0,” as two F-14A crews, CDR Hank Kleeman and LT Dave Venlet and LTs

Larry Muczynski and Jim Anderson (VF-41), shot down a pair of Libyan Sukhoi Su-

22 Fitters. The Libyans threatened Nimitz during a tense encounter in the Gulf of Sidra, and

the Tomcat crews splashed them with AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.

1981: After departing from the Mediterranean the ship steamed above the Arctic Circle to

participate in NATO exercise Ocean Venture ’81, which gave many crewmembers the

opportunity to become ‘Bluenoses.’

1981: Forrestal operated in the Mediterranean in support of the Lebanon Contingency

Force of 800 marines at Beirut.

12 Sep 1982: Forrestal transited the Suez Canal for the first time and

relieved Ranger in the eastern Indian Ocean, in an urgent surge

deployment. Forrestal and her screen turned out to be a temporary reinforcement

because a little over a month later Enterprise relieved her. Nonetheless, this became her

first time to operate under the command of the Seventh Fleet since her ill -fated cruise in

1967.

16 Nov 1982: The ship returned home for an unusual nighttime arrival.

12–18 Jan 1983: Forrestal shifted her home port to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard

in Pennsylvania, to embark upon a 28-month, $694 million Service Life Extension Program

(SLEP) project, designed to extend her life an additional 15 to 20 years. The ship sailed

from Mayport on the 12th

, supplementing her crew and stores with additional loads

including over 1,000 of her crew’s personal automobiles. In addition, crewmembers set up

a special area in the aircraft intermediate maintenance department’s jet shop to

accommodate crewmember’s small pets. The carrier arrived at Pier 6 at Philadelphia and

crewmembers completed the offload they began at Mayport.

28–30 Jan 1983: Forrestal shifted to Drydock No. 5 at Philadelphia. Crewmembers moved

ashore to the base while many of their dependents relocated into the city. Two days later

the ship began cold iron status as the crew and workers shut down the last of her internal

power sources and services.

15–18 Jul 1983: The crew held their first annual Forrestal reunion. Over 400 former

crewmembers and their families attended, some of whom flew-in from the West Coast.

Shipmates held a memorial service honoring all of those men who gave their lives for

freedom during the carrier’s 28-year history.

14–17 Sep 1983: The ship’s ceremonial color guard opened the Miss America Pageant by

presenting the colors.

10 Oct 1983: Pennsylvanian Senator Arlen Specter visited the ship.

Nov 1983: Some crewmembers participated as extras in the film George Washington,

which CBS aired on national television several months later.

27–29 Jan 1984: Forrestal undocked. Tugs pulled the carrier from the drydock and

maneuvered her over to moorings at Pier 6. Two days later Forrestal returned to Drydock

No. 5.

7 May 1984: Some 1,200 crewmembers began moving back on board, aft. Supply services

started their return and the crew celebrated the opening of the galley with a ribbon-cutting

ceremony.

18 Jul 1984: Bob Hope and Ann Jillian entertained several thousand crewmembers and

shipyard workers with a 45-minute show on the flight deck.

12–15 Sep 1984: The ship’s ceremonial color guard opened each night of the Miss America

Pageant, at Atlantic City, New Jersey.

9 Oct 1984: The crew lit-off Boiler 2A, the first time that the ship experienced steam in her

boilers in upward of two years.

10 Nov 1984: Forrestal shifted berths to the east side of Pier 6 at Philadelphia.

28 Jan–2 Feb 1985: The ship completed a fast cruise; a series of evolutions simulating

getting underway without actually leaving the pier, an important step toward accomplishing

her SLEP and becoming ready for sea.

3–15 Feb 1985: Three helicopters from NAS Jacksonville landed on board at 1653 on the

3rd

, the first operational aircraft to do so in more than two years, to

support Forrestal’s shipyard sea trials. The next day the ship got underway for the trials

and for material inspections, her first time at sea under her own steam since arriving

in Philadelphia. In addition to accomplishing boiler, evaporator and ship’s service generator

testing, the carrier also completed full power trials, before returning to Pier 6.

10–18 Apr 1985: Forrestal transited the Delaware River and accomplished sea trials.

20–23 May 1985: The ship completed SLEP as she sailed from Philadelphia. Dependents,

pets and personal vehicles joined crewmembers for the three-day transit to Mayport.

4–14 Jun 1985: Forrestal accomplished aircraft carrier landing system trials. At 0803 on

the 5th

, a Grumman C-1A from VRC-40 landed to become the first fixed-wing aircraft to

recover on board in more than 30-months. The Trader launched seven minutes later. After

inspectors certified the arresting gear, several aircraft

from NAS Patuxent River in Maryland recovered, the first aircraft piloted by CAPT Carter

B. Refo of CVW-6. The initial jet launching from the carrier since November 1982 took off

at 1133. Following additional trials, the last test aircraft departed on the 10th

. The ship

welcomed on board her new air wing as the rest of CVW-6, which recently completed a

Mediterranean deployment on board Independence, began to arrive the next morning,

joining HS-15.

22–29 Jun 1985: The carrier accomplished cyclic flight operations,

a NATO Sea Sparrow missile tracking exercise and electronic countermeasures exercises

with EA-6B Prowlers from VAQ-133.

29 Aug–3 Sep 1985: Following a series of drills and exercises in Caribbean waters, the

ship returned to sea for carrier qualifications. Hurricane Elena, however, swept eastward

across Florida and into the Jacksonville Operating Area on the 31st, forcing Forrestal to

move south into the Cape Canaveral Operating Area. Although the carrier suspended flight

operations for a day due to the fierce weather, she completed the qualifications before

returning to Mayport.

13 Sep–20 Dec 1985: Forrestal completed a post-shipyard availability and selected

restricted availability period which brought 800 civilian shipyard workers on board from

the Jacksonville area. Together with the crew they put the finishing touches on work

accomplished during SLEP, including the installation of three Phalanx 20 mm close-in-

weapons systems (CIWS). Some 715 Forrestal sailors gathered in formation on the

morning of 27 September to form a 280-foot by 200-foot “30” on the carrier’s flight deck in

recognition of Forrestal’s 30th

anniversary. Helos from HS-15 flying overhead

photographed the event. The crew celebrated the anniversary with a huge picnic ashore at

the naval station. RADM Diego E. Hernandez, Commander, Carrier Group 6, broke his flag

from the carrier on 4 October. Forrestal completed two days of full power runs, high speed

steering trials and demonstrations of her newly-installed CIWS.

17 Mar 1986: A fire erupted from a KA-6D tanker as the crew prepared to launch, though

responders defeated the blaze without casualties.

9–30 Apr 1986: The ship participated in FleetEx 2-86, an exercise featuring over 17,000

sailors and marines and 31 vessels including battleship Iowa (BB-61). Tomcats from VF-31

pitted themselves against Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagles flying from

Homestead AFB in Florida, and marine Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F/A-

18 Hornets flying from MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina. In addition, they flew low level

tactical reconnaissance missions and fighter escort throughout operating areas ranging

from Florida to Puerto Rico during the demanding exercises.

14–17 Jun 1986: Forrestal transited the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean.

Three days later she relieved Enterprise at Augusta Bay. Correspondent Roger Mudd of

NBC visited the ship on the 17th

. In addition, during this deployment aircraft frequently

flew in international airspace of the Tripoli Flight region, the international air traffic control

sector for the Libyans.

18 Jun 1986: Just after Forrestal set out from Augusta Bay during the afternoon and first

dog watches, Aircraft No. 202, a Tomcat from VF-31 (BuNo 161854), attempted to

rendezvous with the ship but departed controlled flight and crashed in the Ionian Sea, at

1824, near 37°8’8”N, 15°44’4”E. Both men ejected, and although the radar intercept officer

survived his ordeal with minor injuries, the pilot perished.

25–27 Jun 1986: The ship conducted dual carrier operations with America in

the Tyrrhenian Sea.

4–18 Aug 1986: Following Forrestal’s visit to Palermo, Sicily (24 July–3 August), Rear

Admiral Raymond P. Ilg relieved RADM Hernandez as Commander, Battle Force Sixth

Fleet/Commander, Carrier Group 6, on the 5th

. Meanwhile, aircraft flew Alpha strikes in

excess of 300 miles against their French counterparts during an exercise off the coast of

southern France. French Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000s proved formidable opponents,

however, the Tomcat crews from the ship emerged victorious in the closely-fought

scenarios. The ship visited Cannes (8–18 August), where over 10,000 people visited the

ship in three days and the liberty ashore became so popular that a VF-31 chronicler noted:

“Ten days on the French Riviera speaks for itself.”

23–28 Aug 1986: The ship took part in Operation Sea Wind, a joint U.S. and Egyptian

training exercise that involved aircraft flying a variety of tactical air reconnaissance, low

level strike escort and air combat maneuvering sorties against their Egyptian opposite

numbers, and practicing joint strikes against Egyptian airfields and port facilities. In

addition, Viking and Sea King crews honed their antisubmarine skills against Egyptian

submarines. At the commencement of the training, VADM Ali Gad, the Commander-in-

Chief of the Egyptian Navy, visited the carrier. As the exercise concluded, CVW-

6 aircraft participated in an air show at Wadi El-Natrun, a desert site 50 miles to the

northwest of Cairo, where the men demonstrated their bombing, rocketing and strafing

capabilities against ground targets.

31 Aug–10 Sep 1986: Four Abu Nidal hijackers attempted to take control of Pan Am Flight

No. 73 when the Boeing B-747 commercial airliner landed at Karachi, Pakistan, after a

flight from Bombay, India, en route to Frankfurt in Germany and then on to John F.

Kennedy International Airport in New York, on 5 September. At about 0600 the hijackers

rushed the aircraft, but the flight crew escaped through the cockpit escape hatch. The

thugs demanded that the flight crew return and fly them on to Larnaca on Cyprus, where

they would arrange for the release of Palestinian terrorists detained on that island, or they

would massacre their hostages. When authorities refused to accede to the terrorist’s

demands, the hijackers brutally opened fire upon their helpless hostages and began lobbing

grenades into the crowded cabins, murdering at least 20 people including two

Americans, Rajesh Kumar and Surendra M. Patel, and wounding dozens more.

The Department of Justice later posthumously conferred the 2006 Special Courage Award

upon Pan Am flight attendant Neerja Bhanot, who died while trying to save children during

the carnage. While visiting Naples, Forrestal issued an emergency recall of crew members

to respond to the crisis–especially should she be needed if the hijackers flew on toCyprus–

and stood out to conduct flight operations in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Sadly, the incident ended

tragically before the carrier could intervene effectively.

6–13 Oct 1986: Forrestal participated with John F. Kennedy in Operation Display

Determination ‘86, which included low-level coordinated strikes and air combat

maneuvering training over Turkey.

29–31 Oct 1986: The ship sailed from the Mediterranean and passed through

the Strait of Gibraltar.

1 Jan–30 Apr 1987: Forrestal completed a selected restricted availability at Mayport.

While there she also served as the host ship for aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (R-07) when

the British ship visited the port (4–14 March).

1–5 May 1987: Forrestal conducted sea trials in the Jacksonville Operating Area.

29 Jul 1987: Each year Forrestal crewmembers remember their shipmates who gave their

lives during the fire of 1967, however, this year marked the 20th

anniversary of the tragedy

and the crew held a special memorial service, for which former crewmembers and family

members from across the country arrived to pay tribute to their fallen friends and loved

ones.

31 Jul–17 Aug 1987: The ship completed advanced phase training evolutions in

the Atlantic.

28 Aug–8 Oct 1987: As part of her pre-deployment work-ups, the ship took part

in Ocean Safari ’87, which included a six-week cruise in the North Atlantic, highlighted

by operations with NATO forces posing as aggressors lurking in Norwegian fjords. The

cruise also afforded the crew the opportunity to visit Portsmouth, England (22–26

September), where they hosted a traditional ‘Sunset Parade.’

29 Dec 1987: Members of the University of South Carolina and

the Louisiana State University football teams visited the carrier.

11–25 Jan 1988: The ship participated in FleetEx 1-88 in Puerto Rican waters. The

program consisted of launching air strikes against simulated enemy targets, mine

exercises, anti-terrorist exercises and teaming up with other navies and the Air Force.

Undersecretary of the Navy Dennis R. Shaw visited the ship (21–23 January).

13–16 February 1988: Forrestal sailed up the Mississippi River and visited New

Orleans, Louisiana.

7–18 Apr 1988: The carrier took part in Ocean Venture ’88 in the Gulf of Mexico.

25 Apr 1988: Forrestal deployed to the Mediterranean and the North Arabian Sea,

steaming directly there via the Suez Canal. During the Persian Gulf War between the

Iranians and Iraqis both sides attacked ships steaming in international waters in the Gulf.

The Iraqis attacked Iranian economic shipping and oil installations with Exocet equipped

Dassault-Breguet Super Etendards on 27 March 1984, which escalated the conflict until the

Iranians and Iraqis launched almost constant air, missile, small boat and mine attacks

against ships in the region. The Kuwaitis grew increasingly anxious and their oil minister

Sheikh Ali Khalifa openly sought aid. The Soviets intervened in early March and offered to

protect five Kuwaiti tankers, but the Kuwaitis wisely realized that their oil lifeline reached

to the West, not to the Russians, and that the Americans had the strongest naval forces in

the Gulf, so they made overtures to Washington, asking the Americans to match the Soviet

offer. “It smacked a little bit,” noted National Security Advisor Frank C. Carlucci, III, “of

blackmail.” Partly to stave off the Russians, partly to avoid an Iraqi or Iranian collapse–

enabling the other to dominate the region–and partly to ensure the uninterrupted free trade

of the Gulf, the U.S. authorized Operation Private Jewels, later redesignated Earnest Will,

designed to maintain freedom of navigation within that body of water. The crisis escalated

when the Iranians mined guided missile frigate Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) during the first

dog watch on 14 April 1988. Although her crew valiantly saved the ship, the blatant assault

incensed President Ronald W. Reagan and his advisors, who authorized Operation Praying

Mantis, a “measured response” designed to attain retribution against Iranian

crimes. Enterprise spearheaded American strikes against the Iranians during Praying

Mantis on 18 April, so that Forrestal arrived during an especially anxious time, which

forced her pilots to fly extensive aerial reconnaissance and combat air patrol missions, and

for her crew to monitor aircraft and vessels very carefully for potential threats. The ship

also deployed for the first time with the Air-Launched Decoy system, which

crewmembers made numerous modifications to, passing along their suggestions to

evaluators for Fleet-wide introduction.

6 May 1988: The ship steamed past the Rock of Gibraltar on the 6th

and completed Open

Gate ’88.

8–9 May 1988: As the carrier sailed through Tunisian waters en route to the Indian Ocean,

she operated with Tunisian forces in a passing exercise.

13–20 May 1988: Forrestal transited the Suez Canal and entered the Red Sea. Seven days

later she relieved Enterprise in the Indian Ocean. The ship fell under the auspices of the

Combined Joint Task Force Middle East, though her crew humorously dubbed the ship’s

operating area “Beno Station.” Crewmembers reported that they served laboriously

under the “long and humid” summer. Their only break during these difficult operations

occurred when the Navy authorized the men a “beer day” in June. In addition, the

weapons department utilized the Gator mine system for their first time while sailing in

the Indian Ocean, and the operations department provided training services to

22 U.S. and allied vessels.

24 May 1988: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates visited the

ship.

4 Jun 1988: French RADM Guy Labouerie visited Forrestal.

20 Jul 1988: RADM Anthony A. Less, Commander, Combined Joint Task Force

Middle East, visited the ship.

24 Jul 1988: Secretary of the Navy William L. Ball visited the carrier.

28–31 Jul 1988: Aircraft carrier Carl Vinson (CVN-70) relieved Forrestal in the North

Arabian Sea. As Forrestal sailed en route to the Suez Canal she passed the second

milestone of the ship’s 50th

consecutive day at sea, which entitled the crew to their second

“beer day.”

6 Aug 1988: The ship passed through the Suez Canal and returned to the Mediterranean.

17–19 Aug 1988: After visiting Naples (11–16 August), the crew’s first time ashore in 108

days, Forrestal took part in National Week ’88 in the central Mediterranean.

31 Aug–22 Sep 1988: Following a visit to Benidorm on the Spanish Costa Blanca (23–27

August), the ship steamed through the Strait of Gibraltar and into the North Atlantic and the

Norwegian Sea as part of two carrier battle groups to participate in Teamwork ’88. Over

200 ships and submarines, about 500 aircraft and 45,000 people from nine nations took part

in the massive series of maritime and amphibious exercises, with Forrestalmoving into the

Norwegian Sea from the south and aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) sailing

easterly courses from American and Canadian waters through the Atlantic around

Greenland and the gap between Iceland, the Faeroe Islands and the British Isles, before

operating off Vestfjord, Norway. Meanwhile, Forrestal visited Portsmouth (25–26 August).

The ship also passed over the Arctic Circle during these operations, which afforded many

crewmembers the opportunity to become ‘Bluenoses.’

Forrestal rendezvoused with aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in the North Atlantic and

Norwegian Sea for Teamwork ’88. The numbing cold weather and the lack of sunshine that their men

endured in the northern latitudes is clearly evident in the darker tones of the photograph, on 5

September 1988. PH2 J.P. Buckner, Navy Photo No. SP025818809

7 Oct 1988: Forrestal returned home after sailing in three oceans and spending 202 days

underway, one of her longest such commitments to date, at one point spending 108

consecutive days at sea, with only 15 days in port through the whole cruise. She completed

71 of these consecutive days at sea steaming at Beno Station supporting Earnest Will and

additional exercises and operations. The Navy recognized these additional sacrifices by

later awarding Forrestal and her crew a Meritorious Unit Commendation for their “superior

performance” in this deployment.

7 Nov 1988–28 Feb 1989: The ship completed a selected restricted availability at Mayport.

7–11 Mar 1989: Forrestal completed sea trials off Jacksonville.

The Statue of Liberty welcomed Forrestal (CV-59) as she visited New York for Fleet Week ’89, on 29

April 1989. PHCM Dittmar, Department of Defense (Navy) Photo No. DN-SC-89-09261.

29 Apr–4 May 1989: Forrestal participated in Fleet Week ’89 celebrations in New York

City. The carrier became the centerpiece of the event as she led the parade of ships up

the Hudson River and into the harbor.Forrestal moored to New York Passenger Ship

Terminal, an evolution that her Navigation Department described as “difficult.” CVW-17

arranged for a representative selection of aircraft from the wing to embark for the cruise.

With crewmembers on her flight deck colorfully spelling out “We [Heart] New York” the carrier sailed

beneath the Verrazano Narrows Bridge toward the Hudson River during Fleet Week ’89, on 29 April

1989. Among the ships of her battle group guided missile cruiser Ticonderoga (CG-47) faithfully kept

station off Forrestal’s starboard quarter, visible to the left of the photograph. PHCM Dittmar,

Department of Defense (Navy) Photo No. DN-SC-89-09265.

17 Jul–11 Aug: The ship took part in advanced phase training in Caribbean waters, with a

brief stop in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (26–31 July). The training taxed sailors and

marines in many aspects of ship and air wing combined operations against a full spectrum

of wartime threats, and also enabled the crew to operate with ships and aircraft already

participating in Unitas 30-89, a series of exercises designed to integrate U.S. and Latin

American naval forces.

24 Aug–9 Sep 1989: Forrestal participated in Fleet Exercise 4-89 in the Puerto Rico

Operating Area.

9 Oct 1989: As the ship made preparations for deploying a fire erupted in her primary

command and control trunk space. The blaze severely damaged electrical cabling in an

uptake compartment affecting several navigation, weapons and ship control systems,

though the rapid response of firefighters prevented further damage. The ship did not report

casualties resulting from the conflagration, which nonetheless delayed her departure.

Electricians from the shipyards at Philadelphia and Norfolk lent their expertise to those of

Jacksonville Shipyard, Inc., the prime contractor, and accomplished repairs to

enable Forrestal to return to sea. In the interim, Commander, Carrier Group 6 shifted his

flag to guided missile cruiser Wainwright (CG-28) three days later, and remained there until

the carrier arrived in the Mediterranean, when he broke his flag from Forrestal on 12

November.

3 Nov 1989: Forrestal set sail for the Mediterranean. RADM Richard C. Allen,

Commander, Carrier Group-6, broke his flag from the carrier in command of the battle

group. The ship deployed for the first time with the AGM-84 Standoff Land Attack Missile

(SLAM), and in addition, at one point Forrestal directly supported Donald B. Berry (FF-

1085), which enabled the frigate to complete an exercise with the Israelis.

20–25 Nov 1989: The ship participated in Harmonie Sud Est with the French in

the Mediterranean, her first such experience of that exercise.

27 Nov–3 Dec 1989: The final two months of the year proved to be a strenuous and

exciting time for her crew as Forrestal provided crucial support to U.S. diplomats during

the Malta Summit. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail S.

Gorbachev met just weeks after the fall of the Berlin Wall concerning the collapse of the

East Bloc and its impact upon global security. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s habit of

meeting key world leaders at sea during WWII purportedly served as the inspiration for

President Bush to arrange the summit on the strategic island, the scene of fierce fighting

during that conflict, and led to some media representatives describing the summit as

“Malta to Yalta and Back.” Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze, Secretary of

State James Baker, National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft, Senior Director of Soviet,

East European Affairs [National Security Council] Dr. Condoleezza Rice and Ambassador

to the Soviet Union John F. Matlock, Jr., were among the leaders who also attended the

summit. Warships from many fleets joined the proceedings at various times, and American

sailors shared the crowded Maltese waters with their East Bloc counterparts. Guided

missile cruiser Belknap (CG-26), which received the honor of serving as the host ship for

the chief executive, anchored barely 400-yards in Marsaxlokk Bay from Soviet guided

missile cruiser Slava (CG-70) for most of the summit. Ships also operated within

the Grand Harbor at Valletta. The President arrived on board Forrestal on 1 December, and

visited the flight deck, watched aircraft launch and recover, and ate lunch with

crewmembers on the mess decks. At 1345 he began a speech to officers and crewmembers

assembled in the ship’s hanger bay, including ADM Jonathon T. Howe, Commander-in-

Chief, Naval Forces Europe, VADM James D. Williams, Commander, Sixth Fleet, and

RADM Allen. The President, a decorated naval aviator from World War II, amused his

audience with good natured humor directed at his fellow shipmates. Motioning to the

officers nearby, he chided them: “I know that some of you have meals to eat. Frankly, I’d

like to get Chairman Gorbachev to get an idea of what U.S. Navy food is like. Maybe not –

what I’m trying to do is ease tensions.” At 1425 Marine I touched down onto the flight

deck of Belknap as President Bush arrived on board the cruiser in his helicopter,

maintaining a hectic schedule. Stormy weather and choppy seas forced planners to cancel

or reschedule subsequent meetings, however, resulting in some journalists referring to the

conference as the “Seasick Summit.” That morning began pleasantly but as the day

progressed the weather deteriorated as a storm swept in with winds that peaked at 55-knots

by the evening of the 2nd

. The foul conditions forced the President to shift his meetings with

the General Secretary from Belknap and Slava to Soviet cruise ship Maxim Gorky, moored

pierside and a more stable platform as the tempest battered ships in the harbor. The

admiral’s barge safely carried the President over to Maxim Gorky, but as the seas became

rougher they rendered boating conditions unsafe and compelled the President to remain on

board the cruiser, where he chatted amiably with watchstanders on the foc’sle and fantail

despite freezing rain and pounding swells that forced Belknap to shift berths by the 3rd

. The

crew persevered through the morning when the storm began to subside, which enabled

them to transport the President over to the cruise ship to complete his meetings with the

General Secretary. President Bush publicly expressed American support for the Russian

leader’s glasnost[openness] and perestroika [restructuring] policies, and both men

acknowledged the lessening of Cold War anxieties. “For 45 years” noted General

Secretary Gorbachev, “we have been managing to avoid a big war. This single fact alone

says that not everything was bad in the past.” Aircraft from Forrestal flew airborne early

warning and combat air patrols overhead during much of the summit. President Bush also

met with Maltese Prime Minister Fenech Adami.

4–6 Dec 1989: Forrestal visited Naples, which became a unique evolution when she

required simultaneous usage of a port anchor, 10 mooring lines, two kedge anchors and two

mooring buoys to stay in the inner harbor of the crowded port.

13–19 Dec 1989: The ship participated in an amphibious exercise with the Tunisians.

Aircraft from the carrier flew 193 sorties and Forrestal coordinated USMC McDonnell

Douglas AV-8B Harrier IIs during a crucial phase of the exercise.

11–13 Jan 1990: Forrestal took part in Operation Last Chance in the Mediterranean.

17–21 Jan 1990: The ship participated in exercise Petit Poi in the Mediterranean.

29–31 Jan 1990: Forrestal operated with the British, French and Italians in the

western Mediterranean.

10 Feb 1990: The Naples Squadron of the Association of Naval Aviation held their

establishment ceremony in the ship’s hanger bay.

7–8 Mar 1990: The ship and her crew trained with the Tunisians.

23–28 Mar 1990: Forrestal took part with Dwight D. Eisenhower in the large NATO

exercise National Week 90B in the western Mediterranean. On the final day Dwight D.

Eisenhower dropped anchor in AugustaBay to relieve Forrestal.

10 Apr 1990: AN Tony C. Smith fell overboard from No. 4 Aircraft Elevator near

32°18’N, 70°59’E. The weather was clear. Three helos from HS-15 launched and searched

for the man for over four and a half hours before they called-off the search more than two

hours after dusk. A sailor spotted AN Smith in the water near a life ring and a smoke float

that a shipmate threw into the sea to mark his location for searchers. Although the airman

apparently wore his required life vest, eyewitnesses could not ascertain as to whether or not

he inflated it.

12 Apr 1990: By the time Forrestal returned to Mayport she anchored at such diverse ports

as Marseilles, Valencia, Naples, Cannes, Alexandria, Egypt, Augusta Bay and Haifa, Israel.

14 May–27 Aug 1990: The ship completed a drydocking selected restricted availability at

Mayport. Former Forrestal crewmembers held their inaugural meeting of the USS

Forrestal Reunion Association on board and ashore at Mayport, overnight (22–23 June).

Meanwhile, James M. Doohan, an actor famous for his role as Chief Engineer Montgomery

“Scotty” Scott on board starship Enterprise (NCC-1701) in the TV series Star Trek, visited

the ship on 27 July. The same day that CAPT Robert S. Cole relieved CAPT Louis E.

Thomassy, Jr., as commanding officer of Forrestal (2 August), however, Iraqi tanks and

troops poured across the borders from Iraq into Kuwait as Saddam Hussein seized the tiny

country. The dictator’s troops raped and looted helpless Kuwaitis; sailors on board guided

missile frigate Robert G. Bradley (FFG-49), patrolling in the Persian Gulf barely 50 miles

offshore, could hear the victims’ pleas for help via their bridge-to-bridge radio, “over and

over again,” but restrictive rules of engagement constrained the crew until the U.S.

responded by forming a coalition of 29 nations, that rushed reinforcements to the region

during Operation Desert Shield, designed to protect the region from Iraqi aggression.

“Saddam Hussein won the toss, “ noted CAPT Lyle G. “Ho Chi” Bien, Commander, CVW-

15, detailed to Central Command as the Navy’s senior strike planner, “and elected to

receive.” The Navy augmented the Red Sea Battle Group’s mission to include maritime

interception operations to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 51, which imposed an

embargo upon ships entering or leaving Iraqi-occupied Kuwaiti and Iraqi ports. The crisis

forced the crew and workers to toil at an increased pace to ready Forrestal for

contingencies, and to race to complete work six months earlier then they originally planned.

28–31 Aug 1990: The ship completed sea trials and flight deck certification in the

Jacksonville Operating Area.

7–11 Sep 1990: Forrestal transited to Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

8 Nov 1990: President Bush announced a decision to double the number of carrier battle

groups deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield. The announcement

rushed America, CVW-1 embarked, Ranger (CV-61), CVW-2 embarked, and Theodore

Roosevelt with CVW-8 to reinforce John F. Kennedy (CV-67), CVW-3

embarked, Midway (CV-41) with CVW-5 and Saratoga, CVW-17 embarked, by 15

January 1991. During these hectic days leading up to the war the Navy twice issued orders

to Forrestal to deploy and twice cancelled the orders, which frustrated many crewmembers

who worked at an intense pace to prepare themselves and their ship to sail into harm’s way,

as well as disrupting family plans for their dependents. Sailors and marines coined the

slogan “Will we stay or will we go?” to describe their situation. Nonetheless, the crew

expanded their dedicated selected restricted availability into a second phase to prepare for

their impending sail into harm’s way. This work included installing flush deck catapults

designed to accommodate F/A-18 Hornets.

16–21 Nov 1990: The ship returned to Mayport.

18–20 Dec 1990: RADM Walter J. Davis, Commander, Carrier Group 6, visited. On the

18th

, however, an A-14A Tomcat (BuNo 161862), of VF-31, separated from Catapult No. 4

during the initial part of launching. The weather was calm, with visibility out to seven

nautical miles. Both men ejected as the aircraft stopped on the leading edge of the angled

flight deck. The pilot landed on the flight deck and suffered scrapes and bruises and a

sprained ankle, while the radar intercept officer’s parachute caught on the forward top of

the ship’s island and he survived the harrowing trial with minor scrapes and a good sea

story.

1 Jan 1991: Forrestal began the year as the ‘east coast ready carrier,’ a role she fulfilled

through the first five months.

12 Jan 1991: Congress voted 52 to 47 in the Senate and 250 to 183 in the House on a joint

resolution that gave the President his support for military action against the Iraqis.

16–17 Jan 1991: The Iraqis ignored the UN deadline, and the next day six battle groups,

two battleships and a 31-ship amphibious task force steaming in the Red and Arabian Seas

and Persian Gulf, comprising over 100 ships and submarines, 75,000 sailors and 85,000

marines afloat and ashore, launched strikes against the disobedient Iraqis. Nine ships and

subs fired over 100 R/UGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs), the first

combat launchings of the all-weather subsonic cruise missiles, and America, John F.

Kennedy and Saratoga in the Red Sea, Midway and Ranger in the Persian

Gulf and Theodore Roosevelt en route to the Gulf, launched 228 combat sorties.

21 Jan 1991: The President signed an executive order designating the Arabian

Peninsula areas, airspace and adjacent waters as a combat zone.

4–6 Mar 1991: ADM Paul D. Miller, Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet, visited the ship.

Two days later First Lady Barbara P. Bush visited Forrestal.

11 Apr 1991: While turning over his security watch in Forrestal’s marine guard shack a

marine of the ship’s security detachment, CPL Jason Pricer, accidentally discharged his

weapon and shot himself in the head. Although a life-flight helo transported him from the

ship berthed at Mayport to University Trauma Center, emergency staff pronounced him

dead there at 2104.

19–27 Apr 1991: Forrestal worked-up for her deployment in the Jacksonville Operating

Area. Aircraft flew air combat maneuvering against their British counterparts from aircraft

carrier HMS Invincible (R-05).

30 May 1991: Following numerous disappointing rumors, Forrestal finally deployed from

Mayport to relieve Theodore Roosevelt, which participated in Desert

Shield/Storm/Sabre and Operation Provide Comfort, the latter coalition efforts to aid

Kurdish refugees whom the Iraqis viciously attacked in the wake of Gulf War I. Theodore

Roosevelt joined other forces including amphibious assault ship Guadalcanal (LPH-7)

positioned off Turkey to support an estimated 7,000 American troops helping the Kurds.

These operations could become very deadly, as Iraqi gunners previously demonstrated on 7

and 8 May when they fired on a pair of Intrudersflying a reconnaissance mission

from Theodore Roosevelt over the northern part of the country observing Iraqi atrocities

against the Kurds. These became the first confirmed incidents of Iraqi violations of the

cease-fire since allied troops began occupying a designated security zone for Kurdish

refugees. The Iraqis missed the A-6Es, which completed their mission and returned to the

ship. These incidents set the stage for Forrestal’s final entry into battle, and the demanding

missions her aircraft completed. CVW-6 embarked between 64 and 69 aircraft for the war,

including VF-11 and VF-31 (F-14A Tomcats), VFA-132 and VFA-137 (F/A-18AHornets),

VA-176 (A-6E and KA-6D Intruders), VS-28 (S-3B Vikings), VAW-122 (E-

2C Hawkeyes), VAQ-133 and VAQ-142 (EA-6B Prowlers) and HS-15 (SH-3H Sea

Kings). Tomcats from VF-31 flew uniquely equipped with the Tactical Air Reconnaissance

System (TARPS), which they used to observe a variety of Iraqi and Russian forces and

their operations.

8–9 Jun 1991: Forrestal conducted an anti-air warfare and weapons exercise with French

aircraft carrier Clemenceau (R-98).

8–21 Jun 1991: A Tomcat crew and their maintainers from VF-11 detached from the ship

to participate in the Paris Air Show.

12 Jun 1991: A Tomcat from VF-31 flew a long-range, 2,000 nautical mile round trip

TARPS mission to the Gulf of Sollum anchorage to monitor the Libyans.

12–13 Jun 1991: VADM William A. Owens, Commander, Sixth Fleet, visited the ship.

14–15 Jun 1991: The ship began to support Provide Comfort in the eastern Med.

Commanders called upon Forrestal to provide air power presence and airborne intelligence

support, and to initiate, test and evaluate a wide range of innovative Sixth Fleet battle group

tactics and new aircraft carrier roles. In particular, aircraft searched for Iraqi weapons of

mass destruction sites and stockpiles, Iraqi troops, surface-to-air missiles, tanks and

artillery to destroy or deter them from committing their crimes against Kurdish refugees,

and to direct humanitarian aid workers toward the displaced persons. Their most common

targets became the military barracks at Dahuk, which housed reservist Republican

Guardsmen, T-72 main battle tanks attempting to slip past vigilant pilots, troop

encampments in and around Mosul and Irbil, and major roadways and towns throughout

northernIraq. Some VF-31 Tomcats equipped with TARPS also flew many of these

missions from Incirlik AB in Turkey. In addition, at one point two Tomcat crews flew a

seven-hour TARPS mission to the easternMediterranean, where they spotted and

photographed a Russian Kara class guided missile cruiser. During this period the ship

relieved Theodore Roosevelt of her duties in Provide Comfort, and at various times she

operated with a number of U.S. vessels including attack submarine Gato (SSN-615), as

well as with French guided missile frigate Jean de Vienne (F-643), Italian guided missile

frigate Espero (F-576) and Spanish guided missile frigate Santa Maria (F-81).

19 Jun 1991: A fire broke out in No. 2 Burn Room, which contained an incinerator for

burning classified material, as a result of crewmembers accidentally igniting excess

material that they improperly brought to the space to destroy. The fire party extinguished

the blaze without casualties.

8 Jul 1991: While Forrestal steamed in the eastern Mediterranean to the south of Turkey

supporting Provide Comfort a Hawkeye, LCDR John M. Yurchak, LT Vicent C. Bowhers,

Jr., and LTJGs Robert A. Forwalder, John S. Lemmon and Terry S. Morris from VAW-122

flying a routine reconnaissance mission suffered a fire in the starboard engine that the crew

could not extinguish. All five crewmembers ejected and helos from Forrestal and guided

missile cruiser Yorktown (CG-48) recovered them within 10 minutes. The

unmanned Hawkeye continued on flying on ‘autopilot’ to the southeast of Cyprus, and

since the E-2C presented a hazard to aerial navigation, a Hornet from VFA-132 flying from

the carrier shot the aircraft down with 20 mm guns. The Hawkeye crashed roughly half-way

between Cyprus and Syria in international waters, about 40 nautical miles from land, in

water that measured a depth of approximately 3,000 feet. The fire threatened the lives of

the crew and forced them to bail out, especially due to the possibility of the flames igniting

a catastrophic explosion. They made a courageous and correct decision to place the aircraft

on autopilot to facilitate just the destruction of the aircraft that occurred,

and Yorktown recovered a few small pieces of debris that otherwise did not prove

hazardous to shipping.

10–13 Jul 1991: BGEN General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC, Chief of Staff, Combined Joint

Task Force Provide Comfort, visited the ship overnight on the 10th

and 11th

, and LGEN

John M. Shalikashvilli, USA, commanding the force, visited the next day. French marine

MGEN Maurice LePage, commanding French troops serving in the force,

visited Forrestal overnight on the 12th

and 13th

.

17–20 Jul 1991: Aircraft trained at the Greek range at Avgo Nisi in preparation for

President Bush’s visit to Athens and Souda Bay (18–20 July). The President met Greek

Prime Minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis, and spoke with U.S. and Greek servicmembers.

After flying training runs on the Greek range, aircraft flew presence and combat air patrol

overhead during the President’s stay. Forrestal sailed to the south of Crete on the 19th

, and

at about 1430 an A-6E Intruder from VA-176 crashed into the sea in international waters

while on a routine training mission, about two miles northwest of Avgo Nisi. Both men

ejected, and searchers rescued LT John W. Musaus the bombardier/navigator, who

recovered from his ordeal with left arm and leg injuries at Naval

Hospital, NS Rota. Forrestal, Yorktown, guided missile frigate De Wert (FFG-

45), Milwaukee (AOR-2) and Greek forces combed an area of 1,600 square miles for

almost two days, however, they could not recover the pilot, LT Steven J. Cullen, nor any

debris from the downed aircraft.

22 Jul 1991: Tomcats from VF-31 flew a TARPS flight over a trio of Iraqi MiG-

23 Floggers sheltering in their hardened bunkers at an airfield on the southern end

of Mosul.

7 Aug 1991: An S-3B Viking from VS-28 slid into the ship’s port catwalk at about 1200

while taxing to Catapult No. 3 for a noon launch. One of the men ejected into the water and

a helo recovered him, while the other three aircrew escaped from the aircraft onto the flight

deck. Forrestal reported that all four men recovered in “good condition.”

17 Sep 1991: Italian President Francesco Cossiga made an orientation visit to Forrestal.

24 Sep 1991: Aircraft completed their last Provide Comfort missions.

2–15 Oct 1991: The ship participated in anti-air warfare, overland dissimilar air combat

training and low level training during Display Determination ‘91. In addition, five aircraft–

two Tomcats, two Hornets and aProwler–detached ashore to the Turkish airfield at Akhisar

to fly opposition missions. On the 6th

, however, a Hornet, CDR Michael Groothousen,

suffered a malfunction which forced the commander to eject. Rescuers recovered him and

returned the pilot to the ship within 15 minutes.

19–27 Oct 1991: Six aircraft–two Tomcats and four Hornets–flew ashore

to Ramstein AB in Germany, where they pitted their skills against Air Force General

Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcons in dissimilar air combat training. Maintainers and their

equipment left the ship on the 19th

to set-up the detachment, while aircraft flew

off Forrestal two days later. USAF tankers provided “outstanding” support refueling the

aircraft during both legs, which allowed the men to fly 2,000 nautical mile non-stop round

trips. Meanwhile, a Tomcat from VF-31 flew over Sollum Anchorage, on 22 October,

where they photographed Russian guided missile helicopter cruiser Moskva (CHG-

108). Forrestal kept close tabs on Moskva throughout the latter’s deployment, monitoring

the Russians as they sailed normally between Sollum and Tartus, Syria. When VF-31

imaged the Russians on this date Moskva conducted helicopter operations over

the Gulf of Sollum, and pilots spotted five Kamov Ka-25 Hormones on her deck, three

spinning up and two parked with their rotors folded.

6–15 Nov 1991: The ship took part in two exercises with the French, Harmonie Sud

Est and Iles D’Or. British and Italian forces joined the carrier for the second exercise.

French RADM Bonet D’Oleon, commanding that nation’s forces participating in the

exercises, visited Forrestal on the 12th

.

2–6 Dec 1991: Russian guided missile aircraft carrier Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza

Kuznetsov (CVG-113) sailed from the Black Sea via the Dardanelles en route to her new

homeport within their Banner Northern Fleet. Nine aircraft–two Tomcats, two Hornets,

three Vikings, one Prowler and a Hawkeye–flew over 330 miles from Forrestal south

of Marseilles to intercept the elusive ship. Tomcats from VF-31 flew a TARPS mission

3,000 feet over the carrier as they caught up to her in the western Mediterranean about 65

miles north of Jijel, Algeria, at 37°40’N, 5°80’E, on the 6th

. Although aircrew did not spot

Russian aircraft on the flight deck, their imagery provided analysts extremely rare and

detailed views of the new carrier and her weapons and systems. Shortly

thereafter America relieved Forrestal after the latter sailed from the Mediterranean through

the Strait of Gibraltar for home for the last time.

23 Dec 1991: The ship arrived at Mayport in time for crewmembers approved leave to join

their families for the Christmas holidays. During the days following, the ship’s marines

stood down their security detachment and departed from the ship after faithfully protecting

her since commissioning.

Mid-1991–mid 1992: The crew made advanced preparations to change the ship’s homeport

to NAS Pensacola, Fla., and to transition from an operational aircraft carrier to relieve

auxiliary aircraft landing training shipLexington (AVT-16). In addition, the crew integrated

over 300 female sailors into the ship’s company for the first time, including 25 chiefs.

20–31 Aug 1992: Hurricane Andrew, the most destructive United States hurricane recorded

to date as it blasted its way across southern Florida on 24 August

1992, forced Forrestal to emergency sortie to avoid it.

14 Sep 1992: Forrestal arrived at Philadelphia to begin a 14-month, $157 million complex

overhaul and conversion prior to assuming duties as the Navy’s new auxiliary aircraft

landing training ship (AVT-59). Her final Command History Report defined these missions

as “to lead the Navy in sea-going training strategies, emphasizing Naval Aviation, Surface

Force and Reserve training, and to provide an operational platform capable of executing

multi-mission tasking in support of national interests.” The crew made the move with over

400 personal vehicles stored on board.

1 Feb–10 Sep 1993: When Forrestal received orders that the Navy decided to

decommission her (thus leaving the Fleet without a dedicated training carrier),

crewmembers and workers already removed thousands of feet of redundant cable, removed

the shafts to the shipyard, where workers refurbished them in preparation for returning

them to the carrier, and they completed many machinery repairs in the main engineering

spaces. The Navy directed that crewmembers and workers should be ready to inactivate and

decommission the ship by the same day, 30 September, and they did so by the 22nd

of that

month (holding the actual ceremony at the beginning of the month–see below). In addition,

crewmembers assisted a number of other crews with training during this period, including

those of America and John F. Kennedy. Sailors also transferred a great deal of equipment to

other commands, including sending the ship’s starboard and port anchors and chains to

Newport News Shipbuilding for use on board aircraft carrier John C. Stennis (CVN-74),

screws and propellers and fire mains toJohn F. Kennedy, and the TV system to Enterprise,

as well as donating their library to combat stores ship USNS Concord (T-AFS-5)

and Theodore Roosevelt. Nearly 1,700 crewmembers processed orders detailing them to

other commands across the globe, in many instances involving considerable hardship for

families, and over 200 more opted to take the “early out” program and discharged. A

crewmember died in a service elevator accident in Building No. 620, adjacent

to Forrestal at the shipyard, on 28 February. Sailors and workers flooded Drydock No. 5

at Philadelphia on 9 June, and six days later Forrestal shifted berths over to Pier 6E.

Throughout July crewmembers also spent over 200 man-hours helping to restore former

light cruiser–second line Olympia (IX-40), berthed nearby as a floating memorial at Penn’s

Landing on the Delaware River. Sailors made extensive hull and structural repairs to return

the cruiser’s watertight integrity, which suffered during the intervening years following her

removal from active service due to neglect generated by a lack of funds. The volunteers

also installed an operational announcing system on board Olympia. The ship’s 50 state flag

team and color guard participated in the “Welcome America” picnic at Fort Mifflin on

the Delaware on 3 July, and then took part the next day in Philadelphia’s Independence Day

parade. On the 29th

the crew held their final on board memorial service for their fallen

shipmates from 1967 in Hanger Bay No. 1, during which a security-rifle squad from the

Security Department fired a 21-gun salute.

11 Sep 1993: Forrestal was decommissioned at Pier 6E, Philadelphia, and she was stricken

from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. VADM Henry H. Mauz, Jr., Commander-in-

Chief, Atlantic Fleet, was the principal speaker, and VADM Less, Commander, Naval Air

Forces Atlantic Fleet, administered the decommissioning order to CAPT Robert L.

“Bunky” Johnson, Jr., the commanding officer. ADM Stanley R. Arthur, Vice Chief of

Naval Operations, also attended. The Navy presented the Meritorious Unit Commendation

to the crew, covering the period of 31 January through 14 September 1992. The citation

states in part: “Despite a manning reduction of more than 1,000 personnel, two homeport

changes, and the first-ever integration of more than 300 women to the crew, the officers,

men and women of Forrestal exercised tremendous flexibility, resourcefulness and

professionalism in meeting every operational commitment.” During her service to the

Republic the ship logged nearly 400,000 nautical miles and attained more than 376,500

arrested aircraft landings. Secretary of Defense Leslie “Les” Aspin sent a letter to CAPT

Johnson and his crew, proudly noting that Forrestal earned her motto of “First in Defense,”

and that her heritage endures as a “bold ship ready to sail in harm’s way in defense of

American freedom.”

1993: The ship transited to Newport in Rhode Island to be on "donation hold" as a museum

and memorial.

Home Port Assignments Dates

Norfolk, Va. 1 Oct 1955

Mayport, Fla. Sep 1977

Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Penn. 18 Jan 1983

Mayport, Fla. 23 May 1985

Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Penn. 30 Jan 1992

Commanding Officers Date Assumed Command

CAPT Roy L. Johnson 1 Oct 1955

CAPT William E. Ellis 1 Jun 1956

CAPT Richard L. Kibbe 4 Jul 1957

CAPT Allen M. Shinn 25 Jul 1958

CAPT Samuel R. Brown, Jr. 9 May 1959

CAPT Robert E. Riera 28 Apr 1960

CAPT Donald M. White 16 Jun 1961

CAPT Lawrence R. Geis 4 Jun 1962

CAPT Dick H. Guinn 4 May 1963

CAPT Michael J. Hanley, Jr. 26 Mar 1964

CAPT Howard S. Moore 27 Mar 1965

CAPT John K. Beling 7 May 1966

CAPT Robert B. Baldwin 18 Sep 1967

CAPT James W. Nance 11 Dec 1968

CAPT Charles F. Demmler 25 Nov 1969

CAPT Leonard A. Snead 13 Nov 1970

CAPT Robert F. Schoultz 23 Jun 1971

CAPT James B. Linder 1 Nov 1972

CAPT James H. Scott 10 May 1974

CAPT Joseph J. Barth, Jr. 28 Aug 1975

CAPT Peter B. Booth 26 Aug 1977

CAPT Edwin R. Kohn, Jr. 21 Mar 1979

CAPT CE. Armstrong, Jr. Aug 1980

CAPT Bobby C. Lee Feb 1982

CAPT Daniel P. March 30 Apr 1984

CAPT Timothy W. Wright 10 Dec 1985

CAPT John A. Pieno, Jr. 23 Jul 1987

CAPT Louis E. Thomassy, Jr. 23 Feb 1989

CAPT Robert S. Cole 2 Aug 1990

CAPT Robert L. Johnson, Jr. 22 Jan 1992

Changes in armament and major systems (Weapons and radar/sonar equipment):

Sep 1961–13 Jan 1962, modifications: reduced her arresting gear from six wires to four

with sheave dampers; removals: forward 5” gun mounts and sponsons; installations: jet

engine test facility on the fantail, SPS-43A long range air search radar on the starboard side

of the island, Van Zelm bridle arrestors and Fresnel lens landing system.

15 Apr 1966–23 Jan 1967, overhaul, installations: Naval Tactical Data System

(NTDS); new electronic repair shops; new arresting gear–which required widening by

15 feet the final 120 feet of the angled flight deck due to the longer run-out; and

Integrated Operational Intelligence System (IOIS) to operate with North American RA-

5C Vigilantes for enhanced strategic and tactical intelligence.

19 Sep 1967–8 Apr 1968, post-fire repairs: Removed the remaining 5” guns and replaced

them with a NATO Sea Sparrow Basic Point Defense Missile System (BPDMS).

16 Jul 1971–10 Apr 1972, overhaul, installations: Two new jet blast deflectors to

enable her to operate Grumman F-14A Tomcats; satellite communications equipment; a

new and bigger evaporator; and a new telephone exchange; conversion: from black oil

to Naval Distillate Fuel.

1 Oct 1976–24 Jun 1977, installation: BPDMS on the port

quarter; replacements: SPS-48 long range three-dimensional air search radar replaced

SPS-30.

23 Jul–10 Dec 1982 post shakedown availability, installations:

12 Jan 1983–20 May 1985, Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), installations: New

Mark 3, Mod 3 arresting gear engines and the accompanying sheave system; Anti-

Submarine Warfare Tactical Support Center; Mk-29 NATO Sea Sparrow launchers

replaced the outdated Mk-25 launchers; and extended No. 4 Catapult by 42-feet.

13 Sep–18 Dec 1985, post-shipyard availability and selected restricted availability

period, installations: Three Phalanx 20 mm close-in-weapons systems (CIWS); Nixie anti-

torpedo protection system.

1991–15 May 1992, dedicated selected restricted availability, installations: Converted

to accommodate night-configured F/A-18 Hornets and SH-60 Seahawks, as well as marine

CH-53D Sea Stallions and UH-1N Iroquois; and Tactical Flag Combat Center.

7 Mar 2007 planned incremental availability: 90 major modifications, including the

RIM-116A Rolling Airframe Missile [RAM] system–a lightweight quick-reaction “fire-and-

forget” missile designed to counter anti-ship missiles attacking in waves or streams–

modification to CIWS, a local area network upgrade, alteration of the JP-5 fuel system and

installation of a new electronic throttle system in her propulsion plants.

Major Deployments Away From Home Port For 2 Months or More

Date of Departure Return Date Air Wing Area of Operation

7 Nov 1956 12 Dec 1956 CVG-1 East Lant/Azores

15 Jan 1957 22 Jul 1957 CVG-1 Med

16 Aug 1957 21 Oct 1957 CVG-1 NorLant

2 Sep 1958 12 Mar 1959 CVG-10 Med

28 Jan 1960 31 Aug 1960 CVG-8 Med

9 Feb 1961 25 Aug 1961 CVG-8 Med

3 Aug 1962 2 Mar 1963 CVG-8 Med

10 Jul 1964 13 Mar 1965 CVW-8 Med

24 Aug 1965 7 Apr 1966 CVW-8 Med

6 Jun 1967 15 Sep 1967 CVW-17 WestPac/Vietnam

22 Jul 1968 29 Apr 1969 CVW-17 Med

2 Dec 1969 8 Jul 1970 CVW-17 Med

5 Jan 1971 2 Jul 1971 CVW-17 Med

22 Sep 1972 6 Jul 1973 CVW-17 Med

11 Mar 1974 11 Sep 1974 CVW-17 Med

5 Mar 1975 22 Sep 1975 CVW-17 Med

4 Apr 1978 26 Oct 1978 CVW-17 Med/NorLant

27 Nov 1979 7 May 1980 CVW-17 Med

2 Mar 1981 15 Sep 1981 CVW-17 Med/NorLant

8 Jun 1982 16 Nov 1982 CVW-17 Med/IO

2 Jun 1986 10 Nov 1986 CVW-6 Med

28 Aug 1987 9 Oct 1987 CVW-6 NorLant

25 Apr 1988 7 Oct 1988 CVW-6 Med/IO/NorLant

3 Nov 1989 12 Apr 1990 CVW-6 Med

31 May 1991 23 Dec 1991 CVW-6 Med/IO

Unit Awards Received Dates

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal 16–31 Mar 1997

1 Apr–24 Jun 1997

9 Jul–3 Sep 1999

Armed Forces Service Medal 26 Apr–23 May 1993

4–7 Jun 1993

29 Jul–3 Aug 1993

14–22 Aug 1993

26 Mar–4 Jun 1995

9–30 Jun 1995

10 Jul–5 Aug 1995

29 Aug–12 Sep 1995

8–14 Jan 1997

6 Apr–7 Jul 1999

Joint Meritorious Unit Award 5 Apr–16 Jul 1991

Meritorious Unit Commendation 1 Mar–1 Aug 1993

9 Jul–3 Sep 1999

1 Jan 1999–10 Sep 2001

Navy Battle Efficiency Award 1 Jan–31 Dec 1989

1 Jan–31 Dec1993

1 Jan–31 Dec 2001

Navy Unit Commendation 5 Apr–12 Sep 1995

13 Sep 2001–3 Mar 2002

24 Feb–20 Apr 2003

27 Sep 2005–15 Feb 2006

Southwest Asia Service Medal 14 Jan–20 Apr 1991

Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation 25 Oct 1986–30 Jun 1989

Command History/Operations Reports Submitted:

1955–60 (brief, incomplete composites), 1961–63 (composites), 1966–79, 1983–93

Mark L. Evans, 2 August 2007

[i]

The Navy then designated these aircraft as A3D-1 and 2 Skywarriors. On 18 September 1962, however, the

Department of Defense issued a joint regulation establishing a uniform system of designating military aircraft.

For simplicity, all aircraft references hereafter utilize that system [ii]

Then designated an FJ-3. On 20 December 1963, the Navy redesignated Carrier Air Groups (CVGs) as

Carrier Air Wings (CVWs). [iii]

The exact identities of the aircraft responsible for the chain of horror continue to be uncertain at the time of

writing due to the poor granular quality of the PLAT flight deck film–the camera faced forward toward the

bow and did not record the initial five seconds of the disaster, so that investigators could only examine a poor

reflection in the camera to determine the origins–and due to the ensuing devastation. [iv]

In command of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 during the opening days of World War II, LCDR

Bulkeley and his men destroyed or damaged Japanese vessels and dispersed enemy landing parties, all the

while fighting under extremely limiting conditions with little or no logistic support or repair capabilities, and

while enduring almost daily Japanese air raids. The intrepid officer culminated these efforts when

he commanded the patrol torpedo boats that spirited GEN Douglas MacArthur,USA, and his entourage to

safety from the Philippines as the American defenses collapsed in the face of the Japanese onslaught. For his

actions during these battles covering the period of 7 December 1941 to 10 April 1942, he received the Medal

of Honor.