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Enterprisewas operating off Hawaii (20º27’7”N, 158º27’5”W) at the time. The sequence of
events was similar to the Forrestal fire, starting with a rocket
overheating due to exhaust from a flight deck vehicle and "cooking off".
The explosion ignited the fuel tanks on the aircraft and touched off a flight
deck disaster. The fire was put out within 4 hours. Damage, although
severe, was less extensive than that caused by Forrestal fire. The
nuclear "frigate" USS Bainbridge was one of Enterprise's
escorts, and according to one of her sailors she vastly surpassed her
rated speed of "30+" knots while racing to the carrier's aid. The next
day the frigate escorted the carrier into Pearl Harbor, and the atmosphere
was said to be not unlike prevailing mood when the previous USS
Enterprise (CV 6) returned to Pearl Harbor the day after the
Japanese attack.
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 Flames envelop the ship's stern as the fire rages uncontrolled. |
 USS Enterprise 1/14/69 |
 USS Enterprise 1/14/69 |
 USS Enterprise 1/14/69 |
 USS Enterprise 1/14/69 |
 USS Enterprise 1/14/69 |
 USS Enterprise 1/14/69 |
 USS Enterprise 1/14/69 |
 Aircraft burning furiously on deck before crews can attack the flames |
 The ship's crew and an escorting destroyer attack the flight deck blaze |
 USS Enterprise 1/14/69 |
 Firefighting crews push aft past burnt-out aircraft, extinguishing the fire. |
 The aftermath of the disaster, seen soon after the fire was extinguished and before flight operations resumed. |
 A hole blasted through the filghtdeck by an exploding bomb. |
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