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2205Z 08 June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S.S. America to
Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

P R 082205Z 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 DPR COLLECT TO DETROIT NEWS, DETROIT, MICH TELEX 023-3344
ABOARD THE CARRIER AMERICA (JUNE 8) THE TORPEDOING AND MACH-
INE-GUNNING OF A NAVY RADIO MONITORING SHIP OFF THE SINAI PENINSULA
TODAY CAUSED AN ATTACK SORTEE TO BE LAUNCHED FROM THE CARRIER AMER-
ICA, FLAGSHIP OF THE U.S. TASK FORCE SIXTY PARA
THE AIR STRIKING FORCE INCLUDING SUPERSONIC PHANTOM JETS, CARRYING
AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES AND A-4 SKYHAWKS ARMED WITH LARGE BOMBS. PARA
WORD OF THE ATTACK CAME BY RADIO FROM THE STRICKEN SHIP, THE LIBERTY,
WHICH REPORTED IT WAS IN TROUBLE AND THAT THE GOING WAS HOT. PARA
THE AMERICA, WHICH HAD JUST RESUMED AIR TRAINING MANEUVERS AFTER
THREE-DAY LULL, IMMEDIATELY CALLED BACK ITS UNARMED PLANES ALOFT AND
SENT OUT THE ARMED SORTEE. PARA
THE STRIKE PLANES WERE GONE HARDLY MORE THAN A HALF HOUR WHEN THEY
WERE CALLED BACK. IT WAS LATER LEARNED THAT THE LIBERTY HAD BEEN
BADLY HIT IN A MISTAKE BY ATTACKING ISRAELI AIRPLANES AND TORPEDO
BOATS. PARA
THE LIBERTY WAS REPORTED TO HAVE GONE ON STATION ONLY THIS MORNING
ABOUT 15 MILES OFF THE COAST OF THE SINAI PENINSULA TO MONITOR RADIO
REPORTS COMING OUT OF THE ISRAEL EGYPTIAN WAR AREA AND TO RELAY
INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE EVACUATION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.
PARA UNQUOTE
BT

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