Originally posted by robwerden

McCain crashed 5 jets, plus was responsible for the Forrestal fire. Something made the plane behind McCain fired a rocket, which hit McCain's external center fuel tank, and caused a fire. McCain panicked, and dropped two bombs into the fire.

[edit on 7-3-2008 by robwerden]

Aside from the bad grammar of "something made the plane behind McCain fired a rocket", who, exactly, are you quoting here?

Something? Yes, indeed, the US Navy investigation found that "something" was a faulty safety pin that allowed an electrical charge to travel the full length of the launch circuit on power-up.

The US Navy investigation also found that the bombs that exploded, causing the damage to Foreestal's flight deck and allowing burning JP8 into the hangar deck were in fact older models that had been released from storage because the navy had all but expended its newer, safer ordinance.

The causes of the accident were both systemic and human. But the human cause was back in Washington. Not sitting on deck in the cat' queue.

And I got all that from barely taking any notice of a Nat Geo special. At no time was McCain, a fairly significant personage by any reckoning, even mentioned that I can remember.

Folks, puke.

This is the worst single topic I have ever read on all of ATS.

The video of the incident exists and is shown to everyone in the Navy. In the video you can clearly see his A-4 with it's tail out over the water.

The F-4 was on the other side of the flight deck, so I guess it would be possible if the heat from McCain's exhaust was able to travel around the world (in about a second) and not loose its high temp.

The fact that people immediately jump on McCain's case and do not bother to research has me worried. Please tell me you are all not registered voters.

Originally posted by COOL HAND
The fact that people immediately jump on McCain's case and do not bother to research has me worried. Please tell me you are all not registered voters.

What amuses me about this, is that those who like call others "sheeple" sure are quick to believe anything on the internet...

What an absolute pack of unmitigated LIES.

The F-4s were on one side of the deck and the A4s were on the other, both sets of jets had their tailpipes pointing outboard.

The armorers had previously asked for permission to connect the Zuni rocket packs on the F-4s prior to start up as it was safer for them to do so, they were granted blanket permission to do so. This removed safety factor #1, the connector leashes on the packs had an interruptor switch that also had to be removed before flight. The leash was connected to a large red tag that was easily caught by the breeze and had been accidentally pulled out before in that way, or at least pulled out far enough to enable the firing circuit, goodbye safety factor #2.

When the F-4 pilot switched from external to internal power, there was a surge through the firing circuit, the weapons mode selector was set to the starboard Zuni pack, and it fired the first rocket in sequence. This travelled across the deck and hit the drop tank of an A-4 PARKED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DECK knocking it loose, the pilot of that aircraft was either John McCain or Fred White, it has never been determined which one. The impact also knocked 2 x 1000lb bombs loose. This spilled fuel which was ignited either by sparks or the rocket motor, the rocket itself didn't fuse, so no bang - yet. The bombs were old WWII weapons filled with the unstable explosive Composition B, and had only just been delivered to the ship from the armaments vessel USS Diamond Head. The armorers were nervous, so they were loaded on the first available mission. The bombs had increased sensitivity to heat compared to newer weapons, and detonated very soon after the fire began. Other mistakes were made, water was hosed onto the flames instead of foam, causing it to spread etc, and the blast from the bombs blew a hole in the deck into which the burning fuel poured.

End of story.

Personally I'd ban you for posting blatant falsehoods like this, quite frankly, it's disgusting.

Originally posted by Chad AndrewBecause he seems to be a murderer, and a liar, who killed people for no good reason(s),

Provide your evidence or post a retraction. Come on, if you call someone a murderer you'd better be able to prove it.

Wow, that clears up a lot of things. Here I was, thinking it was the faulty switch on the F4 that fired a Zuni in error and hit McCain's aircraft (or the one next to him).

Guess the Navy investigation was all wrong, and some crackpot on the Internet has the real truth.

Originally posted by RexxCrow
I bet that he was made into a POW in order to bury this story so that his Political career could be ushed back from what would otherwise have been utter death. I always felt his POW story was BS.

WTF?

You are saying he purposely got himself shot down to be tortured by the North Vietnamese to escape punishment? You have to be yanking me!

Mccain looks so different as a young man, he look's pretty handsome actually.

Anyway I hope he doesn't become president.

[edit on 21-6-2008 by _Phoenix_]

Can anyone tell me if crashing (or otherwise losing) multiple planes is normal? I don't know -- it is an honest question for information.

Although it seems pretty high to me, it might be a reasonable number.

Also, is it even true that McCain crashed five different planes? I see on the web that there isn't any agreement to the actual number. It looks like he was shot at twice, the final time being when he was taken as a POW.

Originally posted by yankeerose
This thread is true.

Wrong. This thread is wrong.

I was taught about this incident during shipboard Damage Control training in 1984.

And you were taught that John McCain caused the fire?

I watched a training film called the USS Forrestal Incident.

And that film said John McCain caused the Forrestal fire?

I could not find that film available on the internet, but I did find this clip that shows the tragedy unfolding....

Yes, could you please show us which is John McCain's Hot-Rod sitting in the 'cat queue and which is the Phantom behind which he has set on fire...

Though one can argue of McCain's guilt... he IS the pilot of the plane that started this entire incident.

No, one cannot argue about his guilt. Which part of "Zuni Rocket" don't you get?

Originally posted by Retseh
When the F-4 pilot switched from external to internal power, there was a surge through the firing circuit, the weapons mode selector was set to the starboard Zuni pack, and it fired the first rocket in sequence. This travelled across the deck and hit the drop tank of an A-4 PARKED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DECK knocking it loose, the pilot of that aircraft was either John McCain or Fred White, it has never been determined which one. The impact also knocked 2 x 1000lb bombs loose. This spilled fuel which was ignited either by sparks or the rocket motor,

So, HOW is John McCain the pilot that started the entire incident?

AND where in this video does it show McCain setting a Phantom on fire with his re-heater?

Here is the really TRUE part of this whole thing.

During this general election the use of rumors, half truths and out right lies will be used against the 2 candidates to smear them.

So the true part is this story, rumor, lie what ever you choose to label it, will be used against MCcain, and the lay people who do not do any research will take it as truth. They will share the story with others and the older crowd who do not use the internet will to some extent buy it, hook line and sinker.

The veterans will have the mind set "does not surprise me, Ive seen some strange stuff" Some wont care, some will.

We are as some need to be reminded, talking about sheeple. Not everyone is in the research the truth mind set as some of you are.