1973 Vintage Navy Training Film

If you were in the Navy after 1973, you have probably seen this film. Trial By Fire is the US Navy's effort to learn from the tragic events on July 29, 1967 aboard the USS Forrestal which cost 134 sailors their lives.

This is actual video of the accident, as it happened. The initiating event was a Zuni rocket which misfired and struck a refuling aircraft. The resulting fire and explosions killed the trained response teams, leaving untrained personnel to try and fight the fire. This video critically points out the mistakes made by the untrained crews, and attempts to reinforce the need for training.

The end result for the Navy was to ensure that all personnel aboard a ship have basic firefighting training, called shipboard firefighting. Those who work on the flight deck recieve additional training called aircraft firefighting, and weapons personnel go through ordnance firefighting. This training is conducted yearly.

The Forrestal was my first carrier, and after this accident she was commonly called the "Forrest Fire" because of her tendency to have fires. My first week onboard (she was still in the yards in Philly) I was affected by 5 fires in or around my work area. One of the fires we lost power and had to find our way out to the flight deck. I couldn't see, and didn't know where I was in the ship, so I grabbed the shoulder of the guy in front of me and followed him. We actually had to go under the fire to get to an access point for the flight deck. Her nickname is well earned.

Still my favorite ship today. Enjoy.

Length 18:44

First major explosion 5:04