Investigation of Forrestal Fire: Copy of findings, recommendations and opinions of investigation into fire on board USS Forrestal (CVA 59)

A riveting account of one of the most deadly fires in naval history expressed in the stark terms of an after-accident report.



On July 29, 1967, 134 sailors died when a fire aboard the USS Forrestal quickly spread throughout the ship. The cause was an electrical malfunction that created a series of explosions. The high ambient temperature made the fire even more dangerous, and the lack of effective firefighting measures made it all but impossible to stop. The board of investigation that followed determined that no disciplinary action was warranted against any personnel. This thoroughly researched report tells the story of those who perished in the fire and their loved ones, as well as hinting at the struggles of the investigators who tried to learn what went wrong.