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USS Forrestal CV-59(V)

Named after former Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, the USS Forrestral was also referred to as "The FID", because Mr. Forrestal was, as the original Secretary of Defense, "First in Defense". She was the largest aircraft carrier since WWII vintage and the first able to support jet aircraft. Commissioned in 1955, she was actually designed with landing signal lights, angled flight deck, and steam catapult, also a first. The Forrestal had the distinction of winning the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the honor of hosting President Gerald Ford in New York City, as he rang in the Bicentennial on July 4, 1976 from Forrestal's flight deck during the International Naval Review.

Her Early Years

The Forrestal was frequently used for aviator training and demonstrations of air power before Operation Strikeback, her first NATO operation; she also provided good will in conjunction with visitor hospitality to the United States Secretary of Defense N. H. McElroy, and Jordan's King Hussein.

History was made by the Forrestal in 1963 as a result of 21 full-stop landings and takeoffs by a C-130 Hercules aboard the ship, the largest and heaviest airplane landing on any Navy aircraft carrier. (Unfortunately, it could not fit into the Forrestal's elevators or in its hangars.) A tragedy struck in 1967, when, as the crew prepared for its fifth day of attacks against North Vietnam, a Zuni rocket misfired. It struck a tank on a parked aircraft; the seeping fuel caught on fire, and the resulting infernal resulted in 134 fatalities and 161 injured sailors. There were also $72 million in damages.

More Unfortunate Incidents

In 1968, during an air launch mission, the last airplane accidentally skidded off Forrestal's flight deck and into the water, costing three more airmen their lives. Four years later, while moored at its home base in Norfolk, Virginia, she was the victim of sabotage: A crewmember set a fire in one of the computer rooms, and while water was pumped in to drown the flames, all computer equipment was ruined. The loss of power caused the ship to take an exaggerated list, but she never capsized as feared. Five years after that incident, an A-7 Corsair II crashed on the flight deck; two deck crewmen were killed and ten others were injured. This was due to the pilot seeing the signal to land, yet finding the deck was covered with aircraft. He recovered from minor injuries after ejecting himself, but the craft struck two others before bursting into a fireball. The flames leapt across the aft deck on spilt fuel, but within seconds it was contained and extinguished. The following year, 1978, saw more tragedy-a fire in a main machinery room. That day, insulation had been painted, but hot steam had set it to smoldering. Luckily, it was put out within seconds, but soon after this, a fire began in a catapult steam trunk and yet another began in a storeroom. Both lasted about an hour. That same year, a pump room flood reached a depth of 20 feet before it was contained by divers. However, it still had time to spread into the Forrestal's food storage area and ruin the ship's supply of milk and produce. The next month saw even more catastrophe, as two air crashes on successive days resulted in another pilot fatality and additional injuries.

She Couldn't Be Kept Down

Forrestal regained her momentum in the second half of 1978, taking part in Operation Dawn Patrol and following a mission termed Windbreak for its extreme northerly route near Iceland. She thus provided training for sailors who had never been exposed to extreme conditions such as hurricane force winds of 70 knots and a wind chill of 0 degrees. After that excursion, she took part in Operation Sea Wind, winning a special liberty at the Captain's choice of destinations. Since the Captain was from New Orleans, the Forrestal was taken there during Mardi Gras, becoming the largest vessel ever on the Mississippi River. While docked there, more than 40,000 guests toured her and watched demonstrations before she left for 108 consecutive days at sea. Her next mission in 1989 experienced major damage from yet another fire, injuring 11 men and costing $2.5.million worth of damage. A few months later, President George H. W. Bush came aboard for a visit during the Malta Summit. This was followed by the Forrestal's last operational deployment in Operation Provide Comfort.

A Disappointing End

Although plans had been made to transition the Forrestal into the role of the Navy's main training carrier, this $157 million project was scrapped, leaving the Navy without such a vehicle. The Forrestal was decommissioned in 1993 and stripped for parts to be used by other vessels in her fleet. Sadly, the following year found her redesignated for disposal as a "fishing reef" for fishery propagation, and as of 2007, she was being environmentally prepared for sinking in an unannounced area.

It is indeed regretful that her many fires gave the Forrestal the nicknames of "Forrest Fire" and "Zippo". For this very reason, ships of that time relied heavily on asbestos for protection against flames, heat and electricity. Although asbestos aboard the Forrestal was unable to prevent her tragic fires and loss of life, it still posed a risk to crewmembers. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Forrestal CV-59(V), or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a free packet with more information. Enter your contact information in the form in the right column and we'll send a copy immediately.

Aircraft Carriers Index

USS America USS Antietam CV 36 K USS Antietam CV 36 USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Belleau wood CVL 24 USS Bennington CV 20 USS Bon Homme Richard CVa USS Boxer CV USS Bunker CV USS Cabot CVL 28 USS Constellation CV USS Coral Sea CV USS Corregidor CVE 58 USS Sable ix USS San jacinto CVL USS Saratoga CV USS Saratoga CV3 USS Shangri La

USS Cowpens CVL 25 USS Enterprise CV 6 USS Enterprise CVN USS Essex CV 9 USS Forrestal CV USS Franklin CV 13 USS Hancock CV 19 USS Hornet CV 12 USS Hornet CV 8 USS Independence C1 USS Independence CVL 22 USS Intrepid CV 11 USS Kearsage CV 33 USS Kearsage CV USS Kitty Hawk USS Sicily CVe USS Sitkoh bay USS Tarawa CV USS Ticonderoga CV USS Valley forge CV

USS Lake Champlain CV 39 USS Langley CV 1 USS Langley CVL 27 USS Lexington CV 16 USS Lexington CV 2 USS Leyte CV 32 USS Midway CV USS Oriskany CV USS Phillipine Sea CV USS Point cruz CVE USS Princeton CV USS Princeton CVL USS Randolph CV USS Ranger CV USS Rendova USS Wasp CV 18 USS Wasp CV 7 USS Wolverine IX 64 USS Yorktown CV 10 USS Yorktown CV 5

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