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2149Z 08 June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S.S. America to
Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

O R 082149Z JUN 67
FM USS AMERICA
TO OASD PA
INFO COMSIXTHFLT
BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L
FLEET PAO SENDS
1. FOLLOWING NEWS COPY FORWARDED FOR YOUR ACTION.
2. QUOTE FOR URGENT COLLECT TRANSMISSION TO NEW YORK TIMES NEW
YORK PARA PROFOREIGN DESK NEW LEAD SHEEHANS HARAIGMENT PARA
ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS AMERICA IN THE EASTERN
MEDITERRANEAN,
JUN 8. THIS SIXTH FLEET CARRIER RESPONDED TO THE ISRAELI ATTACK ON
THE NAVY RESEARCH SHIP USS LIBERTY THIS AFTERNOON BY SOUNDING AN
IMMEDIATE ALERT AND LAUNCHING A FLIGHT OF SIX JETS ARMED WITH MISSI-
LES AND 500 POUND BOMBS SHORTLY AFTERWARDS PARA
THE ATMOSPHERE ABOARD THE CARRIER WAS EXTREMELY TENSE AND THE PILOTS
AND FLIGHT DECK CREWS LOADING THE MISSILES AND BOMBS ABOARD THE AIR-
CRAFT WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY WERE GOING INTO ACTION
WITHIN HALF AN HOUR, HOWEVER, AT FIVE PM, APPARENTLY AFTER IT HAD
BEEN VERIFIED THAT THE ATTACK WAS ACCIDENTAL AND AN ISRAELI
APOLOGY HAD BEEN RECEIVED IN WASHINGTON, THE PLANES WERE RECALLED
WITHOUT HAVING EXPENDED THEIR MISSILES AND BOMBS PARA
THE FOUR F-4 PHANTOM JETS ARMED WITH SPARROW AIR-TO-AIR GUIDED MISSI-
LES LANDED BACK ON THE CARRIER WHILE THE TWO A-4 SKYHAWK ATTACK JETS
ARMED WITH 500 POUND BOMBS WERE DIVERTED TO THE GREEK AIR FORCE BASE
AT SOUDHA BAY ON NEARBY CRETE, BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS FOR THEM TO
LAND ON THE CARRIER WITH THEIR BOMBS PARA
SIXTH FLEET OFFICIALS REFUSED TO MAKE ANY COMMENT ON THE ALERT AND
THE LAUNCHING OF THE ARMED AIRCRAFT PACAMORE SHEEHAN UNQUOTE
BT

Note: See COMSIXTHFLT 081716Z JUN 67 for reason press copy sent to OASD(PA).