On Jan. 14, 1969, the USS Enterprise was off the coast of Hawaii, getting ready for its second flight operation. Enterprise was the most powerful warship in the world. With eight nuclear reactors, a distinctive square white island and beehive top, it was the only ship in its class.

George Mathis said several Navy operations’ officers were on board to see what were the maximum number of planes the ship could launch. “The flight deck, back behind the superstructure, had way too many aircraft on it,” Mathis said.

Working around the planes was difficult, but Mathis’ crew, called “yellow shirts,” maneuvered between the aircraft.

“We used a ‘huffer,’ which was a diesel-powered vehicle that carried a large turbine used to start the aircraft. The huffer put out an enormous amount of super-hot exhaust, about 1,500 degrees,” he said.

“I sent one of the men out to start an F-4 Phantom, and, because of the overcrowding, he had to go on the wrong side of the plane – the same side where the MK-32 Zuni rocket warheads were located. As a result, the exhaust hit the very sensitive warheads and exploded.

“I see that kid’s face every day. His name was Joe Oates, and he died instantly. I flagged him. I sent him to that plane. I sent him to his death,” Mathis said quietly.

By the time the fire was brought under control, 27 lives had been lost, and 314 people were injured. The fire destroyed 15 aircraft. Exploding weapons on the flight deck blew the ship apart down to the waterline. Flaming jet fuel from the 32 aircraft involved cascaded down into the interior of the ship.

Mathis lost some intestines and half his liver and stomach. Nerves in his shoulder were severed and he suffered second-degree burns.

“I’m choked up now just thinking about it,” he said. “Every day I wake up and see my buddies’ faces.”