I've caught a lot of the back-and-forth in this discussion and in other places concerning the Forrestal, plus I read the book a couple of decades ago The Nightingale's Song, an account of 5 graduates of the Naval Academy, McCain being one of them.
What I remember from having read that book is the flippant disregard that McCain had toward people, the incessant shenanigans he pulled, and how he interacted with others. To say that he was immature is putting it mildly.
The ring-knocker's club in the Naval Academy with Daddy being an influential flag officer of high rank just possibly might fit into this equation.
All true, and John McCain III was just a few midshipmen above the "Anchor Man". Were this a discussion of the last 18 years or so of John McCain's crap, all that would be relevant. But with regard to the fire on the USS Forrestal, all McCain's immaturity does not change simple facts:
* McCain was a member of an active airgroup;
* The Zuni rocket, contrary to
Conspiracy Theory Version 1.0 came from an F-4, not John McCain's A-4;
* The exhaust and/or hot fragments from the Zuni ignited the leaking fuel, contrary to
Conspiracy Theory Version 2.0;
* When John McCain clambered out of his plane and cleared the area, the bomb had not exploded, and specially trained personnel were fighting the fire, contrary to
Conspiracy Theory Light, Version 3.0;
* When John McCain clambered out of his plane and cleared the area, he was encumbered by his flight gear, making going back immediately after the explosion an irrational, useless move, again contrary to
Conspiracy Theory Light, Version 3.0;
* John McCain immediately volunteered for and was transferred to USS Oriskany, indicating that McCain's safety, performance, and courage were not in question, yet again contrary to
Conspiracy Theory Light, Version 3.0I get that people hate John McCain III. False accusations, like the three versions of this stupid conspiracy theory, just make those making the false accusations look stupid and irrationally vindictive. And, as I posted above, dishonors those who died in the fire.