USS Forrestal CV-59

Comment

Comment by Kim Brockhoff on June 4, 2010 at 9:13am

Just received an Email from the Forrestal Society people that the Forrestal will be moved from Newport R.I. dock on July 15th.Bad weather (wind or heavy seas) could pospone it til 16th,17, or 18th. Final destination is Philly ship yard but they have given no indication to what will happen then. There's actually a small cruise ship that will escort her and there are some $25 seats available if anybody's interested.

Comment by John Rudolph on March 27, 2010 at 12:23am

I was on the FID 1980-1983 and left her in Philly. I miss being on this ship and have found a lot of the former RM's from the time I was onboard but I remember a lot of the other guys from the different departments. My book covers that period of time and if you're interested in buying it, contact me or visit my home page.

Comment by Jimmy Hassell on January 19, 2010 at 2:04pm

Went aboard May 1967 to July1970. BT in # 3 main mach room.

Comment by Alva Cotter Shell, IV on December 26, 2009 at 9:48am

I made the "81" & "82" deployment on the USS FORRESTAL (CV-59). I was attached to VA-85 on these two deployments. VA-85 was my first command after my "A" School which I completed in NAS Oceana, Va. Bch., Va. During these two deployments we were in conflicts with Libya.

Comment by Robert A. McKay on December 17, 2009 at 10:23pm

Hi Gary,
A couple of the other guys were "Big Bird" Gosney, Steve Langlais, Red Siegro, and Shriver. Chief BJ was quite a guy, only guy I knew that could read a book and play partners Pinnocle and keep up with both...and usually win. Glad to see you joined, Welcome Aboard.
Mac

Comment by Gary F. Moeller on December 17, 2009 at 3:23pm

I was attached to VF-11 when I rode the USS ZIPPO (or some called it the USS ForestFire) from 72-74 for three cruises. The 72 cruise was my first one and very memorable since it was 10.5 months long! I left my wife 5 mo. pregnant and came home to a 5 month old son. I also remember Christmas in Athens, Greece - I had Shore Patrol duty the night of Christmas Eve. Of course, everything closed early, so we had to make do the best we could in the cold and wind. It wa sabout 30F with a 30kt. wind blowing off the bay that night.
I also remember many fun times on liberty in Palma de Majorca, Barcelona, Naples, Athens, even Istanbul, Turkey!
As a squadron puke working in AIMD, I got to make ALL of the workups with the ship as well as ALL the TADs with the squadron, such as hot pad duty in Key West, bombing practice in Fallon, Nevada, etc. Of the 47 month long sea tour I had that go-round, I was gone 42 months! Anyone wonder why the divorce rate was so high back then?
I worked in WC 610 (now called 61A) and was the one and only for the ASW25 Data Link Bench, as well as the DACON (Digital to Analog Converter) for the F-4s. I stayed busy since we were just starting to use the ACLS Hands Off Landing System back then. Chief Bobby Joe Ayers was my shop chief, and we had quite a mix of characters in that shop. I remember how much music we had after a port visit to Athens when everyone went to the stereo shop and camera shop at the Air Force base there. Lots of cameras were purchased too!
Names that came to mind: AQ1 Robert "Mac" McKay; AT2 Mike Chadwell; many more that I can't remember at this time. Getting old!

Comment by CHARLES W HORTON JR on December 1, 2009 at 7:46pm

I will never forget this ship. I have watched the fire film several times in my career. I worked with an ETCS on the Mount Vernon LSD-39 that was on the Forrestal as an E-2. Later in 2009 I learned who was sitting in that aircraft at the very beginning of the fire catastrophy.

Comment by Donald Krein on August 27, 2009 at 12:55am

I'm a lifetime member of the USS Forrestal did a MET Cruise around 1977

Comment by Harry D. Polny on July 14, 2009 at 2:43pm

USS Forrestal Photo Lab Crew 1965

Comment by Harry D. Polny on June 23, 2009 at 11:33pm

I was ship's crew in the photo lab from 64 - 66. Last I saw her she was tied up next to the Saratoga in Norflok, she sure looked in sad shape. Yes she should be saved and not sunk like the America. Fer god's sake she was the first of her class!

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