Gasoline Explosion on Flight Deck
At 1651, on January 25th, during routine flight operations, a returning fighter failed to hook a wire on landing broke through the barriers, and crashed into parked planes on the forward flight deck. Its belly tank, torn loose, skidded forward, spewing flaming fuel. Fire soon spread among the planes. ... It raged along the flight deck and flames beat up over the bridge, making ship control extremely difficult. The former oiler was turned out of the wind, so that the fire could be fought. By 1659, it was under control. ... Seven of the crew died in those 8 minutes. Seven others were seriously injured, and, of the 15 who jumped over the side to escape the flames, 13 were picked up, two were missing.
