1515Z 08 June 1967 drafted message text from
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe to
Joint Chiefs of Staff and
Chief of Naval Operations and
U.S. Comander-in-Chief, Europe

DTG 081515Z JUN 67

FROM: CINCUSNAVEUR

TO: JCS/CNO/USCINCEUR

INFO: AIG 998/DIA/CIA/DIRNSA

CONFIDENTIAL
UNCLAS/JOPREP/SUMTOTAL/002/CINCUSNAVEUR

A. MY SUM TOTAL 001 DTG 081400Z JUN 67

1. USS LIBERTY (AGTR-5) WAS REPORTED UNDER ATTACK BY UNIDENTIFIED
GUNBOATS AT 31-23N, 33-25E AT 081237Z. SHIP HAS BEEN HIT BY A
TORPEDO AND IS LISTING BADLY. ATTACKING FORCES HAVE BEEN DECLARED
HOSTILE. DIRECTIONS FOR PILOTS AUTHORIZED TO USE FORCE INCLUDING
DESTRUCTION AS NECESSARY TO CONTROL THE SITUATION. NOT TO USE
MORE FORCE THAN REQUIRED. NOT TO PURSUE ANY UNIT TOWARD LAND.
PURPOSE OF COUNTER ATTACK IS TO PROTECT LIBERTY ONLY.

2. COMSIXTHFLT REPORTS LIBERTY'S MESSAGES AUTHENTICATED.

3. USS AMERICA (CVA-66) HAS LAUNCHED FOUR ARMED A-4S AND USS
SARATOGA (CVA-60) HAS LAUNCHED FOUR ARMED A-1S WITH FIGHTER COVER
TO DEFEND LIBERTY. PILOTS DIRECTED TO REMAIN CLEAR OF LAND. ETA
OF FIRST AIRCRAFT ON SCENE 1515Z.

4. REPORT RECEIVED AT 1422 FROM NAVCOMSTA MOROCCO QUOTE 1. USS
LIBERTY UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ATTACKING BOATS AFTER ATTACK
HELICOPTER CIRCLED THE SHIP BELIEVED TO BE ISRAELI. UNQUOTE.

5. USDAO TEL AVIV ISRAEL REPORTED BY HIS 081414Z THAT ISRAELI
AIRCRAFT AND MTB ERRONOUSLY ATTACKED LIBERTY AT 081200Z.

6. ALL AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. LIBERTY REPORTED FOUR DEAD
AND OVER FIFTY WOUNDED. PROCEEDING ON COURSE 340o AT 8 KNOTS.

GP-3

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