USS FORRESTAL CVA 59 – History, Service Record & Navy Decals

The first American supercarrier

USS Forrestal (CV-59) was the lead ship of her class and the first U.S. Navy aircraft carrier designed from the keel up as a “supercarrier.” Named for James V. Forrestal, the first U.S. Secretary of Defense and a former Secretary of the Navy, she represented a major leap in the scale and capability of postwar naval aviation.

Commissioned in 1955, Forrestal introduced a combination of size, angled flight-deck operations, steam catapults, and improved aircraft-handling systems that became the foundation for later generations of American carriers. Her design allowed the Navy to operate heavier, faster jet aircraft while maintaining the tempo required for sustained operations at sea.

Cold War deployments

USS Forrestal spent much of her career with the Atlantic Fleet and made repeated deployments to the Mediterranean. In an era when the United States and Soviet Union competed for influence around the globe, the carrier served as a mobile airfield and a visible instrument of American power. Her aircraft and crew supported deterrence, training, maritime security, and crisis response alongside U.S. and allied forces.

Life aboard a supercarrier demanded a remarkable level of coordination. Pilots, aircrew, aircraft handlers, maintainers, engineers, medical teams, and sailors throughout the ship worked around the clock to keep the air wing ready. The carrier’s size created extraordinary capability, but it also required constant attention to safety, communication, and discipline.

The 1967 flight-deck fire

On July 29, 1967, while deployed off Vietnam, Forrestal suffered a catastrophic fire on her flight deck. The disaster caused extensive damage and the loss of many sailors and aircrew. It became one of the most painful events in the history of the U.S. Navy and left a lasting mark on everyone connected to the ship.

The crew’s response also revealed the courage and professionalism that define damage-control sailors. Men and women throughout the carrier fought fires, rescued shipmates, treated the injured, secured aircraft and equipment, and worked to keep the ship from suffering an even greater catastrophe. Their actions came at enormous personal cost.

The fire led to major changes in naval aviation safety, including improvements in firefighting equipment, ordnance handling, protective gear, training, and emergency procedures. The lessons were carried forward across the fleet, helping make future carrier operations safer for generations of sailors and aircrew.

Vietnam and continued service

After extensive repairs, USS Forrestal returned to service and continued her career during the Vietnam era and beyond. Her deployments reflected the changing demands placed on American carriers, from combat operations and air defense to exercises, alliance support, and crisis response.

Through each deployment, Forrestal remained more than a warship. She was a workplace, a training ground, and a community at sea. Her story includes the major operations recorded in official histories, but also the countless daily acts of maintenance, watchstanding, seamanship, and care that made those operations possible.

A lasting legacy

USS Forrestal was decommissioned in 1993 after nearly four decades of service. Her career helped define the modern aircraft carrier and influenced the ships that followed. The lessons of her 1967 fire remain part of the Navy’s professional memory, not only as a tragedy but as a reminder that preparedness, teamwork, and damage control can determine whether a crisis becomes a catastrophe.

The history of USS Forrestal is therefore a story of innovation, service, loss, recovery, and responsibility. She changed what a carrier could do, and the sailors who served aboard her helped shape how the Navy would operate at sea for generations to come.

Shop USS Forrestal CVA 59 Navy decals and gifts

Honor a veteran or show your connection to the first American supercarrier with USS Forrestal plates, frames, signs, and decals:

• USS Forrestal CV 59 Aluminum License Plate — A classic display for cars, trucks, and RVs.
• USS Forrestal CV 59 Aluminum License Plate with U.S. Flag — A patriotic ship plate for your vehicle.
• USS Forrestal CV 59 Aluminum Rating License Plate — Display your rating and ship pride together.
• USS Forrestal CV 59 License Plate Frame, Metal or Plastic — Complete the look around your plate.
• USS Forrestal CV 59 Motorcycle License Plate Frame — A ship-themed frame for riders.
• USS Forrestal CV 59 Vinyl Decal with U.S. Flag — A clean decal for cars, trucks, and RVs.
• USS Forrestal CV 59 Ship Silhouette Decal — Display the ship’s name and hull number.
• USS Forrestal CV 59 Silhouette Decal with Ship Motto — A distinctive design for veterans and collectors.
• USS Forrestal CV 59 Large Vinyl Silhouette Decal — A larger format for a bold display.
• USS Forrestal CV 59 Rating Decal, 8.1 x 5.75 inches — A practical size for vehicles and personal gear.
• USS Forrestal CV 59 Aluminum Parking Sign — A bold blue-and-white sign for home, office, or garage.
• USS Forrestal CV 59 Aluminum Street Sign — A distinctive Navy-themed display piece.

All products ship from the USA. Custom options may be available. Contact us for details.