Disasters Of The Century - Uss Forrestal

While the U.S.S. Forrestal was conducting combat operations off the coast of Vietnam, a missile was accidentally fired into a parked and armed A-4 Skyhawk plane causing a massive chain reaction of fire and explosions. The carrier became engulfed as fuel and bombs spilled into the holes left by the explosions. The crew fought the fire and dumped armed bombs overboard for 13 hours. The 134 casualties represent the worst loss of life incident on a naval vessel since World War II.