REPORT: Senator John McCain Accused of Causing 1967 USS Forrestal Inferno


THE OFFICIAL NAVAL RESPONSE TO THE FORRESTAL FIRE

The US Navy, of course, delved into a deep investigation as to the causes of the Forrestal blaze and had come to many different conclusions that sought to explain why a Zuni munition had suddenly fired across the flight deck and struck Lieutenant Commander Fred D. White’s and McCain’s A-4 Skyhawk jets.  From faulty wiring to mishandling by flight deck crewman who were hand-attaching the bombs rather than using lift equipment, to poor fueling practices.

To be honest, the Navy is not saying exactly why the fire began, but only that it occurred by the sudden and inexplicable ignition and detonation of a Zuni bomb.  What is sure is that the information from the inquest may never be made public (at least that which is not heavily redacted) due to the status of the man who may have been directly responsible.

Some argue that John McCain was never busted down in rank or brought up on charges for the deaths of these sailors and airmen, but there is no denying that he would not be the first man (or woman) to benefit from having powerful family or friends to halt criminal charges or proceedings (think Hillary Clinton).

I offer a small argument to that opinion:  Why is it that a man who was in the service from 1958 to 1981 (23 years) retired with a slew of medals and commendations…as a CAPTAIN?  He entered military service as a First Lieutenant (instead of a Second Lieutenant due to college credits).  How did a man who was such an exemplary military member with credits out the wazoo, end up retiring with only a single promotion?

Three words:  It’s not possible.

Unless there is something compelling that I missed in the many thousands of words written about his 23 years of service, having gained a single promotion in all that time is in and of itself telling.  He was either THE most forgotten and passed-over single hero in the history of the Navy…OR…we’re not getting the full story.

Having a very powerful family behind you in the military is one thing; it will keep you out of the brig, for the most part.  And it will most likely just get you shifted around from one command to the next (like Forrestal to Okiskany, for example).  But it will not get you promoted.  Especially not AFTER your very important family gets wind that you’re making anti-American propaganda films for the enemy!

In his own book, McCain regrets agreeing to the making of these videos (which were played over a loudspeaker every day in prison camps around North Vietnam) after he realizes through the grapevine that his father found out about them.  By the way, they never talked about this shameful part of his past, all the way to his death.

Of enormous interest to people who have followed the career of McCain is the US Navy’s film record of the fire on the aircraft carrier.  Yes, it’s true.  The US Navy video-documented the actual Forrestal fire as it occurred.

Turn the page to watch this disturbing footage!

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