1130Z 15 June 1967 transmitted message text from
American Embassy, Valletta to
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe

CASTILLO SENDS.

FOLLOWING INFORMATION RELEASED 160900A. [150900A]

QUOTE. THE MEDICAL TEAM ABOARD USS LIBERTY COMPLETED
ITS WORK AT APPROXIMATELY THREE A.M. TODAY (160300A). [150300A]
CASUALTY TOLL NOW STANDS AT 29 KNOWN DEAD AND FIVE MISSING.
OF THE 29 DEAD, NINE WERE IDENTIFIED AT TIME OF INCIDENT.
THEIR BODIES WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS
AMERICA ON JUNE 9. THREE WERE RECOVERED FROM THE FLOODED
COMPARTMENTS ENROUTE TO MALTA. THESE MEN ALSO WERE
IDENTIFIED AND THEIR BODIES WERE SHIPPED TO NAPLES FROM
MALTA TOGETHER WITH 17 RECOVERED LAST NIGHT FROM THE
FORMERLY FLOODED COMPARTMENTS. ALL BUT THREE HAVE BEEN
POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED. THE REMAINING FIVE MISSING MEN ARE
PRESUMED LOST AT SEA. NEWSMEN WILL BE PERMITTED TO BOARD
USS LIBERTY AT 1000 LOCAL TIME TODAY FOR INSPECTION OF
DAMAGE AND PHOTOGRAPHY. THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE SHIP
WILL MEET WITH NEWSMEN AT THAT TIME, BUT HIS REMARKS WILL
BE LIMITED TO SUBJECTS NOT UNDER STUDY BY THE COURT OF INQUIRY
UNQUOTE. FELDMAN
BT