NAVY STATES CASUALTIES MAY BE HEAVY.

Pearl Harbor (UPI) -- A fire, followed by about a dozen explosions, erupted on the flight and hangar decks of the nuclear carrier USS Enterprise today.
A Navy spokesman said casualties were expected to be heavy.
The incident occurred while the carrier, the world's largest warship, was on maneuvers about 75 miles southwest of here in preparation for deployment to Vietnam.
The Navy issued a plea for military personnel and civilians in Honolulu to donate blood.
"There has been no report of the extent of casualties but they are expected to be heavy," the Navy spokesman said.
The 1,123-foot vessel has a crew of 4,600 men.
The carrier reported the fire was "major in degree."
But the cause of the fire and extent of damage was not immediately reported.
At Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu a spokesman said, "we are prepared for a mass influx of casualties."
The Navy spokesman said "the fire which covered the after end of the hangar and flight decks has been extinguished with the exception of a small fire in the vicinity of the after elevator. The Enterprise reported 10 to 12 explosions on the aft end of the ship."
Coast Guard, Marine and Air Force helicopters were rushed to the scene with doctors and blood. They also were instructed to search for men who might have been blown over the side by the explosions.
The carrier was ordered to return to Pearl Harbor at a reduced speed and was expected to arrive about 2 p.m.
The last major fire aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier occurred on July 29, 1967, when a rocket exploded aboard the giant carrier Forrestal while it was on combat duty in the Gulf of Tonkin off Vietnam.
One hundred and thirty-four men died as jet fuel ignited the entire four-acre flight deck of the Forrestal in one of the worst disasters in U.S. Naval history.
In October 1966, 43 men died when the aircraft carrier Oriskany caught fire in the Gulf of Tonkin.

San Mateo Times California 1969-01-14

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NAVY PROBE OF BIG 'E' DEATH FIRE.

Pearl Harbor (UPI) -- Naval disaster teams Wednesday boarded the nuclear carrier USS Enterprise to seek the cause of fiery explosions that left 25 sailors dead or missing and scores injured.
They also were directed to assess damages to the world's largest warship and plan emergency repairs.
"We are quite confident that we will find out exactly what did happen," said Adm. John J. Hyland, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
The casualty list was revised downward after the crew of the flame-scarred "Big E" was mustered for
"a tightly controlled" headcount. The Navy previously reported as many as 42 dead or missing.
The muster showed 24 crewmen dead, one missing and 85 injured.
The check of the 5,400 crewmen was hampered because many were taking part in cleanup work and "other necessary activities for the welfare of the ship's officers and men," a spokesman said.
"Positive identification of all casualties were made."
The 90,000 ton Enterprise was on a bombing practice mission Tuesday when thunderous explosions rocked the vessel and flames swept across the rear end of the flight and hangar decks.

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