FARRIER-GERALD

DIED  IN  FIRE  ON  USS  FORRESTAL  -  7/29/1967

On July 29, 1967 during the Vietnam War, the carrier USS Forrestal was in the Gulf of Tonkin preparing to launch a major strike and many fully fueled and armed aircraft were on the flight deck when a 5” Zuni rocket experienced an accidentally electrical surge causing the rocket to fire and impact an armed A-4 Skyhawk.  Although the rocket did not explode the rocket’s impact ruptured a 400-gallon external fuel tank and ignited the jet fuel as it poured out.  A 1,000-pound bomb also fell into the spreading flaming fuel.  The first responders were led by Chief Petty Officer Gerald Farrier who carried a hand-held fire extinguisher with which he commenced to fight the flames.  However, within seconds the bomb exploded instantly killing Chief Farrier.  The fire quickly grew into a roaring inferno and within the first few minutes of the fire nine 500 and 1,000 pound bombs detonated, punching holes through the 3” armor plating of the flaming deck as the fire spread to the working and berthing spaces, as well as the hangar deck below.  The ship’s crew valiantly fought the fire, and it was almost 18-hours before the last fire was finally extinguished.  The damage was extensive, 134 were dead, 161 more injured, and 21 aircraft destroyed.  Forrestal was able to steam from the scene under her own power, was later repaired, and continued to serve until 1993 when the carrier was decommissioned after 38 years of active service.  Repairs from the fire damage took five months and cost $72 million.

Gerald Wyatte Farrier was born August 28, 1935 in Batesville, Arkansas, where he lived until joining the Navy in 1953 at the age of 18.  Readily available historical records contain little information concerning him in addition to the circumstances of his death.  He was survived by his wife and is buried at Kyler Cemetery in Batesville.  In his honor the Farrier Firefighting School in Norfolk, Virginia, is dedicated to and named after Chief Farrier, one of the first to die in the fire aboard Forrestal.

               

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)