The gripping image of the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) was off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, on the morning of January 14, 1969, preparing to deploy to Vietnam when a deadly chain reaction began on its flight deck. At approximately 8:18 a.m., an MD-3A igniter fired hot exhaust onto a Zuni rocket mounted beneath an F-4 Phantom II. The heat ignited the rocket's warhead, ripping open the jet's fuel tank and spilling JP-5 fuel across the deck. The fire spread almost instantly, turning the flight deck into a pool of flames. Within minutes, the overheated munitions began to explode. Eighteen explosions occurred as the rockets and 500-pound Mk-82 bombs exploded, blowing holes in the armored flight deck. Burning fuel poured into the hangar and lower decks, adding to the fire and thick smoke. The crew struggled for hours as nearby ships assisted with water sprays and the captain turned the carrier downwind to clear the smoke. ⚓🇺🇸
