2043Z 15 June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S.S. America to
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe

[BT]
UNCLAS E F T O SECTION ONE OF SEVEN

A. COMSIXTHFLT 151250Z JUN 67 [not in file]

1. IAW REF A THE TRANSCRIPT OF COMSIXTHFLT'S MEETING WITH THE PRESS
IN COMPANY WITH CAPT ARTHUR AND LT SCHIENER FOLLOWS. WITH THE
ADDITION OF THIS INTERVIEW OF 10 JUN, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INTER-
VIEWS CONCERNING LIBERTY INCLUDING THOSE OF 9 AND 11 JUN IS
THREE.

2. A TAPE OF THE INTERVIEW BELOW HAS BEEN AIR MAILED TO CHINFO
THIS DATE.

3. (TRANSCRIPT)
ADMIRAL MARTIN
GENTLEMEN, AFTER I GOT BACK TO THE FLAGSHIP YESTERDAY, AFTER
HAVING BEEN ABOARD LIBERTY AND TALKED TO THE 8 SURVIVORS THEY
HAD OVER THERE, ALL OF THEM INJURED, NONE OF THEM SERIOUSLY.
ALL OF THEM ABLE TO TALK [sic] WITH ME. ALL IN SICKBAY, ALL IN BED. ALL
IN GOOD SPIRITS. IN TALKING WITH THEM I BEGAN TO PIECE TOGETHER
A REAL HEROIC JOB THE SHIP HAD DONE. I ALREADY HAD THIS FEELING
AFTER A FEW MINUTES ABOARD THE SHIP. THEN WHEN CAPTAIN RUSSELL
ARTHUR, WHO IS MAINTENANCE OFFICER FOR SIXTH FLEET. HE
CAME ABOARD LAST NIGHT. HE WENT ABOARD LIBERTY AFTER I HAD
BEEN THERE. HE CAME ABOARD LITTLE ROCK LAST NIGHT AND SPENT THE
NIGHT WITH ME. AND AFTER TALKING WITH HIM, I BEGAN TO SEE WHAT
A TREMENDOUS JOB THIS LIBERTY HAS DONE. AND MY REASON FOR
BEING HERE IS TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT. WHILE I WAS ABOARD THE SHIP
I TALKED WITH THE COMMANDING OFFICER, COMMANDER MCGONAGLE, AND
MY FLAG LIEUTENANT ... WHEN HE GOT INTO THIS AREA OF WHAT HAPPENED,
I ASKED LIEUTENANT SCHEINER, MY AIDE, TO TAKE SOME NOTES AND HE
WILL BE AVAILABLE TO TALK TO YOU ALSO. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
LAST NIGHT TRYING TO DETERMINE WHERE TO TAKE THE SHIP, BECAUSE
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, SOME BODIES, [garbled]. THE
TORPEDO OPENED UP A WIDE HOLE IN HER. SHE ASSUMED A 9 DEGREE
LIST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TORPEDO HIT THROUGH DAMAGE CONTROL
MEASURES WAS ABLE TO HOLD THAT LIST, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO KEEP
HER POWER PLANT GOING AND TO GET OUT OF THAT AREA. I WOULD
LIKE NOW ... YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THE CONDITION OF THE SHIP
AND I WOULD LIKE FOR CAPTAIN ARTHUR TO TELL YOU JUST WHAT THE
CONDITION OF THE SHIP IS, AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT WITH
THE FIRES GOING ON TOPSIDE AND THE DAMAGE DOWN BELOW, THAT CREW
DID A REMARKABLE JOB.
CAPTAIN ARTHUR
I WENT ON BOARD YESTERDAY WITH THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING THE
EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. INSOFAR AS YOU CAN DETERMINE IT WITHOUT
AN UNDERWATER INSPECTION AND TO DETERMINE THE UC CIRCUITS
WHICH WERE STILL IN OPERATION AND THOSE WHICH WERE NOT AND
WHICH EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE SHIP TO
COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER UNITS OF THE FORCE, FLEET. THE TORPEDO
STRUCK AT ABOUT FRAME 60 ON THE STARBOARD SIDE, AND THE TOP OF
THE HOLE IS JUST AT THE TOP OF THE WATER LINE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO
TELL THE PRECISE DIMENSIONS OF THE HOLE BECAUSE OF THE
REFLECTIONS OF THE WATER WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A BOAT OR A
HELO. I LOOKED AT THE [hole] AS LOW AS I COULD GET FROM A HELO GOING OVER
THE PLACE WHERE THE TORPEDO ENTERED. IT APPEARS FROM THE HELO
TO BE SMALLER THAT [then?] IT APPEARS FROM A BOAT. FROM A BOAT IT APPEARS
TO BE ABOUT 13 FEET WIDE. SO, THIS IS A CONSIDERABLE HOLE.
I INSPECTED ALL OF THE FLOODING [sic] BOUNDARIES THAT HAD BEEN
ESTABLISHED ON THE SHIP [sic]. THEY EXTENDED FROM FRAME 52
FORWARD, WHICH WAS ONLY ABOUT 8 FRAMES FORWARD OF THE TORPEDO
HIT. AND THE AFTER BOUNDARY WAS ESTABLISHED AT FRAME 70. FRAME
70 IS THE FORWARD BULKHEAD OF THE MAIN ENGINEERING SPACE. NOW,
THE FRAME SPACING ON THE [sic] SHIP IS 36 INCHES IN THIS AREA. SO,
YOU CAN SEE, THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LENGTH OF ABOUT 75 TO [sic] 80
FEET.
Q. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT AGAIN, SIR.
A. 75 FEET IN LENGTH.
Q. THAT WAS FLOODED?
A. THAT WAS FLOODED.
Q. FROM FRAME 60 YOU SAID?
A. FRAME 52 WAS THE FORWARD FLOODING BOUNDARY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED.
Q. HOW MANY FRAMES ARE THERE ON THE SHIP?
A. OH, AROUND 220, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
Q. ARE FRAMES 4 FEET.
A. 3 FEET.
Q. SHE'S 455 FEET LONG?
A. YES. THEY VARY THOUGH. THEY GET CLOSER TOGETHER IN THE
BOW. IF YOU MULTIPLY 3 FEET FROM FRAME 52 WHERE WE ESTABLISHED
THE BOUNDARY, YOU WILL COME OUT WITH THE WRONG NUMBER AS
THE [sic] DISTANCE FROM THE BOW BECAUSE THEY BECOME CLOSER TOGETHER
AS YOU GET UP NEAR THE BOW. SO, IT'S ABOUT FROM THE BOW TO FRAME
52, ABOUT 125 FEET, FROM THE BOW, IS THE FORWARD FLOODING BOUNDARY
AND ABOUT 25 FEET AFTER THAT IS WHERE THE CENTER OF THE HOLE IS.
NOW I INSPECTED THE FLOODING BOUNDARIES THROUGHOUT FROM TOP TO
BOTTOM, AS MUCH AS I COULD GET IN THE SHIP. THE FORWARD BOUNDARY
HAS EVIDENCE OF BEING BULGED FORWARD BECAUSE THE TORPEDO EXPLODED
INSIDE AND BULGED THAT BOUNDARY FORWARD. THE AFTER BOUNDARY [is] THE
FORWARD BULKHEAD OF THE ENGINE ROOM THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF
DAMAGE WHATSOEVER [sic] AND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY LEAKAGE AT ANY SEAMS
IN THESE TWO BULKHEADS. THIS IS THE FORWARD ENGINE ROOM BULKHEAD.
[Q.] LETS SEE THE FORWARD ENGINE ROOM BULKHEAD [?is?] THE FORWARD BOUNDARY
IS BULGED FORWARD IN BY THE EXPLOSION. [A.] YES SIR. NO DAMAGE TO THE
REAR BOUNDARY NO WHERE AND THE REAR BOUNDARY IS JUST AFT OF THE
IT FORMS THE FORWARD BULKHEAD OF THE MAIN ENGINEERING SPACE. THE
UPPER BOUNDARY IS THE SECOND DECK THE WATER LEVEL [sic] IS ACTUALLY
ABOUT A FOOT BELOW THE SECOND DECK. THE SECOND DECK WOULD HALT [sic]
AT ABOUT FRAME SIXTY RIGHT THROUGH A HOLE ABOUT TWO FEET IN
DIAMETER ON THE STARBOARD SIDE OF THE SHIP. THIS HAS BEEN SHORED,
PLATES LAID OVER IT PADDING LAID OVER IT TO MAKE IT WATER TIGHT
AND AGAIN THE PLATING WHERE THIS EXPLOSION APPARENTLY TOOK
PLACE RIGHT IN THIS AREA IT LIFTED THE [?deck?] UP SO THAT IT TORE IT
LOOSE FROM THE SKIN OF THE SHIP AND IT'S A HOLE AT THE SIDE YOU
CAN LOOK RIGHT OUT THROUGH THE SIDE AND SEE THE WATER RIGHT IN
THE AREA WHERE THE TORPEDO PENETRATED THE SHIP. BUT IT'S A
SMALL HOLE ABOUT A FOOT OR SO ABOVE THE WATER LINE [sic] THIS IS ALL
UNDER CONTROL AND FLOODING BOUNDARIES ARE ESTABLISHED AND I THINK
IT WILL HOLD WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. [Q.] YOU MEAN THE SECOND DECK JUST
AT THE WATER LINE IS TORN FROM THE SIDE FROM THE SKIN OF THE SHIP.
[A.] AND IS ALSO A SMALL HOLE YOU CAN SEE DOWN THROUGH THE SKIN OF
THE SHIP WHERE THE TORPEDO ENTERED SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE
DAYLIGHT SINCE [sic] THE HOLE ITSELF IS JUST PARTLY ABOVE WATER. [Q.] WHERE
HAVE YOU PUT THE PLATES SIR? [A.] THE ON THE SECOND DECK ON THE
STARBOARD SIDE AT FRAME SIXTY ABOUT TEN FEET IN
CFOMSTLE [from the?] OUTBOARD
SKIN OF THE SHIP. WE HAVE SHORED IT TO THE MAIN DECK ABOVE WITH
TIMBER AND PLATES LAID [sic] OVER THE WHOLE TO CONTROL ANY POSSIBILITY
OF FLOODING THROUGH THAT SPACE. [Q.] OH I SEE IT BLEW A HOLE THROUGH THE-

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION TWO OF SEVEN

SECOND DECK AND WE WERE AND THE WATER LEVEL IS ACTUALLY BELOW THERE
[A.] WE HAVE SHORED THAT AND ESTABLISHED A BOUNDARY ON THE SECOND DECK.
[Q.] CAPTAIN CAN YOU TELL US WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE INTERNAL
COMPARTMENTS SPACES OF THE LIBERTY HAS BEEN IMMOBILIZED THROUGHOUT.
[A.] WE CAN GIVE IT TO YOU IN FEET I BELIEVE. I'VE JUST GIVEN IT TO
YOU IN FEET REALLY BUT [sic] THE OTHER SPACES ARE ACCESSIBLE NOW THE
PLACES THAT YOU CANNOT GET TO ARE BELOW THE SECOND DECK EXCEPT
FORWARD OF FRAME 52. I WENT BELOW THE SECOND DECK FORWARD OF FRAME
52 AND CHECKED WATER TIGHT [sic] BOUNDARIES [sic] WHERE THEY MEET THE DECK LEVEL
ON THE OVERHEAD. AND WHERE 23 [we?] DETERMINED THE BULGING AND AFTER
YOU GO ALL THE WAY FROM THE STARBOARD [side] OF THE SHIP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE
SHIP RIGHT UP TO THE SECOND DECK LEVEL AND CHECKED THAT HOLE
IN THE BULKHEAD AREA WHICH I DID THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE
AT ALL BUT IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION SPACES THEN YOU WOULD
GO FROM FRAME 52 TO FRAME 70 BELOW THE SECOND DECK ON [all?] THE WAY
TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIP NOW THERE IS A FIRST PLATFORM AND A
SECOND PLATFORM WHICH ARE BOTH FLOODED AND BELOW THAT WE HAD TANK
TOPS OF AND WHICH CONTAINED [sic] EITHER FUEL OR WATER AND THERE IS
EVIDENCE FROM THE [sic} LEAKAGE [sic] OUT THAT THERE IS A TANK TOP HAS
WELL BEEN RUPTURED BETWEEN THE ACCESS IS ... WOULD NORMALLY GO [sic].
THE FIRST AND SECOND PLATFORMS BELOW THE SECOND DECK BETWEEN FRAME
52 AND 70. THERE WERE OPERATIONAL SPACES AND WERE WHERE PEOPLE
WOULD BE EXPECTED TO BE. THIS AREA THAT HAS ALL OIL OVER IS RESULT [sic] OF THE (GARBLE) [sic] I THINK ITS LESS THAN THAT BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT BELOW THE SECOND DECK. NOW IF WE WERE RESTRICTED BELOW THE
SECOND DECK THEN ITS JUST A QUESTION OF ARITHMETIC OF HOW MUCH
THE LENGTH OF THE SHIP IS IMMOBILIZED [sic] BETWEEN ABOVE THE SECOND
DECK IS ALL.........THE SECOND DECK IS RIGHT ON THE WATER LINE
JUST ABOUT A FOOT ABOVE I WOULD ESTIMATE. [Q.] HOW MANY DECKS ARE [sic] THERE
ON THE SHIP. [A.] WELL YOU HAVE THE LOWER HOLD THE FIRST PLATFORM
THE SECOND PLATFORM THE SECOND DECK THE MAIN DECK THE 01 LEVEL
THE 02 LEVEL AND UP TO THE BRIDGE
LEVEL. [Q.] IS THE OIL LEAKAGE A
PROBLEM CAPTAIN. [A.] WELL IT WOULD BE TAKEN INTO PORT ITS NOT A
SPECIFIC PROBLEM OUT HERE IT DOES NOT ENDANGER THE SHIP. NO
ACTUALLY IT'S THE CONTROL OF LOSING IT IN THE SEAS BY EXPLOSIONS
AS I UNDERSTAND IT IT MAY BE IN ADDITION TO THE TANK TOPS THAT
ARE RUPTURED RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE AREA WHERE THE TORPEDO ENTERED
THE THE BIRATON [?] IS HAS RESULTED OF THE EXPLOSION [sic] MAY HAVE OPENED
UP A SEAM IN ANOTHER TANK WHICH IS DRIBBLING OUT BUT WHETHER WE
CAN'T TELL THAT UNTIL WE MAKE AN UNDERWATER BODY INSPECTION. THE
FUEL TANKS IN THAT AREA IS FUEL TANKS ARE BELOW THAT AREA. [Q.] WOULD YOU
SAY THAT THE FAST ACTION OF THE DAMAGE CONTROL CREWS SAVED THE SHIP
FROM SINKING. [A.] I MEAN IT HAD RECEIVED WHAT COULD [sic] BE TERMED A MORTAL
BLOW TO THEM AND IF THEY HADN'T ACTED FAST AS THEY DID ALL THEIR
ESTABLISHED AND FLOODING BOUNDARIES OR HAVE [sic] NO PENE-
TRATION ARE DESIGNED THAT WAY. YOU CAN'T LEAVE A HATCH OPEN AND
CLOSED AND THESE TWO HELD WHICH SHIPS THE PRINCIPLE THING THAT
KEPT IT FROM SINKING. IF THE AFT BULKHEAD HAD LET GO OR BEING
HOLED IN ANY WAY YOU WOULD HAVE HAD IT SHORED UP IN THE ENGINEERING
SPACES AND SHE'S GONE STRAIGHT DOWN. [Q.?]BUT THEY ESTABLISHED THESE
IN THE DECKS AND THEY DID IT QUITE QUICKLY AND WOULD YOU SAY [sic] THAT
THE FAST ACTION OF THE CREW SAVED THE SHIP. [A.] WELL [sic] IT CERTAINLY CON-
TRIBUTED. [Q.] COULD YOU GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN SIR [A.] THE SHIP IS SO
DESIGNED THAT THE BULKHEADS ARE CLOSED AS SOON AS YOU GO TO BATTLE STATIONS.
THEY [sic] ARE NEVER OPEN. WHETHER YOU [sic] GO TO BATTLE STATIONS OR NOT
THEY ARE DESIGNED SO THAT THERE ARE NO OPENINGS IN THEM THERE AREA
NO HATCHES YOU YOU ALSO THEN YOU HAVE TO GO UP AND OVER THUS TO
PREVENT THEY ARE THERE TO LOCALIZE DAMAGE NEITHER OF THESE WERE
BROKEN AND THUS AND THIS IS WHAT REALLY WE BUILD ALL THE SHIPS
THIS WAY. IF IT HAD BEEN ONE OF THOSE THEY HAD NOT HOLED IT WOULD
PROBABLY HAVE GONE. WE BUILD ALL SHIP THIS TO.... A DAMAGED COMPART-
MENT WE HAVE COMPARTMENTS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF A SMALL SHIP HAS
TO GO THROUGH ON THE COMPARTMENTS HE HAS TO GO UP AND COME BACK UP
THE ABOUT THE THIRD DECK I THINK AND THEN GO BACK DOWN AND THEN
BACK UP THAT'S QUITE A JOB. EVEN IF THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THIS
SHIP HAS NEVER SEEN ALL THE COMPARTMENTS AND EVEN IF HE WERE FOR
THREE YEARS HE WOULDN'T HAVE I WOULD THINK HE COULD SEE ALL OF THEM
AND STILL DO HIS JOB. [Q.] CAN YOU PHYSICALLY DESCRIBE THESE BULKHEADS
ABOUT HOW BIG THEY ARE [A.] THEY ARE WELL THEY RUN FROM SKIN TO SKIN
THAT IS FROM PORT TO STARBOARD ALL THE WAY [garbled] APPEAR TO BE ABOUT
3/8 PLATE BUT I DON'T HAVE THE PLANS IN FRONT OF ME AND I DON'T
HAVE THEM ON THE SHIP THUS JUST A GUESS ON MY PART THEY MAY
BE A LITTLE LIGHTER BUT I THINK THEY ARE 3/8" PLATE. 3/8 OF AN
INCH -- 3/8" INCH OF AN INCH AND STEEL AND THEY ARE WELDED TOP
AND BOTTOM AND TO THE SKIN OF THE SHIP. [Q.] CAPTAIN WHEN WAS THIS TYPE
OF SHIP THIS IS HOW OLD. [A.] I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW OLD IT IS IT'S A
C-2 HULL 455 FEET LONG 70 FOOT BEAM IT DISPLACES 10,500 TONS WHEN
ITS FULLY LOADED. IT NORMALLY DRAWS [sic] 23 FEET OF WATER ITS NOW
DRAWING 26 FEET FORWARD IT'S THE OLD CARGO IT'S A C-2 HULL BUILT
UNDER THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION. [Q.] THE VICTORY SHIPS. [A.] NO IT'S A C-2
HULL SHIP A MARITIME IT'S A SMALL SIZE FREIGHTER, 10,000 TONS ITS
A C-2 HULL LIKE CHARLIE-2 FROM CAN'T [Q.] DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT WAS
BUILT. [A.] NO. [Q.] JANES SAID VICTORY. [A.] WELL I'VE ALWAYS REFERRED TO THEM
AS C-2 THE OLD VICTORY ARE C-2S AND C-4S YOU HAVE TWO NUMBERS
DEPENDING WHICH ONE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AND ONE THIS MOST
COMMONPLACE USE IS THE C-2. [Q.] THEY WERE BUILT POST WAR? [A.] AT THE END
OF THE WAR I WOULD ESTIMATE. [Q.] HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN OPERATING AS
A RESEARCH SHIP? [A.] I DON'T KNOW SIR. [Q.] IS IT DIESEL POWER [A.] NO SIR
STEAM. GEARED STEAM TURBINE. [Q.] COULD YOU TELL US WHAT THE CREW DID
TO CONTRIBUTE TO SAVING THE SHIP. [A.] PRINCIPALLY BE ESTABLISHING THE
FLOODING BOUNDARIES AND CHECKING THEM. IF THEY HAD LEFT THEM OPEN
AND IF IT HAD GONE DOWN A CONTINUED TO HEEL OVER THE FIRST THING
YOU HAVE TO DO IS ESTABLISH FLOODING BOUNDARIES THEY ESTABLISHED
THE SECOND DECK AND SHORED THEM TO INSURE THAT THEY HAVE WATER
TIGHT BOUNDARY ON THE SECOND DECK AND PLUGGED ALL THE HOLE WITH
DAMAGE CONTROL THEMSELVES THEY WERE UNSURE OF SINKING AND THIS
THEY DONE [did?] RATHER QUICKLY. [Q.] HOW LONG WAS THE SHIP. [A.] ITS 455 FEET.
[Q.] HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO ESTABLISH FLOODING BOUNDARIES. [A.] I DON'T
KNOW I WASN'T ON BOARD THESE IT MAY SEEM LIKE AN ETERNITY TO
PEOPLE CHECKING THEM IT MAY TAKE A FEW MINUTES.
THE AIRCRAFT CAME BACK ON THE STARBOARD SIDE AND MADE MORE PASSES
ON THE SHIP. HOWEVER, ALL RUNS WERE MADE FROM FORWARD. ALL RUNS
WERE MADE FROM FORWARD AFT. THERE WEREN'T ANY RUNS THAT CAME FROM
THE STERN.
Q. WERE THEY COMING IN FROM THE SUN?
A. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW.
Q. DID HE MENTION ROCKETS. YESTERDAY THEY SAID THEY WERE FIRING
ROCKETS.
A. HE DIDN'T MENTION ANY ROCKETS.
Q. JUST STRAFING?

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION THREE OF SEVEN

A. YES. AFTER [sic] SOME STRAFING RUNS, AS THE ADMIRAL MARTIN SAID,
NOT KNOWN EXACTLY HOW MANY, THE COMMANDING OFFICER AND [sic] MEMBERS
OF THE CREW OBSERVED 3 MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS AT A GOOD DISTANCE.
HOWEVER, AT THE TIME, THE MAJOR ATTENTION OF THE SHIP WAS GIVEN
TO ATTACKING AIRCRAFT. THE MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS WERE COMING IN ON
THE STARBOARD QUARTER AT 135 DEGREES RELATIVE, APPROXIMATELY 135
DEGREES RELATIVE. THE SHIP WAS GOING IN THIS DIRECTION, THEY WOULD
BE COMING IN LIKE ABOUT THIS (INDICATING WITH GESTURES).
Q. THEY WERE COMING IN FROM THE REAR?
A. THEY WERE COMING IN FROM THE STARBOARD QUARTER.
Q. THEY SAW 3 MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS?
A. THREE MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS WERE IN A TRIANGULAR FORMATION, 1-2-3
(INDICATING WITH GESTURES). THE MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS CONTINUED TO
CLOSE AND THE AIR ATTACK WAS OVER, AND THE MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS
CONTINUED TO CLOSE. THEY WERE SOME [sic] ABOUT 3 TO 4 THOUSAND YARDS AT
THIS TIME. THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE ENGULFING THE BRIDGE AREA AND
PORTIONS OF THE LIBERTY BECAUSE OF THE FIRE FROM THE GASOLINE CANS
AND THE FIRE IN THE MOTOR WHALE BOAT. THE NATIONALITY OF THE MOTOR
TORPEDO BOATS WAS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME BY ANY BODY ON THE SHIP.
THE CAPTAIN HAD SINCE THIS TIME ORDERED ALL AHEAD FLANK SPEED,
WHICH WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF 15 KNOTS. THE SHIP AS I MENTIONED BEFORE
STARTED OUT AT 5 KNOTS, BUT BY THIS TIME HE HAD ORDERED ALL
AHEAD FLANK SPEED, 15 KNOTS.
Q. THAT'S THERE TOP SPEED ISN'T IT?
ADMIRAL MARTIN: HER TOP SPEED IS LISTED AT ABOUT 16 KNOTS. EVERY
PROUD SKIPPER SAYS HE CAN MAKE AT LEAST ONE MORE KNOT THAN THAT.
YOU WILL NOT FIND A SKIPPER WHO WILL NOT SAY THAT HIS SHIP WILL NOT
GO 1 MORE KNOT THAN [sic] THE PUBLISHED MAXIMUM [sic].
Q. WHAT WILL THE AMERICA MAKE, ADMIRAL?
A. ASK THE SKIPPER!
NORMALLY IT WOULD TAKE PERHAPS 10 MINUTES TO CHECK IT OUT.
Q. YOU MENTIONED COMMUNICATIONS. WHAT COMMUNICATIONS DOES SHE HAVE
REMAINING?
A. SHE HAS 2 TRANSMITTERS AND 1 RECEIVER THAT ARE OPERATIONAL. NOW,
SHE HAS SEVERAL MORE STANDARD NAVY TRANSMITTER TYPES. I DON'T
THINK ... HAVE VERY LITTLE IF ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM. THEY MAY
HAVE A FEW MINOR THINGS THAT WHEN WE GET THE TENDER PEOPLE ABOARD
WE SHOULD HAVE THEM OPERATION IN A DAY OR SO.
Q. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE PRESS REPORTS, BUT SOME NAVAL
SPOKESMAN WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT IT WAS A SPY SHIP. THEY HAVE
SPIES AND SO DO WE.
ADMIRAL MARTIN: I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO COME UP, AND I HAVE
PREPARED A SPEECH AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HAVE TIME, SO IF YOU
DON'T MIND IF WE COVER THE REST OF THIS NOW. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS?
Q. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SHIP?
CAPTAIN ARTHUR: WELL RIGHT NOW ... AND REALLY IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
DETAILS ON THE DAMAGE ... THERE IS FLOODING DAMAGE. WE HAVE OTHER
DAMAGE AS YOU SAW FLYING AROUND IN A PLANE. I KNOW SOME OF YOU WERE
IN A HELO OVER THERE. WE'VE GOT SHELL HOLES AND CANNON HOLES ALL
OF THE TOPSIDE. IT LOOKS LIKE A SIEVE [sic], BUT NONE OF THESE REALLY
HAVE ANY ... THEY ARE SUPERFICIAL FOR THE MOST PART. THEY CAN BE
FIXED IN 3 OR 4 DAYS. THAT'S TEMPORARY REPAIRS OR EMERGENCY REPAIRS.
WE WILL JUST PUT DOUBLE PLATES OF THEM AND WELD THEM UP TO ASSURE
WATER TIGHT INTEGRITY IN THESE AREAS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE
WERE 2 FLASH FIRES THAT BROKE OUT. ONE ON THE PORT SIDE CARRIERS FOR
ITS P500 AND P250. THE BULLETS RUPTURED THESE DRUMS AND DROPPED
110 GALLONS OF GASOLINE OUT AND IT FLARED UP AND IT LOOKS TERRIBLE
FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE PAINT IS BLISTERED AND BLACK IN THIS WHOLE
AREA RUNNING FOR 20 FEET AND THROUGH THE SECOND DECK LEVELS. ON
CHECKING THE INTERIOR DECK SPACES, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DAMAGE.
IT WAS CONTROLLED SO QUICKLY, AND THIS IS ANOTHER THING ... THE
CREW ACTED TO SAVE THE SHIP. THESE FIRES CAN GET OUT OF CONTROL
SO DAMN FAST THAT YOU BURN UP BEFORE YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN TROUBLE.
BUT THEY GOT THERE FIRES OUT SO QUICKLY THAT THERE IS NOT EVEN ANY
BLISTERED [sic] PAINT INSIDE THE COMPARTMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
BULKHEAD.
Q. THESE HOLES IN THE STACK, WERE THEY CAUSED BY 20 MILLIMETER?
DO THEY LOOK LIKE 20 MILLIMETER?
A. THEY APPEAR TO BE. THE STACK IT LOOKS LIKE A SIEVE [sic] TOO AND THERE
MUST BE 15 OR 20 HOLES IN THE THING. THEY LOOK LIKE 20 MILLIMETER
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. THE HOLES ARE ABOUT 2 INCHES IN
DIAMETER IT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE MOST PART.
Q. HOW LONG CAN THIS SHIP STAY AT SEA TILL YOU CHECK THIS OIL
FLOW?
A. I WOULD SAY RIGHT NOW UNDER HER PRESENT CONDITION IT WOULD BE
INDEFINITELY, BECAUSE WE HAVE GOOD FLOODING BOUNDARIES ES-
TABLISHED OR IF NO ADDITIONAL FLOODING ...
ADMIRAL MARTIN: WE ARE NO LONGER CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE
SHIP. OUR GREATEST CONCERN NOW IS TO GET HER WHERE WE CAN GET THE
BODIES OUT. THAT'S THE MOST URGENT CONSIDERATION ...
Q. WHEN WILL THAT BE? [sic]
A. I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE CAN GET HER INTO DRYDOCK.
Q. ARE YOU TAKING HER INTO DRYDOCK NOW?
A. YES, IF THERE IS A DRYDOCK AVAILABLE, WE HAVE TO CHECK AVAIL-
ABLE DRYDOCKS AND WE WILL TAKE HER TO A DRYDOCK THAT IS AVAILABLE.
Q. WHAT TYPE OF CREW IS IN THAT COMPARTMENT; THAT AREA?
CAPTAIN ARTHUR: I DIDN'T CHECK. I AM PERSONALLY INTERESTED IN
DAMAGE CONTROL. IT IS FORWARD OF THE MAIN ENGINEERING SPACES. BUT
IT IS A GENERAL PASSAGEWAY AREA THERE THROUGH IT, THE SECOND DECK,
SO ANYBODY COULD HAVE BEEN IN IT.
Q. WERE THESE CREW COMPARTMENTS PER CHANCE?
A. I AM NOT SURE OF THAT EITHER. MOSTLY I THIN SHIP'S OPERATIONS
COMPARTMENTS, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WERE ANY CREW SPACES BUT I
COULD BE WRONG. I DIDN'T CHECK THE GENERAL PLANS ON EVERY COM-
PARTMENT, BUT I DID LOOK AT THE BOOK OF GENERAL PLANS AND THEY
APPEAR TO BE OPERATIONAL TYPE COMPARTMENTS.
Q. COULD YOU CHECK FOR US? I THINK WE WOULD BE INTERESTED.
A. I DON'T HAVE THE BOOK OF GENERAL PLANS HERE.
Q. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU BELIEVE ARE PROBABLY [sic] IN THESE COMPART-
MENTS? IS THERE AN ASSUMPTION THAT THERE IS 22 SINCE WE HAVE GOT
9 BODIES?
ADMIRAL MARTIN: THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ASSUMING.
Q. WHAT WAS THE PROBABLE [sic] CAUSE OF DEATH, DROWNING?
A. EXPLOSION, DROWNING, COMBINATIONS.
ADMIRAL MARTIN: BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, COULD WE GET INTO AN IN-
TERESTING THING WE HEARD FROM THE SKIPPER YESTERDAY. THE COMMAND-
ING OFFICER WAS IN HIS BUNK. HE HAD A LEG INJURY, A GOUGE FROM
SHRAPNEL ON THE INSIDE OF HIS RIGHT [sic] THIGH. HE IS A RUGGED LOOKING
CHARACTER, AND HE REALLY IS RUGGED. THE CREW SWEARS BY HIM. HE
LOOKED TIRED AS I SAY, BUT HE WAS NOT ABOUT TO LEAVE HIS SHIP.
WE COULD HAVE RELIEVED HIM WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS QUALIFIED IN

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION FOUR OF SEVEN

THAT TYPE, BUT HE WANTS TO STAY ABOARD AND THE DOCTOR DID NOT
OPPOSE THAT, SO HE IS ABOARD. WHILE WE WERE THERE, HE TOLD ME THE
STORY AND I BELIEVE MY NOTES WILL COVER IT PRETTY WELL. I WOULD
LIKE FOR LIEUTENANT SCHEINER, WHO WAS TAKING NOTES, TO GIVE YOU THE
INFORMATION HE GAVE US ON THE NARRATIVE OF WHAT WENT ON.
LIEUTENANT SCHEINER
Q. LIEUTENANT, MAY WE FIRST HAVE YOUR FULL NAME?
A. ROBERT SCHEINER.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR HOME TOWN?
A. NEW YORK CITY.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR POSITION?
A. FLAG LIEUTENANT TO ADMIRAL MARTIN.
ADMIRAL MARTIN: HE IS NOT ONLY A LIEUTENANT IN GRADE, BUT ALSO
A FLAG LIEUTENANT ON MY STAFF.
LT SCHEINER: ADMIRAL MARTIN AND MYSELF ARRIVED ON BOARD LIBERTY
YESTERDAY AT 1348 LOCAL TIME. WE CAME IN BY HELO SLING AND
IMMEDIATELY MARTIN WENT TO SEE THE COMMANDING OFFICER, COMMANDER
MCGONAGLE. COMMANDER MCGONAGLE WAS CONFINED TO HIS BED, AS ADMIRAL
MARTIN MENTIONED, HE HAD A LEG WOUND, SHRAPNEL IN HIS UPPER RIGHT
THIGH. INSIDE RIGHT THIGH. IN ADDITION, HE HAD NUMEROUS SMALL PIECES
OF SHRAPNEL. YOU COULD SEE THE DRIED [sic] BLOOD, SMALL SHRAPNEL FLAKES
ALL OF HIS RIGHT LEG. I NOTICED THEM, SMALL, LIKE BB SHOTS,
PIECES OF SHRAPNEL WITH CRUSTED BLOOD AROUND THEM. COMMANDER
MCGONAGLE HAD LOST A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF BLOOD AND HE WAS FAIRLY
FATIGUED AS THE MEDICAL OFFICER HAS STATED. THE STORY AS I TOOK THE
NOTES AND I HAVE SOME AMATEUR [sic] SHORTHAND NOTES OVER HERE SOME
FIGHTER AIRCRAFT WERE NOTICED BY LOOKOUTS. THE AIRCRAFT WERE AT
APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 THOUSAND FEET. AT THAT DISTANCE OF COURSE,
THE LOOKOUTS WERE UNABLE TO MAKE OUT THE NATIONALITY OR THE TYPE.
SOMETIME AFTERWARD, AND OF COURSE THERE WASN'T ANY COMPLETE LOG
KEPT THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO US AT THIS TIME, THE AIRCRAFT CAME
IN AND STARTED STRAFING THE SHIP. THE FIRST AIRCRAFT CAME IN ON
THE PORT BOW, COMING IN FROM PORT BOW TO STARBOARD STERN, STRAFING
THE SHIP FORWARD AND JUST WALKING DOWN TOWARDS THE BRIDGE AREA,
AND THEN FLEW BY. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT CAME IN OFF THE PORT BOW.
EXCUSE ME, THE FIRST AIRCRAFT CAME IN OFF THE STARBOARD BOW AND
SECOND OFF THE PORT BOW. AT THIS TIME SOME FIRES STARTED, PROBABLY
THE GASOLINE.
Q. DO YOU HAVE THE TIME OF THE ATTACK?
A. 1205 ZULU.
Q. THAT IS GMT?
A. YES. 1405 LOCAL TIME ON THE ...
Q. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT CAME ACROSS THE PORT BOW AND REPEATED THE
PROCESS?
A. YES.
Q. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT CAME ACROSS THE PORT BOW AND REPEATED THE
PROCESS. IS THAT CORRECT?
A. YES.
Q. 1405 THIS TIME AND ARE WAS IT 1505 THEIR TIME ZONE?
A. 1405 OUR LOCAL TIME. I THINK THEY ARE ON CHARLIE TIME.
Q. SECOND AIRCRAFT CAME IN OFF THE STARBOARD BOW?
A. SECOND AIRCRAFT CAME IN OFF THE PORT BOW AND STRAFED. AS A RE-
SULT OF THIS, STRAFING IT WAS NOT KNOWN WHETHER IT WAS THE FIRST
PASS OR THE SECOND PASS, FIRES WAS IGNITED. GASOLINE CANS CAUGHT FIRE
ALSO. THE SHIPS [sic] WAS DOING APPROXIMATELY 5 KNOTS AT THE TIME.
Q. AT THIS TIME?
A. AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK. COMMANDING OFFICER WAS ON HIS WAY UP
TO THE BRIDGE AT THE INSTANCE OF ATTACK, AND HE IMMEDIATELY ORDER
GENERAL QUARTERS SOUNDED. THE CREW THEN WENT TO THEIR GENERAL
QUARTERS STATIONS, AND THEN HE TOLD US THAT THE AIRCRAFT CAME BACK.
THIS TIME OFF THE STARBOARD SIDE.
Q. DID THEY COUNT THE NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT?
A. HE THINKS THERE WERE THREE. HE ISN'T SURE. HE ALSO STATES THEY
MADE SIX STRAFING RUNS, BUT HE'S NOT SURE OF THAT.
ADMIRAL MARTIN: AS I RECALL ON THE FIRST PASS THEY IGNITED GASOLINE
CONTAINERS UP NEAR THE BRIDGE.
Q. JUST WERE WAS THESE GASOLINE TANKS?
A. UP NEAR THE BRIDGE, NEAR FRAME 75 ON THE 01 LEVEL.
Q. DID THEY ESTABLISH THE NATIONALITY OF THE ATTACKING AIRCRAFT?
WERE THEY MARKED IN ANYWAY?
A. NO ONE HAD ANY IDEA. HE SAID THAT NONE OF THE PEOPLE HE TALKED TO
COULD IDENTIFY THEM.
Q. BUT THEY WERE JETS?
Q. EXCUSE ME ADMIRAL, THE LT THAT GOT KILLED, WAS HE MARRIED?
A. YES HE WAS.
LT SCHEINER: AS I MENTIONED IT STARTED A FIRE, IN ADDITION ON THE
FIRST OR SECOND STRAFING RUN, TWO QUARTERMASTERS ON DUTY WERE HIT.
THIS OCCURRED JUST A FEW FEET AWAY FROM WERE CDR MCGONAGLE, THE
COMMANDING OFFICER WAS STANDING. THE QUARTERMASTERS WERE NOT KILLED
IMMEDIATELY, BUT THEY [sic] WERE TAKEN BELOW TO A MEDICAL CASUALTY
STATION. I BELIEVE THEY DIED LATER.
BY THIS TIME GENTLEMEN THEY HAD AMMUNITION ON THE MACHINE GUNS ON
BOARD LIBERTY AT THE GUNS AND THE FLAMES FROM THE MWB STARTED TO
COOK OFF SOME OF THE ROUNDS ON THE STARBOARD AMIDSHIPS ABAFT THE
BRIDGE MACHINE GUN. STARBOARD ABAFT THE BRIDGE MACHINE GUN. THERE
WAS A MWB AFIRE AND WAS THIS THAT STARTED TO COOK OFF THE AMMUNITION
THAT WAS NEAR AND THE HEAT OF THE FIRE EXPLODED THE AMMUNITION.
Q. THIS WAS THE STARBOARD AFT MACHINE GUN. A. YES JUST AFT OF THE
BRIDGE. Q. HOW MANY MACHINE GUNS ALL TOGETHER. [A.] FOUR, THESE
ARE JUST SHORT-RANGE DEFENSE AGAINST PROWLERS, SMALL 50 CALIBER
MACHINE GUNS. THE CAPTAIN COMMANDER MCGONAGLE MENTIONED AT THIS
TIME HE NOTICED ONE OF THE MTB FIRED A TORPEDO. Q. DID HE SAY WHAT
TIME HE SAW THAT? [A.] NO HE DID NOT. Q. HOW FAR WAS THE PT BOAT WHEN HE
FIRED? A. I'VE GOT A NOTE HERE THAT HE WAS AT A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1000
YARDS BUT THAT'S NOT THE SPECIFIC ANSWER TO THE QUESTION. HE FIRED
WHEN ABOUT 3000 YARDS FROM THE SHIP. THE NOTE JUST SAYS THAT THE PT
BOATS CAME IN THAT FAR IN TO A 1000 YARDS AND THIS TORPEDO INCI-
DENTALLY WHICH WAS FIRED THE CAPTAIN SAID HE SAW THE TORPEDO WAKE
PASS ABOUT 25 YARDS UNDER THE STERN OF THE SHIP. THIS TORPEDO
DID NOT HIT THE SHIP. [Q.] BEHIND OR UNDER THE STERN. [A.] AFT OF THE STERN.
NEXT THING HE REMEMBERS IS THAT THE SHIP TOOK A HIT AND THAT IT
IMMEDIATELY WENT TO A 9 DEGREE LIST AND HE WAS VERY PROUD TO MEN-
TION IT DID NOT GET ANY WORSE THAN A 9 DEGREE LIST. [Q.] DID HE SEE
THE SECOND TORPEDO? [A.] HE DID NOT MENTION IT, I DON'T KNOW IF HE SAW
IT. GENTLEMEN WE WERE NOT ASKING HIM ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME HE
WAS JUST TELLING ADMIRAL MARTIN WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND I WAS TAKING
NOTES. THE COMMANDING DID NOT BELIEVE AND DOES NOT BELIEVE
ANYBODY WENT OVER THE SIDE AS RESULT OF THE EXPLOSION NOR DOES HE
THINK THAT ANYONE WS BLOWN OVER THE SIDE. ANOTHER ITEM WAS THAT THE
MTBS WERE STRAFING THE SHIP ALSO WITH THEIR MACHINE GUNS AND
AT WHAT TIME IT WAS NOT EXACTLY KNOWN, BUT AFTER THEY MADE
THEIR TORPEDO RUN AND SPED AWAY THEY DID NOT COME IN FOR A SECOND

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION FIVE OF SEVEN

ATTACK. THEY DID NOT COME IN FOR A SECOND ATTACK, THE THREE
BOATS. [Q.] HOW CLOSE DID THEY GET ALTOGETHER--ABOUT A THOUSAND YARDS--
[Q.] THAT ANYONE OBSERVED AT ANY ONE TIME?
[A.] I THINK SO I THINK THIS IS CORRECT ABOUT 1000 YARDS. BY THIS TIME
AND THIS IS AFTER THE TORPEDO EXPLOSION AND AGAIN THIS IS NOT THE
EXACT MINUTE THE CAPTAIN, COMMANDER MCGONAGLE TOOK A LEG WOUND A
PIECE OF SHARP METAL GOT HIM IN THE LEG ON THE BRIDGE AT THIS TIME.
HE TRIED TO STEM THE FLOW OF BLOOD WITH HIS LEFT HAND. BOTH
HANDS TRYING TO BLOCK THE FLOW OF BLOOD OUT [sic] OF HIS RIGHT THIGH.
HE WAS UNABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THE WOUND WAS SO HUGE AND SOME-
BODY--TWO MEN APPLIED A TOURNIQUET TO HIS LEG. HE WAS IN COMMAND
OF THE SHIP AT ALL TIMES. HE WAS ON THE DECK OF THE PILOT HOUSE.
HE WAS LIFTING UP INTERMITTENTLY [sic] TO SEE WHERE HE WAS. NOW THIS IS
AFTER THE EXPLOSION FROM THE STRAFING [sic] BY THE TORPEDO BOATS HE
GOT HIT. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY IT WAS SOMETIME AFTER THE AIRCRAFT
AND BEFORE THE END OF THE TORPEDO RUNS. I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT
IT WAS DURING THE STRAFING [sic] THAT THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE TWO
QUARTERMASTERS WHO WERE NEXT TO HIM ON THE BRIDGE WERE HIT AND
TAKEN BELOW AND DIED. THIS INJURY I THINK WAS ABOUT THE SAME TIME.
IT CAME FROM THE PLANES. I TOOK IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS SHRAPNEL [sic]
BECAUSE THE BRIDGE AREA FROM THE GASOLINE THAT WAS STORED IN THE
BRIDGE AREA AFT OF THE BRIDGE WAS ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL OF THE
BRIDGE WHERE MOST OF THEM WERE FIRED OFF. AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THE
EXTERNAL APPEARANCES OF THE SHIP THE BURNING HAD LIT OFF THE--THE
DAMAGE WAS ALL SUPERFICIAL, IT LOOKS BAD, IT LOOKS BLACK, IT
LOOKS CHARRED--THE BRIDGE WAS RATHER ENGULFED IN SMOKE AND FLAMES.
I DO NOT
Q. DO YOU THINK HE STAYED ON THE BRIDGE WHILE HE WAS WOUNDED?
A. OH YES, I AM SURE. THAT WAS HIS REPORT.
LT SHCEINER: GOING BACK TO THE FIRST PASS BY THE AIRCRAFT. HIS FIRST
PASS KNOCKED OUT THE SHIPS GYRO SYSTEM AND ITS RADAR. ALSO ITS
FATHOMETER, DEPTH MEASURING DEVICE, CONSEQUENTLY, THE CONNING OF
THE SHIP WAS DONE BY THE CAPTAIN USING THE SHIP'S WAKE. HE JUST
LOOKED AFT AND SAW WHAT THE SHIP'S WAS AND HE KNEW WHAT HIS DI-
RECTION WAS AT THE POINT OF INITIAL ATTACK, AND HE CONTINUED
CONNING THE SHIP ON THE SHIP'S WAKE.
Q. HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
A. WELL, IF YOU ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AWAY FROM LAND,
YOU MAKE SURE YOU HOLD A STRAIGHT LINE. YOU MAKE SURE YOUR WAKE
IS DIRECTLY STRAIGHT.
Q. DID HE SAY HOW LONG THE ENTIRE ATTACK LASTED?
A. HE DID NOT.
Q. DID HE SAY WHEN HE SENT OFF THE FIRST MESSAGE?
A. HE DID NOT MENTION THIS EITHER.
Q. HE DIDN'T SAY WHAT THE MESSAGE WAS?
A. NO. WE DID NOT ASK HIM THIS QUESTION SPECIFICALLY.
Q. AT WHAT TIME DID HE ORDER TO COMMENCE FIRING?
A. WE DON'T HAVE A TIME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS HERE BY THE MINUTE.
ADMIRAL MARTIN: HE SAID YESTERDAY, INITIALLY THE CONDITION THE
SHIP WAS AT THERE WAS NO QUARTERMASTER, BUT I THINK HE HAD A
TALKER AND A HELMSMAN. HE APOLOGIZED BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO
BE SOME LOGS FROM THIS SHIP THAT WERE NOT GOING TO BE WRITTEN AS
NORMALLY ARE. HIS IDEA OF TIMING IS GOING TO BE RATHER RELATIVE.
Q. IN RELATIVE TERMS, DID HE ORDER COMMENCE FIRING DURING THE
FIRST STRAFING, AFTER THE FIRST STRAFING?
A. HE DID NOT SAY.
Q. WHAT DOES THE QUARTERMASTER DO ON THE BRIDGE DURING ACTION?
A. WELL, HE IS THE HANDYMAN UP THERE. HE IS THE JUNIOR
NAVIGATOR AND HE KEEPS UP THE SHIP'S LOG. HE IS SORT OF AN ADMIN-
ISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE OFFICER OF THE DECK AND THE CAPTAIN.
THE QUARTERMASTER IS A VERY VERSATILE FELLOW. HE CAN NAVIGATE. MANY OF
OUR SMALLER SHIPS DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OFFICER NAVIGATOR, THEY
HAVE AN ENLISTED NAVIGATOR WHO IS THE QUARTERMASTER.
Q. DID HE ALSO MAINTAIN THE QUARTERMASTER NOTEBOOK WITH ALL
SORTS OF DATA SUCH AS COURSE CHANGES AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.
A. GARBLED
Q. DID HE SAY HOW THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER WAS KILLED?
LT SCHEINER: NO, HE DID NOT, HE MENTIONED THOUGH THAT HIS
OPERATIONS OFFICER WAS KILLED DURING A STRAFING RUN. I DON'T HAVE
THE INFORMATION AS TO WHO HIS OPERATIONS OFFICER WAS, WHAT HIS
NAME WAS, BUT HE DID NOT MENTION HOW HIS EXECUTIVE OFFICER....
Q. WAS CAPTAIN MCGONAGLE'S EXECUTIVE OFFICER KILLED IN A STRAFING
RUN?
A. I CAN'T ANSWER THIS QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW.
Q. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THE OPERATIONS OFFICER WAS KILLED?
A. HE WAS KILLED DURING A STRAFING RUN.
Q. DID HE MENTION AT ANY TIME, LIEUTENANT, THAT THEY HAD FIRED
BACK AT ANYTHING? THE TORPEDO BOATS, PLANES OR ANYTHING?
A. WELL KEEP IN MIND OF COURSE, THAT THE STARBOARD MIDSHIPS MACHINE
GUN WAS COOKING OFF ROUNDS AT THIS TIME. SO, THIS CERTAINLY WAS
SOME AMMUNITION BEING EXPENDED.
ADMIRAL MARTIN: I WOULD MENTION DURING THE STRAFING THE COLORS, FLAG,
WAS SHOT DOWN DURING THE STRAFING AND THAT HE ORDERED IT HOISTED
AGAIN AND THIS WAS DONE, HOWEVER, HE STATED FURTHER THAT THE PLACE
WHERE THE FLAG DID FLY WAS AT EXACTLY THE AREA WHERE ALL OF THE
GASOLINE AND SMOKE ....
[Q.] THAT AND WHAT SHIPS RECEIVED THE WORD? [A.] THE MESSAGE THAT CAME IN UP
FROM THE LIBERTY STATING THAT HE WAS UNDER ATTACK AND I DON'T
KNOW IF THIS WAS HIS FIRST TRANSMISSION OR NOT AS I SAY AT THAT
TIME THE MESSAGE WAS RELAYED TO ME FROM ANOTHER STATION. VOICE
TRANSMISSION. [Q.] DO YOU HAVE THE ACTUAL WORDING OF THIS OR A
RECORDING OF THAT? [A.] WE DO I DON'T HAVE THEM HERE BUT THE WORDS WERE
HE WAS UNDER AIRCRAFT ATTACK AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT WITH THIS
VERY WEAK SIGNAL GETTING THROUGH AND THE FIRST PART OF IT WAS
RELAYED TO ME AND EVENTUALLY WE KNEW WHAT CIRCUIT HE WAS WORKING.
I WAS ABLE TO GET INFORMATION PART OF IT DIRECT! [Q.] YOU THEN WERE
ABLE TO TALK TO CAPTAIN MCGONAGLE AFTER - - [A.] I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO
HIS OPERATOR WHO WAS WORKING I CONFIRMED YESTERDAY THAT HE WAS
A YOUNG FELLOW HE OBVIOUSLY HAD A YOUNG VOICE BUT HE HAD A VERY
MATURE DEMEANOR.
[Q.] RIGHT NOW YOU RECEIVED WORD AND WHAT WAS OUR RESPONSE. [A.] I
THAT'S WHEN
I ORDERED AIRCRAFT TO PROTECT AND PROTECT ONLY THE USS LIBERTY.
PROTECT AND PROTECT ONLY I [Q.] COULD WE GET THIS STRAIGHT DO YOU MEAN
THE AIRCRAFT WERE UNDER ORDERS TO FIRE ONLY ON AIRCRAFT AND
MISSILES THAT WERE ATTACKING THE LIBERTY.
[A.] THAT'S HERE WHERE YOU PUT A LOT OF TRUST IN THE PILOTS AND THEY
ARE WELL TRAINED IN THIS SORT OF THING BUT THEIR INSTRUCTION WAS
TO PROTECT THAT SHIP. [Q.] DID YOU KNOW ACTUALLY WHERE HE WAS THEN DID
YOU HAVE THE PRECISE LOCATION? [A.] YES WE HAD A LATITUDE [sic] AND A
LONGITUDE [sic] THAT INDICATED THAT SHE WAS FIFTEEN MILES OFF THE
COAST. [Q.] OFF THE COAST OF ISRAEL? [A.] YES OFF SINAI. WHERE ... [Q.] YOU
MENTIONED THAT YOU COULD DIRECT YOURSELF TO THE QUESTION WHETHER
THE SHIP WAS COLLECTING INTELLIGENCE?

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION SIX OF SEVEN

I COULD TELL I'D LIKE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION THAT SHIP WAS UNDER
MY OPERATIONAL COMMAND. SHE WAS TOLD TO REMAIN IN INTERNATIONAL
WATERS IN A POSITION WHICH SHE COULD CARRY OVER HER PRIMARY MISSION
WHICH WAS COMMUNICATIONS AND HER COMMUNICATIONS MISSION WAS TO BE
AVAILABLE FOR AN EVACUATION OPERATION IF IT SHOULD BE ORDERED. HER
POSITION MAKES COMPLETE LOGIC TO ME. IN A POSITION WHERE SHE COULD BE
CONTACTED BY ANY EMBASSY OR CONSULATE INVOLVED. THIS CONTACT MIGHT
BE VERY LOW POWERED TRANSMITTER AND SOME COMMUNICATIONS AS YOU
KNOW [sic] THAT IS LIMITED TO LINE OF SIGHT, FOR SHE'S THE ONLY SHIP
OF HER KIND ENGAGED IN THAT TYPE OF COMMUNICATIONS IN THAT AREA.
I NORMALLY AS SOON AS SHE THE WORK THAT SHE DOES IS RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT AND MOST OF THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE
DEFENSE ESTABLISHMENT IS CLASSIFIED ALMOST ALL OF IT. [Q.] YOU
EMPHATICALLY DENY THAT SHE WAS FUNCTIONING AS A SPY? [A.] I EMPHATICALLY
DENY IT. I EMPHATICALLY DENY THAT. I EMPHATICALLY TELL YOU THAT
WE WAS THERE TO BE A COMMUNICATIONS GUARD IN CASE WE HAD TO MASS
EVACUATE. [Q.] DOES THE ISRAELI'S (GARBLE) [A.] I DO NOT KNOW. [Q.] YOU DIDN'T
INFORM THE EGYPTIANS? [A.] I DON'T SEE WHY WHEN [SHE] WAS OPERATING IN
INTERNATIONAL WATERS. [Q.] WE WERE INFORMED THAT A PLANE EGYPTIAN
FLEW OVER THE SHIP THE DAY BEFORE. [A.] NO I DON'T KNOW THIS IS A SURPRISE
TO ME THIS ATTACK ON AN UNARMED NON-COMBATANT UNARMED EXCEPT FOR
50MM WHICH WAS FOR CLOSE DEFENSE [Q.] IS THAT 50MM OR 50 CAL. [A.] 50 CAL
I'M SORRY. [Q.] ADMIRAL WHEN YOU SPOKE OF LOW POWERED TRANSMITTERS
DO YOU MEAN THE EMERGENCY TRANSMITTERS THAT THESE SHIPS HAVE.
[A.] YES I DON'T REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT COMMUNICATIONS SHE HAS BUT WE
DO ALL KNOW THAT THESE EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES HAVE BEEN RAN-
SACKED AND HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK AND THAT THEY WOULD COMMUNICATE
WITH WHATEVER THEY HAVE. THEY MIGHT EVEN TRY TO COMMUNICATE
WITH A AMATEUR NET. [Q.] HOW LONG HAS THE SHIP BEEN IN THE GENERAL AREA.
SHE HAD ARRIVED THAT MORNING. [Q.] ADMIRAL IF WE COULD GO BACK FOR JUST
A MOMENT BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR AWAY FROM THESE OTHER QUESTIONS
WHEN WE LEFT OUR RESPONSE WE HAD SEEN PLANES IN THE AIR YOU ORDERED
TO PROTECT LIBERTY. WOULD THEY ATTACK ONLY THOSE PLANES OR MISSILES
THAT WERE ATTACKING LIBERTY. WHY DID YOU CALL THEM BACK AND WHY?
WHAT SORT OF INFORMATION DID YOU HAVE OR HOW WAS THE INFORMATION
RELAYED TO YOU THAT CAUSED YOU TO CALL THE PLANES BACK. [A.] I RECEIVED
A MESSAGE THAT THE ATTACK WAS BY ISRAELI FORCES AND IN THE SAME
MESSAGE THAT THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAD APOLOGIZED FOR IT. [Q.] WHERE
DID THAT COME FROM? WAS IT A MESSAGE FROM WASHINGTON. [A.] THAT
MESSAGE NO THAT MESSAGE WAS FROM OUR EMBASSY IN TEL AVIV. [Q.] HOW
LONG AFTER THE ATTACK WAS IT RECEIVED BY YOU ADMIRAL? [A.] THE
MESSAGE RECEIVED WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER OUR
AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN LAUNCHED.
[Q.] WERE YOUR AIRCRAFT LESS THAN 30 MINUTES AWAY? [A.] THE AIRCRAFT WERE
LAUNCHED I HAD THE MESSAGE THAT THE ISRAELI HAD ADMITTED THAT THEY
HAD MADE THE ATTACK AND THEIR APOLOGIES AND THIS IS WHEN THE AIR-
CRAFT WERE RECALLED. [Q.] WHEN WERE THE AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED. [A.] WELL THAT
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE I DON'T CARE TO BE PINNED DOWN ON
EXACT TIMES, RIGHT NOW I DON'T HAVE THE RECORDS OF EXACT TIMES
WITH ME. THERE WERE TWO PLANES ON THE DECK AT THIS TIME THEY WERE
SENT OUT OF HERE ABOUT 430 IN THE AFTERNOON. [Q.] ADMIRAL WHEN THE
LIBERTY WAS ATTACKED DID YOU CALL THE EMBASSY IN TEL AVIV AND WHO
DID YOU MAKE YOUR REPORT DIRECT TO WASHINGTON. [A.] THAT I WAS SENT
PLANES TO DEFEND THE SHIP, I. WE GOT THE WORD FROM WASHINGTON
THAT THE PRESIDENT USED THE HOT LINE TO CALL THE RUSSIAN PREMIER [sic]
TO EXPLAIN THAT THE PLANES HAD BEEN LAUNCHED [Q.] COULD YOU TELL US HOW
SOON AFTER THE PLANES WERE LAUNCHED [sic] THAT WASHINGTON KNEW YOU
HAD TAKEN THIS ACTION. [A.] NO I DO [sic] NOT. [Q.] DID YOU HAVE TO GET
PERMISSION FROM WASHINGTON BEFORE YOU COULD LAUNCH THE AIRCRAFT
OR DID YOU DO SO ON YOUR OWN. [A.] I HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO WHEN THERE
IS NOT SUFFICIENT TIME AND WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO SEND AIRCRAFT
TO DEFEND IT PROTECT THE LIBERTY IT WAS N INTERNATIONAL WATERS.
{Q.] ADMIRAL HOW FAR WAS THE AMERICA FROM THE LIBERTY AT THAT TIME.
[A.] JUST ROUGHLY ABOUT B

[below garbled in text following above "ABOUT B" and then continues]

HH XM TESBM

THIS MAY BE PART OF THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE
IN THAT SHIP.
Q. ADMIRAL, ONE OF THE HELO PILOTS YESTERDAY SAID HE THOUGHT ONE
OF THE TORPEDO BOATS CAME BACK ACROSS THE BOW OF THE SHIP AND
THAT HE ALSO THOUGHT A HELO OVERFLEW THE SHIP YESTERDAY. DO
YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THAT.
A. NO I DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THAT.
Q. HOW DID THE ISRAELIS FINALLY IDENTIFY IT AS AN AMERICAN? BY
HEARING OUR SIGNALS?
A. NO.
Q. WHEN YOU SAID HE WAS PREPARING TO LEAVE THE AREA OF DANGER
SO THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY FURTHER ATTACKS, DID YOU MEAN AT
THAT POINT YOU FELT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO ASK ... IT WOULD NOT
MAKE SENSE TO ASK THE ISRAELIS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE SINCE
SHE WAS GOING TO LEAVE THE AREA.
A. I DIDN'T THINK SO. I KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET
ASSISTANCE TO HER.
Q. IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF EVENTS, COULD THE ISRAELIS HAVE
KNOWN THE LIBERTY WAS IN THAT POSITION.
A. I DON'T KNOW. THEY WERE APPARENTLY PREOCCUPIED THEMSELVES.
I THINK ANYBODY IN THAT AREA WAS PRETTY WELL PREOCCUPIED.
Q. DO YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE ISRAELIS COMMUNICATED ANY
MESSAGE TO THE LIBERTY FOLLOWING THE ATTACK?
A. NO I DON'T. AS I SAID, THE LIBERTY HAD ONLY THIS ONE VOICE
CIRCUIT.
Q. THE LIBERTY APPARENTLY CAME TO THAT AREA THE SAME MORNING.
WHERE WAS IT THE PREVIOUS DAY?
Q. IT DEPARTED ROTA, SPAIN ON THE 2ND OF JUNE AND CAME UNDER MY
OPERATIONAL CONTROL AT THAT TIME, AND SHE WAS SENT INTO THAT
AREA AS A COMMUNICATIONS GUARD. PURE AND SIMPLE. OUR CIRCUITS,
OUR COMMUNICATIONS CIRCUITS HAVE BEEN VERY HEAVILY LOADED.
THEY HAVE BEEN HEAVILY OVER LOADED, BUT THEY CAN ALWAYS TAKE ON
MORE. THEIR LOAD SINCE THE TENSION STARTED, WHICH WAS SOMETIME
IN MAY, HAS BEEN INCREASED ABOUT 30 PERCENT. IF YOU GOT INTO
A VERY EXTENSIVE EVACUATION SITUATION, THE COMMUNICATION [circuits] BECOME
VERY OVERLOADED AND YET WITHOUT IT YOU CANNOT CARRY OUT AN
EVACUATION OPERATION. IT IS SO ESSENTIAL TO GET A COMMUNICATIONS
GUARD CLOSE ENOUGH THAT OUR EMBASSIES CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH SOME
HELP.
Q. HAS ANY SHIP BEEN SENT IN TO TAKE CARE OF THIS COMMUNICATION
GUARD WITH THE LIBERTY OUT OF THERE NOW?
A. NO.
Q. ADMIRAL, TO GET BACK TO AN EARLIER QUESTION. IS IT KNOWN IF
THAT AFTER THE TORPEDO HIT DID THE 3 ISRAELI BOATS TURN AND LEAVE
THE SCENE OR DID THEY STICK AROUND?
A. NO. I DON'T KNOW THAT. I AM NOT SO SURE, WHEN YOU GET A SHIP
THAT IS IN AS MUCH TROUBLE AS THAT SHIP WAS IN, YOU HAVE EVERYBODY
AT BATTLE STATIONS. AT THIS POINT, THE SAFETY OF THE SHIP, TO

UNCLAS E F T O FINAL SECTION OF SEVEN

CONSERVE THE SHIP, TO KEEP IT FROM SINKING IS THE PRIMARY
MISSION OF EVERYBODY ON HER [sic], YOU TRY TO KEEP IT IN CONTROL
AND TRY TO LEAVE THE AREA OF DANGER.
Q. WHEN THIS WAS GOING ON, AND YOUR PLANES WERE ABOUT TO BE
LAUNCHED, ETCETERA, JUST BEFORE THAT, YOU HAD A RUSSIAN PCE OUT
HERE HARASSING [sic] THE SHIPS IN THE FLEET. DID YOU SEND HIM ANY
KIND OF MESSAGE AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON OR TO HAVE HIM GET OUT
OF THE WAY, OR ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS?
A. NO, MY ... NO WE DID NOT. I INVITED HIM TO LEAVE OUR FORMATIONS
THE ONE OCCASION BUT I DON'T RECALL THAT I DID THIS ON THIS
OCCASION.
Q. DID YOU
TRANSMIT [sic] ANY MESSAGE TO THE RUSSIAN CRUISER, THE
FLAGSHIP HERE, AND TELL HER WHAT WAS GOING ON?
A. NO
Q. WHY DID YOU THINK THE RUSSIANS SUDDENLY STARTED BEHAVING
THEMSELVES AND STOP HARASSING [sic] OUR FLEET? THIS IS AFTER THE
INCIDENT. AN ANSWER SOUNDED LIKE IT CAME FROM OTHER NEWSMAN:
YOU SEE WHAT YOU SEE AND YOU MAKE YOUR OWN GUESSES.
Q. DIDN'T YOU HAVE A GROUP OF RUSSIAN DESTROYERS AND THE
CRUISER COMING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS TOWARD THE SIXTH FLEET
ABOUT THAT TIME? WASN'T THERE AN APPROACH AT THAT TIME
TOWARD THE FLEET?
A. THERE WERE SOME OTHER NAVAL UNITS ON THE HORIZON. I DON'T
RECALL ANY PLANNED ACTION LIKE THAT.
ADMIRAL MARTIN: IT WAS NOTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE ANY ALARM.
NOTHING REALLY SO UNUSUAL ABOUT THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATING.
Q. AFTER YOU FOUND OUT THE LIBERTY WAS UNDER ATTACK, DID YOU
INFORM WASHINGTON?
A. ABOUT THE VERY FIRST THING I DID WAS TO GET THE AIRCRAFT
MOVING TO PROTECT THAT SHIP. THAT'S THE FIRST THING TO DO, IS TO
PROTECT THE SHIP.
Q. AND THEN HAVING DONE THAT ...
A. AND THE STEPS THAT I TOOK TO DO THAT WERE SENT TO MY SUPERIORS.
THE STEPS THAT I TOOK TO DO THIS WERE SENT TO MY SUPERIORS
IMMEDIATELY. THEY WERE INFORMATION ON EVERY MESSAGE IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS THAT I SENT TO THE TASK FORCE COMMANDER.
Q. SIR. WERE YOU ON THE PHONE TO THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY?
A. NO.
Q. WERE YOU TALKING TO THE JOINT CHIEFS IN WASHINGTON ON THE PHONE?
A. NO.
Q. THIS WAS ALL RADIOTELETYPE MESSAGES THAT YOU USED. DID YOU GET ANY
INSTRUCTIONS FROM THEM IN WASHINGTON AT ANY TIME?
A. NO.
Q. DID YOU KNOW WHO WAS ... DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA AT THE TIME WHO WAS
ATTACKING THAT SHIP WHEN YOU DID GET THE WORD AND YOU SENT OUT ...
A. NONE WHATSOEVER. NO.
ADMIRAL MARTIN: I WOULD LIKE TO DISPELL ANY IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE
THAT THIS SHIP WAS IN THERE [sic] FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE EXCEPT FOR AN
EVACUATION OPERATION. IT WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SHIPS THAT ARE
GOOD COMMUNICATORS. THAT IS ... HER MAJOR PURPOSE IS FOR THINGS
THAT THE CHIEF OF NAVAL RESEARCH IS INTERESTED IN, AND AN
OPERATOR DOESN'T KNOW ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HE IS DOING. BUT,
I HOPE THAT HE IS WORKING ON THINGS THAT IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICA-
TIONS AND IMPROVE ALL OUR ELECTRONICS IN EVERY AREA OF RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE NEED SOME IMPROVEMENT.
Q. CAN YOU TELL US THE NAME OF THE SHIP THAT RECEIVED THE DISTRESS CALL
FROM THE LIBERTY?
A. NO I COULDN'T. THERE WERE MORE THAN ONE RELAYS THAT WERE
HEARING IT, AND THIS IS A MATTER OF PIECING TOGETHER THE INFORMA-
TION FROM MORE THAN ONE SOURCE OF RELAY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PIECE
ENOUGH TOGETHER TO CONVINCE ME THAT THIS WAS A BONA FIDE TRANS-
MISSION AND THAT THIS WAS INDEED THE USS LIBERTY AND THAT'S WHEN
THE PROTECTIVE AIRCRAFT WERE LAUNCHED.
Q. WERE THERE 3 CIVILIANS ABOARD DOD [sic] CIVILIANS OR TECH REPS?
A. MORE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TYPE PROBABLY.
Q. I MEAN CIVILIANS IN THE MILITARY, DOD. THE SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE CALL THEM TECHNICAL ADVISORS.
A. I WOULD IMAGINE THEM TO BE THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW SOMETHING
ABOUT OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS AND
BOUNCING THESE THINGS OFF THE MOON AND THE MEDITERRANEAN WHERE
COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT GOOD AND WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY, AND
THIS IS WHY THIS WAS GOING ... TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHERE
THESE AREAS ARE. I FREQUENTLY MOVE THE FLAGSHIP FROM AN AREA
WHERE I AM NOT GETTING COMMUNICATIONS INTO ANOTHER AND I IMPROVE
COMMUNICATIONS. THERE MAY BE A PATTERN TO THIS AND I HOPE THAT
SHIPS LIKE THE LIBERTY CAN FIND OUT WHERE THESE PATTERNS ARE.
AND I HOPE THAT ONE OF THEM WITH POOR COMMUNICATIONS IS NOT MY
HOMEPORT.
Q. DOES THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T REPLACE THE LIBERTY MEAN THAT
YOU DON'T EXPECT TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY EVACUATION?
A. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE EVACUATION REQUIREMENT IS REDUCING
BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING BY VARIOUS MEANS DAILY.
HOWEVER, SHORT OF GETTING INTO A CONFLICT, AND THIS SITUATION WAS
NOT A CONFLICT. THIS WAS I AM CONVINCED, A PURE MISTAKE, AND
SIMPLY DETOURED US A LITTLE FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, BUT THE SITUATION
EXCEPT FOR THAT IS ABOUT THE SAME AS IT WAS BEFORE IT OCCURRED [sic].
A. ADMIRAL, WAS THE DISTRESS CALL ON THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRESS
FREQUENCY? [sic]
A. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CIRCUIT WAS. IT WAS A HIGH FREQUENCY
CIRCUIT; I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T THINK IT WAS.
Q. SIR, DO YOU HAVE COMMANDER MCGONAGLE'S FIRST NAME.
A. WE CAN GET IT.
Q. HAS THE MANUFACTURERS ORIGIN OF THE AIRCRAFT OR THE PATROL
BOATS BEEN ESTABLISHED?
A. NO.
ADMIRAL MARTIN: GENTLEMEN, I HAVE TRIED TO BE JUST AS OPEN AND
FRANK WITH YOU AS I KNOW HOW TO BE. I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU
THIS. THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS
SITUATION IN ANY WAY. WE BRIEFED YOU YESTERDAY AND THE DAY BEFORE
AND I TRY TO KEEP YOU INFORMED OF THIS. I THINK MOST IMPORTANT
THAT THIS BE UNDERSTOOD. AS UNCLE CARL VINSON USED TO SAY ABOUT
A SITUATION THAT'S AS CLEAN AS A HOUND'S TOOTH, AND THIS ONE
IS CLEAN AS A HOUND'S TOOTH. AND I WOULD HOPE AND EXPECT THAT
ANY INTERPRETATIONS THAT YOU TRY TO MAKE OUT OF IT WOULD BE
IN THE LINE OF THE FACTS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND TO AVOID
SPECULATIONS THAT MIGHT BE MISINTERPRETED. I SEE NO OCCASION FOR
SPECULATION OTHER THAN THE FACTS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
[BT]

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