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2207Z 08 June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S.S. America to
Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

P R 082207Z 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 FIRST ADD COPY TO THE DETROIT NEWS THE LIBERTY, A FORMER
VICTORY TYPE CARGO SHIP RECOMMISSIONED IN 1964 AS A MOBILE BASE
FOR RESEARCH IN COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTROMAGMETIC RADIATION,
REPORTEDLY SUFFERED FOUR MEN KILLED AND FIFTY-THREE WOUNDED IN THE
ATTACK. PARA
OTHER SHIPS WERE REPORTED TO BE GOING TO ITS AID. THE LIBERTY, WHICH
LEFT ROTA SPAIN JUNE 2, IS NOT A MEMBER OF TASK FORCE SIXTY, WHICH
HAS BEEN ON WATCH NEAR CRETE SINCE THE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS WHICH
ERUPTED.
PARA
THE REPORT OF THE ATTACK ELECTRIFIED THE AMERICA. PARA
THE FIRST WORD ON DECK WAS A LOUDSPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE AIR
BOSS, THE OFFICER WHO CONTROLS THE LAUNCHING AND RECOVERY OF AIR-
CRAFT. PARA
A LAUNCH HAD JUST BEEN MADE. HE TOLD THE FLIGHT DECK CREWS TO
PREPARE TO RECOVER THE PLANES JUST LAUNCHED. PARA
THIS IS NOT A DRILL. CLEAR THE DECKS (OF OTHER PLANES WHICH HAD JUST
LANDED). BE CAREFUL; WE DON'T WANT ANY ACCIDENTS. PARA
MEN DASHED ABOUT TO THEIR JOBS. PLANES ON THE HANGER DECKS WERE
ARMED, PILOTS WERE SENT TO THE READY ROOMS FOR BRIEFINGS. PARA
THE BRIEFINGS END, AND FLIERS AND RADARMEN SCURRIED TO TWO ARMED
PHANTOMS ALREADY PARKED ON DECK AS PAVED [part] OF THE DEFENSIVE
ALERT THE SHIP HAD BEEN ON SINCE THE WAR BEGAIN. PARA MORE UNQUOTE.
BT

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