USS Liberty

May They Rest In Peace. Chief, is that Gerry's Tin Can (USS Davis) in the background?

quote:

Originally posted by FordhamMike:
May They Rest In Peace. Chief, is that Gerry's Tin Can (USS Davis) in the background?

I ain't the Chief, but, yes, that is the USS Davis DD-937 in the background.

BoatsBM1

Thanks Boats,..thought so!

Thats the old girl.

That chopper is from the USS America and was transfering wounded back to the carrier. Most of them who were severly wounded were later transfered to other hospitals in Europe before being flown back to the states.

I didn't know this picture existed until a few years back. Seems like a lot of pictures about that attack have been comeing to light the last few years. We were all told no pictures or the camera and film would be confiscated. Naturally, being sailors, we ignored that rule. One of the best collections belonged to our Captain, Robert Hilton RADM Ret. now deceased.

What you realy don't see in this picture is the torpedo hole, the top of which is just under the davit foward of the bridge on the side faceing you. It went from the keel to just above the water line. That space was where 24 of the men killed were working when the torpedo hit.

If your interested you can go to www.ussliberty.org where there's an extensive collection includeing when the Davis was alongside the Liberty.

quote:

Originally posted by OddBall1st:
Is it true that her rescue aircraft from the Med Sea Carriers with clearance to down the hostle Isrealis, were turned around en-route to intersept ?

A couple of points here Oddball.

There were two carriers with the sixth fleet at the time, the America and Saratoga. Only one launched aircraft in support of the Liberty and that was the Saratoga and she launched two flights. At the time of the first launch nobody knew who was attacking, only that it was an American ship on the recieving end and whoever was doing it was the target of the fighters being launched.

Now remember this was in the sixties and the cold war was in full swing. The ready fighters on the carriers supposedly were nuclear armed and were recalled. They then went through the evolution of changing over to conventional weapons and were launched again. This comsumed quite a lot of time and is something to keep in mind.

While this second flight was enroute the Israelies contacted the White House and informed them
that it was the Israelie forces who attacked the Liberty and thats when the second flight was recalled by MacNamara. The words used were "to get those god damned planes ondeck now". He denies any knowlege of that.

Now for a couple of points.

The attacking aicraft had no markings indicating what was their country of origin and no one knew until Israel contacted the White House. The Liberty's radio antennas were the first things knocked out so they couldn't call for help.

The attack lasted approximatly 70 minutes. First the ship was hit by jets with rockets and bombs, includeing nalpom (sp). Then it was straffed by cannon fire.

After that three PT boats that had been watched on the Liberty's radar for quite a while launched a torpedo attack. The number of torps launched has been estimated to be as high as five but only one hit the ship. After the torpedo hit the pt boats circled the ship shooting at anyone ondeck and sinking liferafts that had been launched.

Sometime dureing the PT boat attack the Liberty mannaged to repair a severed antenna connection and got a message out to any station that they were under attack. That message was sent over the SECTAC frequency for the sixth fleet. We heard that one. The Saratoga acknowleged the message and told them "Help is on the Way". At that point the attack stopped.

Total time under attack, seventy minutes. 36 men killed, 171 wounded out of a crew of 298.

Gerry,

I share your goose bumps.
Note our closing speed.

FLASH
DTG 090513Z JUN 67

FROM: COMSIXTHFLT

TO: USCINCEUR

INFO: CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCUSAFE/CINUSAFEUR/CNO/JCS/COMFAIRMED/
CTF 60/CTG 60.2/USCINCEUR GREYHOUND/SILK PURSE/USCINCEUR
AIRBORNECOMMAND POST/

CONFIDENTIAL FLASHSITREP 06010 [06001] COMSIXTHFLT 090500Z

1. DAVIS AND MASSEY HAVE RENDEZVOUSED WITH LIBERTY AT 090425Z.
MEDICAL PERSONNEL HAVE BOARDED LIBERTY.

2. POSIT OF RENDEZVOUS LAT 33-01N/LONG 31-59E.

3. AT 0455Z LIBERTY WAS 138 MILES FROM USS AMERICA. CLOSURE
SPEED 30 KTS.

GP-4

O 081235Z JUN 67
FM USS SARATOGA
TO CINCUSNAVEAUR
INFO CTG SIX ZERO PT ONE
CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO
COMSIXTHFLT
BT
UNCLAS E F T O
FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM ROCKSTAR
I AM UNDER ATTACK MY POSIT 31.23N 33.25E. I HAVE BEEN HIT.
REQUEST IMMED ASSISTANCE
BT

Z 081301Z JUN 67
FM NAVCOMMSTA GREECE
TO COMSIXTHFLT
CTF SIX ZERO
CINCUSNAVEUR

UNCLAS

FOLLOWING RCVD VIA VOICE HICOM FROM USS LIBERTY
QUOTE
AT 081253Z AT 081253Z WE HAVE BEEN HIT BY A TORPEDO STDB SIDE
LISTING BADLY REQ ASSISTANCE IMMEDIATELY
UNQUOTE

081316Z JUN 67
FM CTF SIX ZERO
TO USS AMERICA
USS SARATOGA
INFO COMSIXTHFLT
TASK FORCE SIX ZERO
BT
S E C R E T
DEFENSE USS LIBERTY
1. FOR AMERICA: LAUNCH FOUR ARMED A4'S ASAP TO PROCEED TO 31-
23N9/33-25E3 TO DEFEND USS LIBERTY WHO IS NOW UNDER ATTACK BY
GUNBOATS. PROVIDE TANKERS AND FIGHTER COVER.
2. FOR SARATOGA: LAUNCH 4 ARMED A1'S ASAP SAME MISSION. ADVISE
LAUNCH TIME REQUIRED TO EFFECT A1'S RELIEVE ON STATION OVER
LIBERTY.
3. FOR ALL: PLAN TO RELIEVE ALL ACFT ON STATION OVER USS LIBERTY
AS REQUIRED.
4. DEFENSE OF USS LIBERTY MEANS EXACTLY THAT. DESTROY OR DRIVE
OFF ANY ATTACKERS WHO ARE CLEARLY MAKING ATTACKS ON LIBERTY.
REMAIN OVER INTERNATIONAL WATERS. DEFEND YOURSELF IF ATTACKED.
GP-4
BT

DTG 081320Z JUN 67

FROM: COMSIXTHFLT

TO: USCINCEUR

INFO: AIG 998/JCS/CNO/CTF 60/CTG 60.2

UNCLAS E F T O

UNCLAS FLASHSITREP/06001/COMSIXTHFLT 081315Z JUN 67.

ATTACK ON LIBERTY

SITREP ONE

1. USS LIBERTY REPORTED UNDER ATTACK AT POSIT 31.23N/33.25E. WAS
HIT BY TORPEDO AND LISTING BADLY. ATTACK FORCES HEREBY DECLARED
HOSTILE BY COMSIXTHFLT IAW CINCUSNEURINST P03120.5B. LIBERTY
MESSAGE AUTHENTICATED.

2. HAVE DIRECTED TF 60 TO PROCEED TOWARD SCENE. TASK FORCE 60
PRESENT POSIT 34.22N/24.28E.

3. HAVE DIRECTED AMERICA TO LAUNCH FOUR ARMED A4'S AND SARATOGA
TO LAUNCH FOUR ARMED A1'S WITH FIGHTER COVER TO DEFEND USS
LIBERTY. PILOTS DIRECTED TO REMAIN CLEAR OF LAND. TANKERS ALSO
WILL LAUNCH. WILL RELIEVED ON STATION.

4. ETA FIRST ACFT ON SCENE ONE HOUR PLUS THIRTY AFTER LAUNCH.
ESTIMATE LAUNCH AT 1345Z.

FLASH
DTG 081339Z JUN 67

FROM: COMSIXTHFLT

TO: USS AMERICA/USS SARATOGA

INFO:

BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L
USS LIBERTY INCIDENT
1. IAW CINCUSNAVEUR INST P03120.5B FORCES ATTACKING LIBERTY ARE
DECLARED HOSTILE.
2. YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO USE FORCE INCLUDING DESTRUCTION AS
NECESSARY TO CONTROL THE SITUATION. DO NOT USE MORE FORCE THAN
REQUIRED. DO NOT PURSUE ANY UNIT TOWARDS LAND FOR REPRISAL
PURPOSES. PURPOSE OF COUNTERATTACK IS TO PROTECT LIBERTY ONLY.
3. BRIEF ALL PILOTS CONTENTS THIS MSG. IN ADDITION BRIEF PILOTS
THAT EGYPTIAN TERRITORIAL LIMIT ONLY 12 MILES AND LIBERTY RIGHT
ON EDGE. DO NOT FLY BETWEEN LIBERTY AND SHORELINE EXCEPT AS
REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT PROVISIONS PARA 2 ABOVE. BRIEF FIGHTER
COVER THAT ANY HOSTILE ACT AND PARA TWO ABOVE APPLIES.
GP-4
BT

P R 082041Z JUN 67
FM USS AMERICA
TO OASD PA
INFO COMSIXTHFLT
BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L
FLEET PAO SENDS
1. FOLLOWING NEWS COPY FORWARDED FOR YOUR ACTION
2. QUOTE URGENT DPR COLLECT - UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL, WASH-
INGTON, D.C. 2ND NIGHT LEAD FLEET BY HARRY J. STATHOS UNITED PRESS
INTERNATIONAL (UPI) A U.S. NAVY SHIP WAS ATTACKED BY ISRAELI TOR-
PEDO BOATS AND AIRPLANE BY MISTAKE TODAY AND FOUR AMERICANS WERE
KILLED AND 53 INJURED. PARA
THE USS LIBERTY, A 450-FOOT-LONG TACTICAL RESEARCH SHIP, WHICH
HAS A CREW OF 15 OFFICERS, 279 MD AND THREE CIVILIAN AIDES, WAS
HIT BY AT LEAST ONE TORPEDO ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH OF THE SINAI PEN-
INSULA IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. PARA
THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT REPORTED TO HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR THE
INCIDENT WHICH ALMOST TRIGGERED AN AIR STRIKE BY WARPLANES OF THE
SIXTH FLEET CARRIER USS AMERICA. PARA
SHORTLY AFTER THE ATTACK OCCURRED AT ABOUT 3 P.M. (1500 GMT),
TASK FORCE SIXTY OF THE SIXTH FLEET, WHICH HAS BEEN OPERATING IN
THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN DURING THE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS, WAS ORDER-
ED INTO CONDITION TWO, A HIGH STATE OF COMBAT READINESS. PARA
NEWSMEN WERE BARRED FROM THE BRIDGE AS GRIM-FACED PILOTS, WITH
ON BANDOLIERS OF AMMUNITION DRAPED AROUND THEIR DECKS, RUSHED TO MAN
THEIR AIRCRAFT. AT LEAST TWO A-4'S (SKYHAWKS) AND FOUR F-4'S
(PHANTOMS) ARMED WITH SIDEWINDER AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES WERE LAUNCHED
FROM THE AMERICA FOR AN AIR STRIKE BUT WERE RECALLED WHEN IT WAS
LEARNED THAT THE ATTACK ON THE USS LIBERTY WAS AN APPARENT ACCI-
DENT. PARA
THE LIBERTY WAS BELIEVED TO BE STEAMING TOWARDS THE TASK FORCE
AT A SPEED OF ABOUT EIGHT KNOTS (NAUTICAL MILES AN HOUR) THE
TACTICAL RESEARCH SHIP WAS REPORTED LISTING BUT NOT IN ANY DANGER
OF SINKING. PARA
WHEN THE AIR STRIKE WAS ORDERED, BOTH SEGMENTS OF TASK FORCE
SIXTY WERE IN FORMATION, BEING CLOSELY WATCHED BY A SMALL SOVIET
PATROL CRAFT ESCORT. PARA
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT CARRIER PILOTS ABOARD THE AMERICA WERE
SEEN BY NEWSMEN TO BE WEARING SIDEARMS AND CARRYING BANDOLIERS
OF AMMUNITION. PARA
ONE PILOT SAID GRIMLY, I GUESS THIS IS IT, AS HE RUSHED TO HIS
SMALL BOMBER A SKYHAWK. PARA
OTHER PILOTS JUST RAN TO THEIR PLANES AND AWAITED FOR THEIR TURN
TO BE CATAPULTED FROM THE DECK OF THE 77,600-TON AMERICA.
PARA UNQUOTE
GP-4
BT

0708Z 09 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander, Task Group Sixty Point Five to
Commander, Sixth Fleet and
Commander, Task Force Sixty


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O 090708Z JUN 67
FM CTG SIX ZERO PT FIVE
TO COMSIXTHFLT
CTF SIX ZERO
INFO CNO
CHINFO
USCINCEUR
CINCUSNAVEUR
CTF SIX THREE
CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO
USS PAGAGO
USS LIBERTY
BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L
1. READY TRANS FIFTEEN SERIOUS WOUNDED LIBERTY FORECASTLE ZERO
REL WIND WHEN HELOS ARRIVE. NINE DEAD TO FOLLOW. MEDIAL ASST ON
SCENE ADEQUATE AFTER ABOVE TRANSFER. MOST DEAD VIEWABLE. SEVERAL NOT.
2. BASED ON INSPECTION MAJOR DAMAGE AREA COMBINED WITH
OPINION LIBERTY CO BELIEVE POSSIBLITY ALIVE PERS IN FLOODED
SPACE IMPOSSIBLE. BULKHEADS FIRM AND FLOODING CONTAINED. IN VIEW
ABOVE SEE NO NEED ATTEMPT PLUG TORPEDO HOLE AND DEWATER AT SEA.
3. SHIP COMPLETELY MOBIL TO TEN KNOTS. FUEL AND WATER AMPLE.
4. OIL LEAKING OUT WHICH WOULD PROBABLY NEGAT PORT ENTRY IF
CONTINUES. WILL WATCH AND ADVISE.
5. CO HAS LEG WOUND. HE IS EXHAUSTED AND DANGER OF INFECTION.
EXEC OFF DEAD. MY OPS OFF QUAL COMMAND TRANSFERRED.
AM NOW MAKING DECISION AS TO COMMAND. OTHER PERS TRANS FROM
DAVIS INCLUDE TEN ENG AND DECK RATINGS.
6. HAVE ASSUMED ALL COMM GUARDS.
7. INTEND UNDERWAY AT TEN KNOTS ABOUT 0915.
8. SERVICES MASSEY NO LONGER REQUIRED WHEN PAPAGO ARRIVES.
9. YOUR 090551Z REPLX TO FOLLOW.
GP-4
BT

0852Z 09 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander, Task Group Sixty Point Five to
Commander, Sixth Fleet and
Commander, Task Force Sixty


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O 090852Z JUN 67
FM CTG SIX ZERO PT FIVE
TO COMSIXTHFLT
CTF SIX ZERO
INFO CNO
CHINFO
USCINCEUR
CINCUSNAVEUR
CTF SIX THREE
CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO
USS PAGAGO
BT
UNCLAS E F T O
SITREP SIX
1. DAVIS CLEAR. LBERTY UNDERWAY. FIRST DO HELOS ARRIVED. DUE WIND
REQUIREMENTS SOA WILL BE SLOW UNTIL APPROX THIRTY-FIVE TRANSFERS
COMPLETE. COMMANDING OFFICER TURNED IN AND PROBABLY WILL NOT
REQUIRE RELIEF. ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL TRANSFERRED LT ENG OFF, BTC,
EMCS, DC1, PN1, SM3. MINOR OIL LEAKAGE. WILL CONTINUE TO OBSERVE.
BT

1012Z 09 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander, Task Group Sixty Point Five to
Naval Aviation Logistics Control Office European Rep, Naples and
Naval Support Activity, Naples


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O 091012Z JUN 67
FM CTG SIX ZERO PT FIVE
TO NALCOEURREP NAPLES
NAVSUPACT NAPLES
INFO COMSIXTHFLT
CTF SIX ZERO
CTF SIX THREE
CINCUSNAVEUR
USS AMERICA
BT
UNCLAS E F T O
A. COMSIXTHFLT 082228Z
LIBERTY KIA
1. TEN REMAINS OF WHICH THREE OR FOUR BADLY MUTILATED WILL
BE TRANS AMERICA AFTERNOON 9 JUNE.
2. APPROX TWENTY TWO REMAIN INTOMBED IN LIBERTY UNDER
WATER. WILL PROBABLY BE RECOVERED IN SUDA ABOUT 12 JUN.
BT

2143Z 09 June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S.S. America to Secretary of the Navy


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P 092143Z JUN 67
FM USS AMERICA
TO SECNAV
INFO BUPERS
BUMED
CNO
CINCLANTFLT
COMSERVLANT
COMSERVRON EIGHT
COMNAVAIRLANT
COMCARDIV FOUR
CINCUSNAVEUR
COMSIXTHFLT
USS LIBERTY
COMDESRON ONE TWO
BT
UNCLAS E F T O
STATUS REPORT USS LIBERTY CASUALTIES
1. COMMENCED HELO TRANSFER OF INJURED AND DEAD WHEN AMERICA CLOSED
TO WITHIN 70 MILES OF LIBERTY. FIRST PATIENT RECEIVED 090915Z
LAST PATIENT ABOARD 091240Z
2. FOLLOWING CASUALTIES NOW ABOARD AMERICA
A. DECEASED [nine names]
LCDR PHILIP MCCUTCHEON ARMSTRONG,
SN GARY RAY BLANCHARD
QM3 FRANCIS BROWN,
CT3 AKAN HIGGINS,
SN CARL LEWIS HOAR
ICFN DAVID SKOLAK,
PC2 JOHN CLARENCE SPICHER, USN,
GMG3 ALEXANDER NEIL THOMPSON,
LT STEPHEN SPENCE TOTH,
B. CRITICALLY INJURED. [two names]
SN SALVADOR PAYAN, USNR
SH2 DONALD HEROLD,
C. SERIOUSLY INJURED. [eight names]
CTSN LEE ROY BENNETT,
GMG3 DAVID CARL HAZEN,
EM3 WILLIAM MICHAEL LEMAY,
CT1 JOSEPH CHARLES LENTINI,
LT JAMES GEORGE O'CONNOR,
BM3 JERRY WAYEN WARD,
SN RICHARD LARRY WEAVER,
SN EDDIE LAMAR COOK,
D. MINOR INJURIES: [forty names]
CT1 REGINALD NORWOOD ADDINGTON,
CT1 RICHARD KENNETH BAKER,
YN3 VIRGIL LOUIE BROWNFIELD,
CT1 RICHARD CARL CARLSON,
CT1 JEFFERY ROBERT CARPENTER,
SN WILLIAM EUGENE CASPER,
FN RODNEY CARL CONCEPCION,
SM2 RUSSELL ONEAL DAVID,
CT3 JAMES RAY DAVIDSON,
SN KENNETH PAUL ECKER,
LT JAMES MARGOUIS ENNES,
CTSN KENNETH BURTON EAKINS,
CT3 DAVID WILLIAM HAWKINS,
CT2 CHARLES RICHARD HENDRICKS,
SN THOMAS FRANKLIN JACKSON,
CT2 FREDERICK KENNETH JOHNS,
CT3 MELVIN PETE JOHNSON,
CTSN JAMES PATRICK KAVANAUGH,
CT3 LOREN WILLIAM KREUN,
SN JOHN DWAYNE LAMAR,
CTSN TERRY WATFER LEHMAN,
LCDR DAVID EDWIN LEWIS,
SSGT BRYCE FRANKLIN LOCKWOOD, USMC,
TN SOFRONIO PARATE MARFIL,
SN JAMMIE LEE MATTHEWS,
CT2 DAVID LEE MCFEGGAN,
GMGSN GERALD PENSON PIERSON,
GM3 FLOYD HAROLD POLLARD,
IC1 JOHN RICHARD RANDALL,
SN THOMAS JOSEPH REILLY,
CT1 CHARLES LEROY ROWLEY,
CTSN DAVID ALAN SHAW,
CT3 HAROLD EUGENE SIX,
SN LARRY JAMES SLAVENS,
SN LARRY LOUIS SOPER,
ENS RICHARD PATTEN TAYLOR,
SN GEORGE WOODROW WILSON,
GS DONALD LESLIE BLALOCK (CIVILIAN)
SN DONALD FLETCHER FOLLIN,
ETR3 BARRY ROBERT TIMMERMAN,
BT

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GerryRM3,

0929Z 10 June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S.S. America to all ships in visual company


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISUAL
P 100929Z JUN 67
FM USS AMERICA
TO ALL SHIPS IN VISUAL COMPANY
INFO COMSIXTHFLT
CTF SIX ZERO
BT
UNCLAS
AMERICA WILL HOLD MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR CREWMEN OF THE
USS LIBERTY AT 1300B TODAY.
BT