IMDb user comments for A Supercarrier Is Burning: U.S.S. Enterprise (2000) (TV) Discovery Channel
Documentary film footage and survivor interviews of a major fire that broke out on the deck of the nuclear aircraft carrier Enterprise. We see aircraft, munitions and jet fuel engulfed in flame and exploding as the crew members frantically fight to prevent more explosions, save their ship and their own lives.
My name is Terry L. Cochran, AZ2, VA-145, from Austin, Texas. I was stationed aboard the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65)from Jan 1969 - Jul 1969. The film was an "excellent" portrayal of the tragic events of 14 January, 1969. It captured everything!
I have relived the moments before, during, and after the fire by watching the movie. It has brought back allot of memories that I have not had since leaving the ship after our combat tours to Vietnam and joining Task Force 71 off shore in North Korean waters in 1969.
When I viewed the film I reflected about some of the many times in my life that I have had panic feelings, claustrophobia, and the fear of flying. During these times I experience the feeling that I'm back in a place in time while in the US Navy during the fire aboard the USS Enterprise.
I worked in Logs & Records in the arresting gear room and I also worked in an office right across from the sick bay. I remember I heard the JP-5 (purple gas lines overhead) sounding like the fuel was making a boiling sound which was very strange to me. It seems that I also remember fuel spills everywhere too. I knew we were in big trouble!
I do remember being trapped below decks starting at my berthing area just below the flight deck and ending up at my GQ Station near sick bay sometime later.
The intense smoke, darkness with only emergency red lighting, the ship swaying back an forth after each 500 lb bomb went off, injured being taken into sick bay area in pain, the noises & sounds of a ship fighting for it's life trying to stay afloat, fear of the unknown, some feelings of panic, and most of all a strange calmness with everything going in slow motion is what I remember too.
As I felt trapped, confined in a dark area without air, smelling jet fuel, and breathing smoke, crawling to safety, in a panic state fearful of my own safety and of my shipmates, hearing "General Quarters, General Quarters, Man Your Battle Stations, This Is Not A Drill".
Feeling the 500 lb. bombs going off on the flight deck, shaking the ship, and leaving me terrified, as I did not know if we were under attack. The smelling of smoke, jet fuel, and hearing people in pain going to sick bay.
I have forgotten allot of what happened over the years. I have blocked out that part of what happened and what I saw that day. I have faint memories of helping sailors in need to find safety. It's kind of a blur to me now, and another life time ago.
After the fire was put out my calmness / numbness state subsided and I just got very emotional when I saw my fellow crew members. We made it through the worst day of our lives and we all knew that there was a God in heaven that day.
Then traveling home to Whidbey Is, Wa. after the fire on leave. Ironically, on an airplane with 26 silver bullets with flags, as I was the only living passenger in the cargo bay riding in a jump seat. I had the honor to travel home with the brave men who gave their lives on that infamous day, of 14 January, 1969."
The film really brought home the fact that we almost sunk, but the bravery of "All Hands" prevailed and I owe my life today to the courageous men of the USS Enterprise.
Today, like many Vietnam War Veterans, I suffer from PTSD because of this tragic day, but I will always remember my fellow sailors and their valor on that day of 14 January, 1969.
The fire portrayed in this movie was real, and the stories told are a real testament to each survivor.
We will remember always!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: tlcochran,
Has anyone seen the documentary? If so, please comment. I would like to see it re-televised next year on 14 Jan, 2007 on the Discovery Channel. It will then be 38 years since the fire. We who survived are part of something larger than ourselves, the ship, and the Navy. It's having a life long bond with all survivors, during which the best in all of us has demonstrated in our actions which saved the USS Enterprise and her crew on that memorial day.
Who could forget? I had just made it to my bunk after being on the flight deck night check (VF-92). At GQ I ended up in the center hangar bay. The explosions were loud, the smoke thick and the sprinkler system was set off. I can remember thinking we were going to sink and wondered how dark it would be and if the sea water would sting my lungs as I drowned. I had been on the Intrepid in 1967 and remembered coming along the Forrestal after their fire. I have a few color photos of the Enterprise aftermath that I don't think have ever been published.
On 06 October, 2006 in Washington D.C. there will be two plaques dedicated at the US Navy Memorial Foundation's Commemorative Wall. One to commemorate the 14 January, 1969 fire and the other to honor our twenty-eight shipmates who we lost that day. I would like to request that the Discovery Channel re-televise the documentary "A SuperCarrier Is Burning" on 06 October, 2006 and annually on 14 January starting in 2007. For future generations "Shall We Not Forget" our service & duty by All Hands.
Another great source of factual information is Mike Carlin's book... "Trial-Ordeal of the USS Enterprise". The Author, Michael Joe Carlin was very instrumental in getting the Discovery Channel Documentary done. Mike also headlined it with the first and last scenes.
This will be our 2nd Enterprise reunion. Dates are Oct. 5-8. The plaque dedication ceremony is Friday Oct. 6th at 12:30 at the USNMF. The plaque ceremony will be a memorial for our fallen shipmates.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: tlcochran,
I too have vivid memories of the fatal day when the ship caught fire. I was working on the flight deck as a blueshirt. I was injured by schrapnel to my face. I just got my rating for PTSD. I was only given 10% for PTSD, the people that give the ratings has no idea of the vivid nightmares, and depression we suffer because of that fatal day. I awaken with the smell of burning jet fuel, and burning bodies. We we're so close to loseing the old lady that it was unreal. After the fire I spent a few days in sick bay, and then was sent back to duty cleaning the body parts off the deck. I hope we never forget our fallen shipmates, many we're very close friends.
I was fortunate, I guess, in that I didn't report to the Enterprise until May of 1969 but as I remember, the spector of this disaster was still etched on many a face there; repairs had been hastily made to the ship (in Pearl) by this time but I was still aboard when we went into the yard at Newport News for extensive work on the carrier. I was in the Supply Division, S-6, I believe, from May of '69 until Nov. '70 when I was transferred to Class A school (DP).
After the 14 Jan 1969 fire the USS Enterprise was refitted in Hawaii in record time for duty. This was done to show Russia and the rest of the world that we could sustain a major fire and be back on full duty within a couple of months. We then sailed off to fight in the Vietnam War.
During our Westpac tour of duty in 1969 the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) joined Task Force 71, in April 1969 in North Korean waters.
The USS Enterprise became part of America's strongest show of military might; since the Korean War.
In April 1969, President Nixon gave sailing orders to Task Force 71, a forty ship armada assigned the task of protecting future reconnaissance flights near North Korea.
We resumed duty in the Gulf Of Tonkin in late April, 1969.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: tlcochran,
How many people really knew about Task Force 71 and the EC-121 Korean Shootdown. I think the public should be told the whole story about the Task Force 71 / USS Enterprise and it's mission to North Korean waters in April 1969. The rebuilding after the fire of 14 Jan 1969 made the USS Enterprise and crew stronger, and it also showed our resolve to standing up to those who would harm us.
The fire of 14 January, 1969 was traumatic for me and also for many others who now have PTSD. I encourage anyone who has PTSD related to the fire aboard the USS Enterprise to file for your compensation with your local Veteran's Regional Office.
My name is Rick. I was there on Jan 14, 1969. I have seen the show on Discovery, once. I was very touched by what I saw. It brought back some awful memories. The only small problem I saw was that the people they talked to were mostly from below decks. I can only remember one person from the flight deck, Mr. Hawk. Couldn't the people that were on deck be found? A lot of what went on is now a blur and unclear. I do remember seeing some very brave things happening. I also remember seeing brave men die in front of me.
I was surprised to find a site where individuals who had experienced and survived the Jan 14 1969 fire. I was engaged to a sailor who was not that fortunate and was one of the casualities that dreadful day. Bob John "Bob" Webster was just 22 and I was one month away from turning 19. We were planning on getting married in April 1969, when his 4-year tour would end. I have waited nearly 40 years to hear from someone who could tell me what happened and if there was anyone who may have known him.
For many of my shipmates we will always remember the USS Enterprise, as home during the Vietnam War, and how we all protected our home the day of the fire. When we returned to the waters off the Vietnam coast and off Northern Korea, it was the USS Enterprise who protected all of us, her faithful crew, seaman and our airman. I salute our ship, and the many good memories, as well as the infamous fire too. Unfortuantly, the VA doesn't recognize our traumatic event that we all shared together. But we know whenever we are awaken at night and smell jet fuel and seem to hear bombs exploding it was us who lived, died, and survived the event that rocked the world on 14 January, 1969.
14 January 1969: At approximately 8:19 am, a MK-32 Zuni rocket warhead attached to an F-4 Phantom was overheated by exhaust from an aircraft starting unit and detonated, setting off fires and additional explosions across the carrier. The fire was brought under control relatively promptly when compared with previous carrier flight deck fires, but 27 lives were lost, and an additional 314 people were injured. The fire had destroyed 15 aircraft, and the resulting damage forced Enterprise to put in for repairs, primarily to repair the flight deck's armored plating. In early March 1969: Repairs to the ship were completed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and the ship proceeded on its deployment to Vietnam and Tonkin Gulf.
Hello. One of my best friend's father was on the USS Enterprise at the time of this fire. I'd like to purchase a copy of this video, but cannot find a copy anywhere. Can some one direct me to where or how I can get a copy of this video?
Hello. I have been trying to help my dad who server on the Enterprise during the time of the fire to determine by documentation of his exposer to agent orange. This is for his VA benefits, he has diabetes. In order for him to receive his disability benefit he needs documentation that agent orange was on the ship or planes he serviced. Does anyone know where I could find this info for him? The VA rep said a letter from a shipmate with this knowledge could work. If you can help let me know please.
The USS Enterprise Association is having their 2007 Annual Reunion in Detroit between 25 Sept to 30 Sept. HOSTED BY DON AND MARYLEE THIRY 734-675-2219, emailto:donthiry@wowway.com
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED BY AUGUST 15, 2007
If you have any comments about the 14 January, 1969 fire please post. Thanks, Terry Cochran tlcochran@mindspring.com
Responding to rickwhit1949, alfredu2, and cyndewinn:
On 14 January, 1969 I was aboard USS Enterprise as an aviation ordnanceman with VA-146. I am also the reunion coordinator for a growing group of fire veterans and family members of our fallen shipmates. I would like to contact each of you in order to get you involved in future reunions. Please e-mail me at ichabod1969@charter.net. Thank you.
Has anyone seen the documentary? If so, please comment. I would like to see it re-televised next year on 14 Jan, 2007 on the Discovery Channel. It will then be 38 years since the fire. We who survived are part of something larger than ourselves, the ship, and the Navy. It's having a life long bond with all survivors, during which the best in all of us has demonstrated in our actions which saved the USS Enterprise and her crew on that memorial day.
