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1815Z 09 June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S. Defense Attache Office, Tel Aviv to
White House and
Office of Secretary of Defense and
Chief of Naval Operations and
Department of State and others

Z O 091815Z JUN 67
FM USDAO TEL AVIV ISRAEL
TO WHITE HOUSE
OSD
CNO
DEPT STATE
COMSIXTHFLT
CINCSTRIKE
CINCNAVEUR
CINCEUR-USEUCOM
JCS
INFO DIA
USUN
CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO
USAFE
CINCUSAREUR
CTG SIX ZERO
BT
S E C R E T 0849 JUN 67
REF TELCON RADM MOORE NMCC AND ALUSNA, TEL AVIV AND JCS 7509 J-3
NOTAL [091640Z JUN 67]
REGARDING USS LIBERTY INCIDENT
1. AT 091630Z IDF ASSISTANT ARMY SPOKESMAN, LT COL MICHAEL BLOCH,
TELEPHONED FOLLOWING STATEMENTS TO ALUSNA: A. FOLLOWING ATTACK
THREE ISRAELI MTB APPROACHED LIBERTY AND AT 1227Z ASKED BY LIGHT
QUOTE DO YOU NEED HELP UNQUOTE. LIBERTY REPLIED QUOTE NO THANK
YOU. WE DO NOT NEED HELP UNQUOTE. MTBS REMAINED IN AREA UNTIL
1504Z SEARCHING TWO TO THREE MILES AROUND ATTACK POSITION. THEY
SAW NO PERSON IN SEA, BUT RECOVERED TWO RUBBER LIFE BOATS, ONE
SURVIVAL KIT AND ONE PAMPHLET ON TRANSISTORS. MTB PERSONNEL NOW
STATE POSITIVELY THEY SAW NO CREWMEMBERS JUMP INTO SEA AND NONE
IN SEA.
   B. TWO IDF HELICOPTERS WERE OVER LIBERTY 1305Z TO 1321Z AND WERE
WAVED OFF BY SHIP. MTBS TOLD HELICOPTERS SHIP DID NOT DESIRE
HELP. HELOS CONDUCTED SEARCH OVER 5 KILOMETER RADIUS UNTIL 1504Z.
   C. LT COL BLOCH HAS INTERVIEWED ALL PILOTS OF ATTACKING AIRCRAFT
EXCEPT ONE WHO IS NOW ON AIR MISSION. ALL STATE THEY SAW NO CREW
MEMBER ENTER SEA AND FINE IN SEA.
   D. IDF INSTITUTED LIGHT PLANE SEARCH UPON RECEIPT OF QUESTIONS
THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL DARKNESS. STATED THEY
WOULD HAVE DONE SO YESTERDAY IF THEY HAD BEEN INFORMED OF MISSING
PERSONNEL BUT UNDERSTOOD SHIP NEEDED NO HELP.
   E. IDF NAVY STATES UNDER STANDARD WIND AND CURRENT CONDITIONS
SURVIVORS OR DEBRIS WOULD BE CARRIED TO COASTLINE APPROX OPPOSITE
CITY OF RAFAH (3118N 3415E) IN GAZA STRIP.
2. IF CERTAIN THAT LIBERTY STATED SHE NEEDED NO HELP AND
BECAUSE OF POSITIVE STATEMENTS OF IDF FORCES AT SCENE THAT NO
PERSONS ENTERED OR WERE IN WATER CONSIDER SEARCH EFFORT ADEQUATE.
HOWEVER, IN VIEW UNACCOUNTED CREWMEMBERS BELIEVE NO EFFORT TOO
GREAT. IDF AGREES CONDUCT SEARCH ATTACK AREA AND WATERS TO GAZA
COAST LINE BEGINNING FIRST LIGHT 10 JUNE AND WILL COMPLY ANY
OTHER REQUEST.
3. AS ABOVE BEING DRAFTED COLONEL BLOCH REPORTED LAST PILOT
INTERVIEWED. PILOT STATES HE THINKS HE SAW SIX TO TEN YELLOW
BOATS WITH PEOPLE IN WAKE OF SHIP. BLOCH DOES NOT CREDIT REPORT
IN VIEW OTHER WITNESSES. HAS LIBERTY PROVIDED INFO WHICH COULD
CONFIRM OR DENY THIS POSSIBILITY.
BT

Message subject lineage:

092105Z JUN 67 JCS
151615Z JUN 67 USDAO TEL AVIV

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