Glossary | 17-19 June Messages | Message Tables | U.S. Messages page

2026Z 19 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe to
Secretary of the Navy

O 192026Z JUN 67
FM CINCUSNAVEUR
TO SECNAV
INFO CNO
BT
S E C R E T
LIBERTY INCIDENT (U)
1. FOLLOWING RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS POSED BY SECNAV:
   A. WAS SMOKE FROM FIRES ABOARD LIBERTY FOLLOWING
AIR ATTACK HEAVY ENOUGH TO PRECLUDE IDENTIFICATION?
YES, PARTICULARLY BY TORPEDO BOATS APPROACHING
FROM STARBOARD QUARTER. SURFACE WINDS WERE
NEGLIGIBLE SO RELATIVE WIND DUE PRIMARILY TO
LIBERTY'S SOA. SMOKE FROM BURNING MOTOR WHALE-
BOAT (STARBOARD WAIST) AND STACK (ABAFT ISLAND
STRUCTURE) MUST HAVE PROVIDED EFFECTIVE SCREENING
OF HOLIDAY COLORS FLYING FROM PORT HALYARD.
   B. WHAT LIBERTY MOVEMENTS COULD HAVE BEEN
CONSTRUED AS SUSPICIOUS? THE WESTERLY MOVEMENT OF
THE SHIP IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF UAR COAST MAY HAVE
REENFORCED ELEMENTS OF DOUBT IN THE MINDS OF
ISRAELI PILOTS WHO LOOKED THE SHIP OVER IN THE FORE-
NOON. HOWEVER, LIBERTY MADE NO SUSPICIOUS MOVE-
MENTS PRIOR TO THE ATTACK. AFTER ATTACK BY AIRCRAFT
LIBERTY INCREASED SPEED TO ABOUT 15 KTS.
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE TORPEDO ATTACK LIBERTY
50 CAL MACHINE GUN ROUNDS WERE FIRED IN THE DIRECTION
OF THE TORPEDO BOATS EITHER BY PERSONS UNKNOWN OR
BY COOK OFF FROM FIRE IN THE VICINITY OF THE AFTER
STARBOARD MACHINE GUN.
   C. DID LIBERTY ATTEMPT TO ANSWER SIGNALS FROM
PATROL BOATS PRIOR TO ATTACK? YES. PATROL BOAT
SIGNALS WERE PARTIALLY OBLITERATED BY FLAMES AND
SMOKE FROM BURNING MOTOR WHALEBOAT ABAFT STARBOARD
WIND OF BRIDGE. PATROL BOAT SIGNALS COULD NOT BE
UNDERSTOOD BY LIBERTY WHO ATTEMPTED ESTABLISH
COMMUNICATIONS BY ALDIS LAMP. OTHER SIGNAL LIGHTS
HAD BEEN SHOT AWAY.
   D. DID LIBERTY HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HEAVY
GUN FIRE FROM THE SEA AGAINST EL ARISH? NO. PLUMES
OF SMOKE IN VICINITY OF EL ARISH WERE VISIBLE PERIODICALLY
FROM LIBERTY AND, IN TALK TO CREW BEFORE SECURING
FROM SURPRISE GENERAL QUARTERS DRILL FOLLOWING
LUNCH, C.O. UNSED THESE SIGHTINGS AS EXAMPLE OF
INTENSITY OF COMBAT ASHORE. NAVIGATOR USED MINARET
AT EL ARISH FOR RADAR NAVIGATIONAL FIX SO RADARMEN
FREQUENTLY CHECKED THAT SECTOR OF HIS SCOPE. ALSO,
IT APPEARS THAT THAT ANY BOMBARDING SHIP OFF EL ARISH
WOULD HAVE BEEN SIGHTED BY BRIDGE WATCHER.
   E. DID LIBERTY HAVE ANY OTHER SURFACE CONTACTS
ON RADAR OR VISUALLY AT TIME OF EITHER AIR OR TORPEDO
ATTACK? NO.
   F. DID LIBERTY RADAR INDICATE ANY AIR COMBAT
PATROL OR RECONNAISSANCE PATTERN? NO, LIBERTY
HAS NO AIR SEARCH RADAR AND THE SURFACE SEARCH
RADAR PICKED UP ONLY OCCASIONAL RETURNS FROM LOW
FLYING DISTANT AIRCRAFT. UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT WERE
SIGHTED VISUALLY AS THEY CIRCLED LIBERTY AT 0850B,
1056B AND 1126B.
   G. DID THE ISRAELIS ASK ALUSNA TEL AVIV ANY TIME
PRIOR TO 8 JUNE IF U.S. SHIPS WERE IN THE AREA? NO.
WE SPECIFICALLY QUERIED ALUSNA ON THIS POINT ON 17 JUNE.
GP-3
BT

Glossary | 17-19 June Messages | Message Tables | U.S. Messages page