William John Shields
Petty Officer Third Class
VF-11, CVW-17, USS FORRESTAL, TF 77, 7TH FLEET United States Navy Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 16, 1945 to July 29, 1967 WILLIAM J SHIELDS is on the Wall at Panel 24E, Line 43 |
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My Mom's brother was killed on the USS Forrestal. I was only one year old when he died. I am looking for anybody that served with my Uncle Bill so I can learn a little more about what he was like. Please type in the word Billy Shields in the subject field for any replies.
Bill's nephew, |
The photos and following article is taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987.
From a native Philadelphian and Marine, |
The IncidentOn 29 July 1967 the USS FORRESTAL was conducting combat operations off the coast of North Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. The ship was preparing to launch an ALPHA strike when a major fire broke out among the crowded aircraft on her deck, resulting in a series of 500 and 1000 pound bomb explosions. Thirteen hours later, the fires were extinguished - and 135 men were dead or dying, with hundreds more injured. Petty Officer William John Shields was one of the 135.
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