Saw the film again on FOX news last night...
I've seen it a hundred times... Just never knew that JM was IN the fire...
He was in his A4 waiting for takeoff, full load of DT's and ord...
When a Zuni Rocket on another plane ignited, shot off the rail,
and slammed into his airplane... It punctured his droptanks, and
started the worst accidental shipboard fire in US Navy history...
The film came from the landing recorder camera:
Mac was in the cockpit as the plane was burning... he scrambled out
onto the nose of his plane, then out onto the refuel probe, hanging
over that FAST growing fire like Tarzan... Then flung himself about
ten feet out onto the deck, into the middle of the flames... So the
firemen could get to him...
100+ of our best died from exploding ord!!!!
WOW, seen that film MANY times... Just never knew it was Johnny Mac
swinging like Tarzan... I'd say the guy has paid his due's!!!! In spades!!!
RC
