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Photographs taken during and after the attack
The Department of Navy, Office of the Judge Advocate General released to A. Jay Cristol 139 photographs in digital form (JPEG) of the Liberty, which were exhibits in the US Navy Court of Inquiry record. Black and white photocopies of these photographs were included in the US Navy Court of Inquiry record, but were not clear in reproduction. The names of these image files are somewhat cryptic and an index of the images was not provided. Note that some of the images appear rotated from their original format; the handwritten annotations do not provide orientation.
This file is a "zip" archive of the 139 image (JPEG) files.
Twelve photographs are considered of special importance; they are identified and described here and can be viewed directly from this page.
Picture 20 of Exhibit 9 is a poor quality picture taken either by Commander William McGonagle or the ship's photographer during the torpedo attack. It shows two torpedo boats at some distance. More important, it shows smoke from the fire aboard ship ascending straight up as seen in a picture from the Israeli gun camera film on the cover of The Liberty Incident and on page 79. Pictures 25 and 26 of Exhibit 9 are reproduced in The Liberty Incident on pages 1 and 2 of the photo section, respectively.
Pictures from Exhibit 9, US Navy Court of Inquiry:
Picture | Page | File name | Photograph Caption |
20 | 345 | 20-64.JPG | Two torpedo boats viewed from STBD wing of bridge 03 level, fr 80. Smoke to right from burning motor whale boat. - photo 20. |
18 | 341 | 18-64.JPG | One torpedo boat viewed from STBD wing of bridge 03 level, fr 80. |
21 | 347 | 21-64.JPG | Torpedo boat viewed from STBD wing of bridge 03 level fr 80. |
23 | 351 | 23-64.JPG | Torpedo boat crossing bow STBD to port. |
24 | 353 | 24-64.JPG | Torpedo boat at high speed apparently crossing wake of ship STBD to port. |
25 | 355 | 25-64.JPG | Note torpedo boat view looking from 03 level bridge port side fr 80. |
22 | 349 | 22-64.JPG | Helicopter |
26 | 357 | 26-64.JPG | Jet aircraft passing from aft forward. Plane in view just to left of after mast. |
29 | 363 | 29-64.JPG | View from port bow from 03 level, port fr 80 Plane just to left of whip antenna. Note water just in view to left of bow. (Note holes in SRR-20 dish antenna.) |
30 | 365 | 30-64.JPG | Believed to be helicopter or plane dropping unidentified object. |
Pictures from Exhibit 49, US Navy Court of Inquiry:
Picture | Page | File name | Photograph Caption |
5 | 703 | EX49#CCE.JPG | View of bridge looking aft from the bow |
7 | 705 | EX49#117.JPG | View of bridge looking aft from the bow |