2235Z 07 June 1967 drafted message text from
Commander, Sixth Fleet to
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe

DTG 072235Z JUN 67

FROM: COMSIXTHFLT

TO:   CINCUSNAVEUR

INFO: CHINFO/BASE OPS ATHENS/USCINCEUR/CTF 60/USS AMERICA/CINCLANTFLT

UNCLAS EFTO

1. IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM EMBARKED NEWSMEN, COMSIXTHFLT
STATED QUOTE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY AIRCRAFT FROM
THE SIXTH FLEET TO HAVE FLOWN THE SUPPORT MISSIONS ALLEGED BY
VARIOUS MIDDLE EASTERN SPOKESMEN. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE UNITED
STATES SIXTH FLEET CONDUCTED NORMAL TRAINING OPERATIONS IN THE SEA
OF CRETE AND SOUTHEAST OF THE ISLAND OF CRETE DURING THE FIRST WEEK
IN JUNE, AND HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO SINCE THAT TIME. NORAML TRAINING
FLIGHT OPERATIONS WERE IN PROGRESS UNTIL 5 JUNE WHEN AIR OPERATIONS
WERE CURTAILED. ON 6 JUNE THE ONLY AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS WERE BY
HELICOPTER, BY PROPELLER-DRIVEN A-1 AIRCRAFT ON ROUTINE RECONNAISSANCE
PATROLS WITHIN A 50-MILE RADIUS OF THE CARRIER TASK FORCE. ON 7 JUNE THE
CARRIER TASK FORCE CONDUCTED NO AIR OPERATIONS EXCEPT HELICOPTER, AND
C1A AIRCRAFT. NO AIRCRAFT OF SIXTH FLEET HAVE BEEN WITHIN SEVERAL HUNDRED
MILES OF THE EASTERN COAST OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, SPECIFICALLY ISRAEL AND
THE UAR UNQUOTE.