Fire sweeps the U.S. aircraft carrier Forrestal off the coast of North Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. It was the worst U.S. naval disaster in a combat zone since World War II. The accident took the lives of 134 crewmen and injured 62 more. Of the carrier's 80 planes, 21 were destroyed and 42 were damaged.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- NASA created, 1958
- American Revolution
- French navy contacts Continentals, 1778
- Automotive
- General Motors buys Cadillac, 1909
- Civil War
- Confederate spy Belle Boyd is captured, 1862
- Cold War
- NASA established, 1958
- Crime
- Son of Sam terrorizes New York, 1976
- Disaster
- Rocket causes deadly fire on aircraft carrier, 1967
- General Interest
- Spanish Armada defeated, 1588
- Tipperary Revolt ends in failure, 1848
- Italian American assassinates Italian king, 1900
- Prince Charles marries Lady Diana, 1981
- Hollywood
- Hollywood golden couple weds, 2000
- Literary
- Chang-Rae Lee's birthday, 1965
- Music
- The Doors score their first #1 hit with "Light My Fire", 1967
- Old West
- Escalante and Dominguez begin expedition, 1776
- Presidential
- President Eisenhower authorizes creation of NASA, 1958
- Sports
- Carl Lewis wins fourth consecutive long jump at 35, 1996
- Vietnam War
- 101st Airborne Division arrives in Vietnam, 1965
- Fire ravages U.S. carrier off Vietnam, 1967
- Former U.S. Attorney General visits North Vietnam, 1972
- World War I
- Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and Czar Nicholas of Russia exchange telegrams, 1914
- World War II
- Japanese sink the USS Indianapolis, 1945
Fire ravages U.S. carrier off Vietnam
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This Week in History, Jul 29 - Aug 4
- Jul 29, 1965
- 101st Airborne Division arrives in Vietnam
- Jul 29, 1967
- Fire ravages U.S. carrier off Vietnam
- Jul 29, 1972
- Former U.S. Attorney General visits North Vietnam
- Jul 30, 1964
- South Vietnamese boats raid islands in the Tonkin Gulf
- Jul 30, 1969
- Nixon visits South Vietnam
- Jul 31, 1964
- Agreement on conduct of war
- Jul 31, 1972
- Hanoi claims that U.S. bombers have struck dikes
- Aug 01, 1964
- North Vietnamese accuse South Vietnam and the United States of attack
- Aug 02, 1964
- North Vietnamese torpedo boats attack U.S. destroyer
- Aug 02, 1971
- Nixon administration acknowledges secret army in Laos
- Aug 03, 1965
- TV news shows Marines burning village
- Aug 03, 1966
- Marines launch Operation Prairie
- Aug 04, 1964
- Reported North Vietnamese PT boat attacks result in retaliation strikes
- Aug 04, 1967
- Court upholds court-martial conviction of officer who participated in demonstration
- Aug 04, 1969
- Secret negotiations are initiated in Paris
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