|
Glossary |
17-19 June Messages |
Message Tables | U.S.
Messages page
1022Z 19
June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S. Defense Attache Office, Rome to
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe
R 191022Z JUN 67
FM USDAO ROME
TO CINCUSNAVEUR
BT
UNCLAS 74 [0374?] JUN 67
ARTICLE FROM ROME DAILY AMERICAN EDITION SUNDAY 19 JUNE
HEAD LINED QUOTE LIBERTY CREWMAN SAY ATTACK WAS DELIBERATE
UNQUOTE DATELINED VALLETTA, MALTA JRS CARRIED BY AP FOLLOWS:
QUOTE VALLETTA, MALTA (AP) SENIOR CREWMEN OF THE STRICKEN U.S.
NAVY SHIP LIBERTY ARE CONVINCED THAT ISRAEL'S AIR AND TORPEDO
ATTACK WHICH COST 34 AMERICAN LIVES WAS DELIBERATE, A RESPONSIBLE
SOURCE SAID IN VALLETTA SATURDAY.
THEY HAVE TESTIFIED TO THIS EFFECT TO THE NAVY INQUIRY
COURT NOW IN SECRET SESSION ABOARD THE SHIP AS SHE UNDER GOES
EMERGENCY REPAIR IN A MALTA DRYDOCK.
THEIR BELIEF WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE ISRAELIS HAD
AMPLE TIME TO IDENTIFY HER AND ON THE INTENSITY OF THE ATTACK.
LIBERTY WAS STRUCK JUN 8 AS SHE LAY 15 MILES OFF THE
ISRAELI COAST. SHE IS A FORMER FRIGHTER [sic] CONVERTED THREE YEARS
AGO TO A NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS AND RESEARCHOESHIP [sic].
EXCEPT FOR HER ARRAY OF AERIALS SHE HAS THE CONTOURS OF A
MERCHANT SHIP AND SHE CARRIED 4.5 MACHINEGUNS AS HER ONLY
ARMAMENT.
SHE SAILED INTO THE MEDITERRANEAN FROM HER BASE AT NORFOLK,
VA., IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE AND HAD BEEN IN POSITION OFF THE
ISRAELI COAST ONLY 24 HOURS WHEN THE ATTACK CAME.
OFFICIALLY, HER TASK WAS TO MAINTAIN COMMUNICATIONS WITH
AMERICAN EMBASSIES IN THE WAR TORN MIDEAST THEN PLANNING AN
EVACUATION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.
BUT ALL MILITARY MEN IN THIS FORTRESS ISLAND LONG VERSED
IN THE WAYS OF WAR TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT SHE WAS ALSO UNDER
ORDERS TO INTERCEPT AND EVALUATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS OF THE
FIGHTING ISRAELI AND ARAB FORCES.
FOR FOUR HOURS BEFORE THE ATTACK THE SHIP HAD BEEN UNDER
CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE FROM ISRAELI PLANES CIRCLING OVERHEAD.
"WE WERE FLYING OLD GLORY AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE
THAT [THEY] SHOULDN'T KNOW WHO WE WERE," ONE SURVIVOR SAID. "THIS
WAS A DELIBERATE AND PLANNED ATTACK AND THE REMARKABLE THING
ABOUT IT WAS THE ACCUARCY [sic] OF THEIR AIR FIRE."
DESPITE THE AERIAL SURVEILLANCE, THE ATTACK ITSELF CAME
AS TOTAL SURPRISE. SOME OF LIBERTY'S OFF DUTY CREWMEN WERE
SUNBATHING ON DECK WHEN THE JETS SCREAMED IN.
THE ACTION LASTED LESS THAT AN HOUR. IN THAT TIME LIBERTY
RECEIVED 81 SEPARATE HITS FROM AIRCRAFT ROCKET AND CANNON FIRE.
THE ROCKTS [sic] TORE THROUGH HER PLATS LIKE PAPER. HER FUNNEL HAD
MORE HOLES THAT PERREP POT. [sic]
MOST FIRE WAS CONCENTRATED ON THE BRIDGE WHERE THE SHIP'S
EXECUTIVE OFFICER WAS KILLED. A BULLET TORE THROUGH THE CABIN OF
THE COMMANDING OFFICER, CMDR. WILLIAM MCGONAGLE PIERCING THE
PLATING JUST ABOVE HIS PILLOW. HAD HE BEEN IN THE BUNK HE WOULD
HAVE BEEN CERTAINLY KILLED. AS IT WAS, HE WAS HIT IN THE LEG BY
SHRAPNEL ON THE BRIDGE.
BECAUSE OF SECRECY BY THE INQUIRY COURT, IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE AT THIS STAGE TO DETERMINE THE PRECISE NUMBER OF
JETS INVOLVED. INDICATIONS HOWEVER ARE THAT THREE DID THE ACTUAL
DAMAGE.
LIBERTY WAS ALREADY BLAZING FROM THE JET ATTACK WHEN TORPEDO
BOATS MOVED IN, AT LEAST THREE TORPEDOES WERE FIRED IN THE CLASSIC
PATTERN ONE FOR BOWS, ONE AMIDSHIPS AND ONE FOR THE STERN.
ONE WAS SHOT OUT OF THE WATER BY THE REMNANTS OF LIBERTY'S
GUN CREWS. ONE MISSED. ONE STRUCK ON THE STARBOARD SIDE TEARING
A HOLE 20 FEET WIDE BY 25 HIGH IN LIBERTY'S PLATING. MOST OF IT
BELOW THE WATERLINE. UNQUOTE.
BT
Glossary |
17-19 June Messages |
Message Tables | U.S.
Messages page |