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2252Z 09 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet to
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Force Europe

O 092252Z JUN 67
FM CINCLANTFLT
TO CINCUSNAVEUR
INFO COMSIXTHFLT
BT
UNCLAS E F T O
FOLLOWING ASSOCIATED PRESS WIRE STORY, A013, SIXTHFLEET-MIDEAST
380 PASSED TO YOU FOR INFO:
A013
SIXTHFLT - MIDEAST 380
BY BOB HORTON
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
ABOARD THE CARRIER AMERICA AP - THIS 77,000-TON CARRIER
WAS ASSIGNED TODAY TO THE TASK OF REMOVING A REPORTED 31 DEAD AND
75 WOUNDED FROM THE CRIPPLED U.S.S. LIBERTY.
DOCTORS AND MEDICAL CORPS MEN STOOD BY AWAITING HELICOPTERS
SCHEDULED TO EVACUATE THE LIBERTY'S CASUALTIES TO THE AMERICA.
A BLOOD DONORS ROOM WAS SET UP. THE CARRIER HAS TWO HOSPITAL
WARDS WITH ABOUT 85 BEDS AVAILABLE.
TWENTY OF THE INJURED WERE DESCRIBED AS IN SERIOUS CONDITION[.]
PLANS WERE TO KEEP THE MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED ON BOARD UNTIL THE
CARRIER REACHED PORT.
BODIES OF THE LIBERTY'S DEAD-KILLED IN WHAT ISRAEL
CALLED AN ACCIDENTAL ATTACK THURSDAY BY ISRAELI NAVAL AND AIR
FORCES WERE TO BE TAKEN ABOARD THE CARRIER.
TWO DESTROYERS WERE DISPATCHED LATE THURSDAY TO MEET THE
LIBERTY, WHICH WAS ABLE TO MOVE AT ONLY EIGHT KNOTS BECAUSE OF
TORPEDO DAMAGE. THEY RENDEZVOUSED WITH THE LIBERTY, A NAVY
COMMUNICATIONS SHIP, TODAY AND DOCTORS BOARDED TO RENDER ASSISTANCE.
THE INCIDENT ALMOST PLACED U.S. PLANES IN THE WAR. THE ATTACK
DREW A FLIGHT OF A4 SKYHAWKS AND F4 INTERCEPTORS INTO THE
SKIES FOR WHAT FROM ALL INDICATIONS WAS A PLANNED STRIKE MISSION.
PILOTS DISCLOSED TO REPORTERS THAT INITIALLY THE NAVY BELIEVED
EGYPTIAN FORCES HAD HIT THE LIBERTY. PILOTS ASSIGNED ON THE
SPECIAL FLIGHTS TO THE SCENE WERE GIVEN DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT
EGYPTIAN PATROL BOATS LOOK LIKE.
BUT THE PLANES, LAUNCHED IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF EMERGENCY ABOARD
THE CARRIER, WERE RECALLED WITHOUT EXPLANATION IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR.
"WE WERE GETTING READY FOR A HEALTHY STRIKE OPERATION," AN
OFFICER SAID.
THE CALL TO ACTION BROKE DAYS OF LONG STANDING BY WHICH THIS
SHIP AND HER CONTINGENT OF SIX DESTROYERS AND A CRUISER HAD SPENT
DURING THE MIDDLE EAST FIGHTING.
THE 6TH FLEET SHIPS WERE SOUTH OF CRETE AND SOME 450 MILES
FROM THE LIBERTY. JETS COULD HAVE BEEN AT HER SIDE COMBATING
AN ENEMY IN HALF AN HOUR.
THE OFFICIAL EXPLANATION FOR THIS NONCOMBAT SHIP BEING SO
NEAR THE FRONT OF THE ISRAELI-EGYPTIAN FIGHTING IS THAT THE
LIBERTY WAS TO HELP PROTECT AMERICAN NATIONALS AS THE POSSIBLE
NEED TO EVACUATE BECAME APPARENT, THE LIBERTY WAS ONLY 15 MILES
OFF THE SINAI COAST.
BUT AN OFFICER SAID:
"TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, SHE WAS IN THERE TO SPY FOR US. RUSSIA
DOES THE SAME THING. WE MOVED IN CLOSE TO MONITOR THE
COMMUNICATIONS OF BOTH EGYPT AND ISRAEL. WE HAVE TO. WE MUST BE
INFORMED OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN MATTER OF MINUTES."
THE LIBERTY, THIS OFFICER SAID, WAS LOADED WITH ELECTRONIC
EQUIPMENT CAPABLE OF RAPIDLY ACQUIRING DATA AND TRANSMITTING
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS TO POSTS THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST.
UNQUOTE
BT

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