 He went to help another pilot trying to escape the fire when the first bomb exploded; McCain was thrown backwards ten feet (three meters) and suffered minor wounds when struck in the legs and chest by fragments.McCain helped crewmen throw unexploded bombs overboard off the hangar deck elevator, then went to "Forrestal"'s ready room and with other pilots watched the ensuing fire and the fire-fighting efforts on the room's closed-circuit television.The fire killed 134 sailors, injured scores of others, destroyed at least 20 aircraft, and took 24 hours to control.