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22248Z 08 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Secretary of Defense to
U.S. Commander-in-Chief, Europe and
Commander, Sixth Fleet

O 082248Z JUN 67
FM SECDEF
TO USCINCEUR
COMSIXTHFLT
BT
UNCLAS DEF 7448 FROM OASD (PA)
  FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS
  MR. PHIL G. GOULDING, ASD(PA) TODAY MADE AVAILABLE TO NEWSMEN
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE USS LIBERTY:
  THE LATEST CASUALTY REPORTS FROM THE SHIP ARE 10 KILLED
AND ABOUT 100 WOUNDED, OF WHOM APPROXIMATELY 20 ARE BELIEVED
SERIOUS.
  THE SHIP WAS ATTACKED AT 8:05 A.M. (EDT) WHILE AT A POSITION
OF 31 DEGREES 35.5 MINUTES NORTH AND 33 DEGREES 29 MINUTES EAST
BY JET FIGHTERS WHICH MADE APPROXIMATELY SIX STRAFING RUNS.
  APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER, THREE TORPEDO BOATS APPROACH-
ED THE LIBERTY ON ITS STARBOARD QUARTER.
  AT LEAST ONE TORPEDO BOAT DIRECTED A STRAFING ATTACK AGAINST
THE LIBERTY.
  THE LIBERTY SUFFERED EXTENSIVE SUPERFICIAL DAMAGE TOPSIDE. THE
SHIP WILL REQUIRE DRYDOCK AND EXTENSIVE REFITTING. SOME LOWER DECK
SPACES FORWARD WERE DESTROYED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER FIRST WORD THAT
SHIP HAD BEEN TAKEN UNDER ATTACK THE TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS IN THE 6TH
FLEET--AMERICA AND SARATOGA--BOTH LAUNCHED AIRCRAFT TO HEAD TOWARD
THE SCENE.
  THE AMERICA LAUNCHED 4 A-4S AND THE SARATOGA 4 A-1S, WITH FIGHTER
COVER. WHILE THEY WERE PROCEEDING TOWARD THE LIBERTY A MESSAGE WAS
RECEIVED FROM TEL AVIV APOLOGIZING FOR THE ATTACK. IT WAS THEN CLEAR
THAT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE FIGHTERS WERE NOT REQUIRED. THEY WERE DIR-
ECTED TO RETURN TO THEIR CARRIERS. THEY DID NOT REACH THE LIBERTY BUT
RATHER TURNED BACK TO THE CARRIERS.
  EARLIER IN THE DAY, OASD (PA) SAID THE U.S. NAVY DESTROYERS
MASSEY AND DAVIS ARE MOVING TOWARD THE USS LIBERTY, TO PROVIDE MEDICAL
ASSISTANCE. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE LIBERTY EARLY TOMORROW (EDT)
AS THE LIBERTY HAS A DOCTOR ABOARD. THERE ARE DOCTORS AND MEDICAL
CORPSMEN ABOARD THE DESTROYERS.
BT

Message subject lineage: 092112Z JUN 67 CTF SIX ZERO

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