Forty years ago yesterday.

2228Z 31 May 1967 transmitted message text from
Chief of Naval Information to
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and
Commander, Sixth Fleet and others


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P 312228Z MAY 67
FM CHINFO
TO CINCUSNAVEUR
COMSIXTHFLT
COMMIDEASTFOR
CINCLANTFLT
CTG SIX ZERO PT ONE
CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO
CTG SIX ONE PT SEVEN
BT
UNCLAS
SIXTH FLEET HEADLINE REPORT 31 MAY 67 IS FIRST OF DAILY SUMMARIES
OF NEWS RELATING TO MID-EAST CRISIS AND IS PREPARED FOR
PURPOSE OF PROVIDING COMMANDERS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE NEWS MEDIA
ARE SAYING AND HOW IT IS BEING USED. COMMENTS WILL BE APPRECIATED.
1. AP AND UPI THIS AFTERNOON REPORT THAT INTREPID WILL PASS THROUGH
SUEZ CANAL TONIGHT, ACCORDING TO A DEFENSE SPOKESMAN. UPI SAYS
STATE DEPARTMENT HAS REFUSED COMMENT ON REPORT THAT INTREPID MIGHT
BE USED TO CHALLENGE THE BLOCKADE OF AQABA. FULL REPORTS SAY SHE IS
HEADED FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC.
2. MOST NEWSPAPERS, RADIO AND TELEVISION TODAY ATTRIBUTE TO VADM
MARTIN AN INDIRECT QUOTATION THAT U.S. INTENDS TO KEEP INTERNATIONAL
SEA LANES OPEN AND HAS WHAT HE CALLED OPEN-ENDED MILITARY OPTIONS TO
ACHIEVE THAT MISSION. HE IS FURTHER REPORTED AS SAYING THAT HIS
CARRIER STRIKE FORCE IS MANEUVERING A FEW MILES OFF NORTHERN CRETE
AWAITING INSTRUCTIONS FROM WASH., AND MOVEMENT OF SOVIET SHIPS IN
AREA IS AGGRAVATING BUT NOT CLASSIFIED AS HARASSMENT.
3. AN AP STORY ON AN INTERVIEW WITH RADM GEIS WAS WIDELY REPORTED
IN MOST NEWSPAPERS TODAY. HE IS QUOTED AS SAYING SOVIET SHIPS HAD
POSED NO PROBLEMS, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED SITUATION HAD "POTENTIAL
HAZARDS". HE IS FURTHER QUOTED AS SAYING, "WE ARE OUT HERE BECAUSE
OF HEIGHTENED TENSIONS IN EASTERN MED. WE WILL DO WHATEVER
WE ARE DIRECTED TO DO BY THE PRESIDENT AND THAT INCLUDES A WHOLE
RANGE OF OPTIONS."
4. NEIL SHEEHAN, NEW YORK TIMES, REPORTING FROM AMERICA TODAY
WRITES ABOUT CARRIER BEING SHADOWED BY SOVIET SHIPS. HE SAYS
SOVIET DE [destroyer escort]CAME WITHIN 700 YARDS OF AMERICA 28 MAY.
5. MOST NEWS MEDIA YESTERDAY AND TODAY REPORTED ISTANBUL SOURCES
AS SAYING SOVIETS HAVE INFORMED THEM THAT 10 SOVIET WARSHIPS WILL
PASS THROUGH BOSPHORUS EARLY JUNE. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, FIVE
OF THESE SHIPS ARE MAJOR WARSHIPS, WHILE THE OTHERS ARE ACCOMPANYING
DD'S AND PATROL CRAFT. SOME REPORTS INDICATE A NAVAL CONFRONTATION B
ETWEEN SOVIET AND WEST SEEMS TO BE SHAPING UP IN MED.
6. TIME, U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, AND NEWSWEEK ALL CONTAIN
EXTENSIVE ARTICLES THIS WEEK ON MIDEAST CRISIS. SIXTHFLT IS
PROMINENTLY MENTIONED IN ALL THESE ARTICLES. U.S. NEWS AND WORLD
REPORT QUOTES VADM MARTIN AS SAYING THAT A SOVIET NAVAL BUILDUP
IN THE MED HAS REACHED A POINT WHERE IT IS SIGNIFICANT THREAT
AIMED DIRECTLY AT U.S. FLEET.
7. AP 30 MAY QUOTED EGYPTIAN NEWSPAPER AL AHCAV[?] AS SAYING AN
EGYPTIAN PATROL BOAT FIRED A WARNING SHOT 29 MAY TO TURN BACK AN
AMERICAN-OWNED TANKER ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE BLOCKADED GULF OF
AQABA. STATE DEPARTMENT WAS QUOTED AS SAYING NO U.S. OWNED
TANKERS WERE IN THE AREA WHERE THE ALLEGED FIRING OCCURRED.
8. EDITORIAL IN 29 MAY NEW YORK TIMES CHARGES SIXTHFLT HAS
DEFINITE LIMITATIONS. THE ITEM SAYS THERE ARE NO MINESWEEPERS
SOUTH OF SUEZ AND THERE IS NO AMPHIBIOUS CAPABILITY OR TROOP
TRANSPORTATION THERE. ARTICLE CONTINUES TO SAY THE FLEET HAS
SHORTAGES IN PLANES, PILOTS, SPARE PARTS AND OTHER ITEMS WHICH
WOULD MAKE THEMSELVES FELT IN ANY PROTRACTED FIGHTING.
9. AP 29 MAY REPORTED THAT 15-20 SOVIET SHIPS ARE SAILING THE
EASTERN MED AND DEFENSE SOURCES SAY THEY COULD PARTICIPATE IN
THE WORSENING MIDEAST SITUATION. AT PRESENT, THE STORY SAID,
SOVIET NAVAL FORCE IS APPARENTLY DOING LITTLE MORE THAN KEEPING
TRACK OF SIXTHFLT.
10. MOST MEDIA REPORTED 26 MAY THAT SIXTHFLT AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT
TASK FORCE OF 2,000 MARINES LEFT NAPLES 25 MAY. CAPT WHITENY IS
QUOTED AS SAYING HE INTENDED TO CARRY OUT PREVIOUSLY PLANNED
EXERCISES. WASHINGTON POST SAME DATE SAID U.S. WARSHIPS IN MED
AND RED SEA WERE CONVERGING ON THE MIDEAST DISCARDING BUSINESS
AS USUAL DEPLOYMENT. REPORT SAID INTREPID HAD BEEN ORDERED TO
STAY IN MED.
11. HANSON BALDWIN, NEW YORK TIMES, REPORTED 25 MAY THAT SIXTHFLT
IS UNDER STRENGTH IN PLANES AND PILOTS, AND THAT IN ANY PROTRACTED
MAJOR SHOOTING WAR, IT WOULD SOON SUFFER FOR LACK OF GROUND
FORCES, REPLACEMENT AIRCRAFT, PILOTS, AMMUNITION AND IN GENERAL
SINEWS[?] OF COMBAT.
12. GEORGE WILSON, WASHINGTON POST, 25 MAY, SAID SIXTHFLT WAS
KEEPING ITS DISTANCE FROM THE MIDEAST CRISIS AREA. NAVY OFFICIALS
WERE QUOTED AS SAYING THE FLEET WAS UNDER ORDERS TO GIVE EGYPT AND
ISRAEL A WIDE BERTH. SEVERAL PAPERS SAME DATE REPORTED ON
COMPOSITION AND LOCATION OF MIDEASTFORCE.
13. MOST MEDIA 24-25 MAY REPORTED IN DETAIL ON MAKEUP AND MISSION
OF SIXTHFLT.
BT

June 2, 1967. USS Liberty departs Rota Spain for eastern Med.

1545Z 01 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Joint Chiefs of Staff to
U.S. Commander-in-Chief, Europe


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O 011545Z JUN 67
FM JCS
TO USCINCEUR
INFO CNO
CINCLANTFLT
CINCUSNAVEUR
COMSIXTHFLT
CTF 64
USS LIBERTY
DIRNSA
NSAEUR
DIRNAVSECGRU
ADIRNAVSECGRU
DIRNAVSECGRULANT
DIRNAVSECGRUEUR
BT
S E C R E T JCS 6724 J-3 SENDS
SUBJ: USS LIBERTY SKED (U)
REF. DIRNSA G/104/311906Z MAY (NOTAL-BOM) [not in file]
1. (S) WHEN RFS REQUEST SAIL LIBERTY IAW FOLLOWING
SKED:
A. 2 JUN DEPART ROTA.
B. 2-8 JUN. ENROUTE VIA GIBRALTAR STRAIT CPA AS SAFE NAV PERMITS.
THAN VIA NORTHERN AFRICA COASTAL ROUTE TO POSIT 32-00N 33-00E. CPA
MOROCCO MALTA 3 NM CLAIMED DIST 3 NM. CPA SPAIN TUNISIA SARDINIA
SICILY CRETE 7 NM CLAIMED DIST 6 NM. CPA ALGERIA LIBYA UAR 13 NM
CLAIMED DIST 12 NM.
C. 9-30 JUN. CONDUCT OPS SOUTH OF 32-00N AND BETWEEN 33-00E AND 34-00E.
WHILE CONDUCTING OPS CPA UAR 12.5 NM CPA ISRAEL 6.5 NM.
2 (U) REQUEST JCS (JRC) CNO CINCLANT (JRC) CINCLANTFLT BE INCLUDED AS
INFO ADDEES ON ALL MOVREPS, DAILY SITREPS AND INCIDENT REPORTS.
3. (U) ENROUTE TECH TASKING IAW REF.
4. (U) PROCEDURES FOR DEVELOPING JULY SKED FOLLOW.
GP-3
BT

June 8th 2007 is the 40th Anniversary of the attack on the USS Liberty (AGTR-5.

On the afternoon of June 8, 1967, while in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula, Liberty was attacked and damaged by Israeli forces; 34 crewmen were killed and 173 wounded. Considerable controversy surrounds this attack - include why Israel would intentionally attack an American naval vessel and chrages of a cover-up by the Johnson administration. The crew have never doubted the attack was deliberate. Unfortunately, the heroism of the crew in their attempts to defend themselves and save their vessel is often lost to history. Although severely damaged with a 40-foot hole amidships and a twisted keel, Liberty?s crew kept her afloat, and she was able to leave the area under her own power. She was escorted to Valletta, Malta, by units of the Sixth Fleet and was given temporary repairs. After the repairs were completed, Liberty returned to the United States on July 27, 1967. She was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on June 28, 1968.

The attack was the second-deadliest against a U.S. warship since the end of World War II, surpassed only by the Iraqi Exocet missile attack on the USS Stark on May 17, 1987, and marked the single greatest loss of life by the U.S. intelligence community.

The Liberty was attacked by rockets, napalm, and machine gun fire from the air. She was attacked by machine gun and torpedo fire from surface vessels. A 40-foot hole was blown in the starboard side. The superstructure and hull was riddled with 821 holes from machine gun fire. The life rafts were fired upon to render them useless. The U.S. Flag was shot down from the mast.

One Medal of Honor was awarded to CDR William L. McGonagle, for his actions as he stayed at his battle station for 17 hours, refusing medical attention until all his men had been cared for first. The Secretary of the Navy presented the medal instead of the President, and the medal was awarded at the Navy Yard in Washington, instead of at the White House.

In addition to the Medal of Honor for CDR McGonagle, two Navy Crosses, 36 Silver or Bronze Stars, and 206 Purple Hearts were awarded to crewmembers for the action abaord the Liberty June 8, 1967.

The following Sailors & Marines died as a result of the action aboard the USS Liberty, June 8th, 1967:

Cryptologic Tech 3rd Class William B. Allenbaugh, USN
Lt Cmdr. Philip M. Armstrong Jr., USN
Seaman Gary R. Blanchard, USN
Cryptologic Technician 2nd Class Allen M. Blue, NSA
Quartermaster 3rd Class Francis Brown, USN
Cryptologic Tech 2nd Class Ronnie J. Campbell, USN
Cryptologic Tech 2nd Class Jerry L. Converse, USN
Cryptologic Tech 2nd Class Robert B. Eisenberg, USN
Cryptologic Tech 2nd Class Jerry L. Goss, USN
Cryptologic Tech 1st Class Curtis L. Graves, USN
Cryptologic Tech Lawrence P. Hayden, USN
Cryptologic Tech 1st Class Warren Hersey, USN
Cryptologic Tech 3rd Class Alan Higgins, USN
Seaman Carl L. Hoar, USN
Cryptologic Tech 2nd Class Richard W. Keene, USN
Cryptologic Tech James L. Lenau, USN
Chief Cryptologic Tech Raymond E. Linn, USN
Cryptologic Tech 1st Class James M. Lupton, USN
Cryptologic Tech 3rd Class Duane R. Marggraf, USN
Cryptologic Tech David W. Marlborough, USN
Cryptologic Tech 2nd Class Anthony P. Mendle, USN
Cryptologic Tech Carl C. Nygren, USN
Lt. James C. Pierce, USN
Sgt. Jack Raper, U.S.M.C.
Cpl. Edward Rehmayer II, U.S.M.C.
Interior Comms Electrician David N. Skolak, USN
Cryptologic Tech 1st Class John C. Smith Jr, USN
Chief Cryptologic Tech Melvin D. Smith, USN
Postal Clerk 2nd Class John C. Spicher, USN
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Alexander N. Thompson, USN
Cryptologic Tech 3rd Class Thomas R. Thornton, USN
Cryptologic Tech 3rd Class Phillipe C. Tiedtke, USN
Lt. Stephen S. Toth, USN
Cryptologic Tech 1st Class Frederick J. Walton, USN


CDR W.L. McGonagle sits in his damaged stateroom aboard USS Liberty AGTR-5.


Strafing Damage, USS Liberty


USS Liberty turns at 21 knots to evade attacking Israeli torpedo boats June 8 1967. Fires aboard are from rocket and napalm attack by aircraft.

This coming week in Washington, DC, the survivors of that attack are having their 40th aniversary reunion.

I don't feel I can add anything beyond the tribute that Dave put up with the names of those killed in that attack. Six of those killed are buried in a mass grave at Arlington National Cemetary.

24 men were killed in the compartment where the torpedo hit and the others were killed on deck and the bridge during the bombing and subsequent straffing by both aircraft and PT boats. The compartments involved in the warhead explosion were the cryptologic spaces.

We know now that the reason the ship did not sink from that hit was that the torpedo struck exactly on a frame beam. If it had gone to the right or left of that beam the ship would have recieved much more extensive damage and would have sunk.

The remaining men and their ship survived alone until first light the next morning when the USS Davis and USS Massey arrived followed by the USS America a few hours later.

Here is another link to information on the attack and coverup.

Dead in the Water

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

The Six Day War began 40 years ago today, with Israel launching a first strike against the Egyptian Air force, destroying over 300 planes and killing over 100 pilots. They had air superiority from the get-go.

Meanwhile, the US Sixth Fleet was on the move east, shadowed by multiple Soviet surface and submarine units.
It's about now our scheduled visit to Cannes was history.



2015Z 05 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander, Sixth Fleet to
Commander, Task Force Sixty


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O P 052015Z JUN 67
FM COMSIXTHFLT
TO CTF SIX ZERO
INFO CTF SIX THREE
CTF SIX FOUR
CTU SIX SEVEN PT TWO PT TWO
CTG SIX SEVEN PT TWO
CTF SIX SEVEN
CINCUSNAVEUR
BT
S E C R E T
TF 60 MOVEMENTS
A. COMSIXTHFLT OPORD 155-67 (DTG 272239Z MAY 67) [not in file]
1. GEOGRAPHICAL RESTRICTIONS TO TF 60 SHIP MOVEMENTS AND FLIGHT
OPERATIONS IMPOSED BY REF A AND OTHER DIRECTIVES OF HIGHER
AUTHORITY HEREBY REVISED. OPERATE TF 60 IN THE AEGEAN SEA AND
EASTERN MED (EAST OF 25-00E7) NO CLOSER THAN 100 MILES FROM COASTS
OF LEBANON, SYRIA, ISRAEL AND UAR. 100 MILE RESTRICTION
FOR FLIGHT OPS VICINITY CYRUS HAS BEEN RESCINDED AND FLIGHTS
ARE NOW AUTHORIZED TO WITHIN 25 MILES OF CYPRUS. DO NOT ENTER
TERRITORIAL WATERS OF DODECANSES ISLANDS UNLESS DIRECTED TO
CONDUCT TRANSIT BETWEEN CYPRUS AND GREECE.
2. THE THREAT IMPOSED BY THE PRESENCE OF SOVIET WARSHIPS AND THE
CURRENT ESTIMATE OF 8-9 SOVIET SUBMARINES DICTATES THAT THE
INHERENT MOBILITY OF THE CVA GROUP BE EXPLOITED TO MINIMIZE
INTELLIGENCE AVAILABLE TO SOVIETS, AGGRAVATE THE SOVIET
LOGISTICS PROBLEMS AND IMPROVE TF 60 POSTURE TO CARRY OUT
WHATEVER TASKS MAY BE LEVIED BY HIGHER AUTHORITY.
3. TO INCREASE READINESS POSTURE OF TF 60 DESIRE YOU DIRECT
CARRIER TASK GROUPS TO POSIT 34-30N0 30-00E3, EACH CVA GROUP
MOVING SEPARATELY TO THAT POINT WITH A RANDOM PIM. UPON ARRIVAL
PROCEED TO VICINITY 33-45N5 32-00E5. THEREAFTER OPERATE TF 60
WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS ESTABLISHED PARA ONE ABOVE
UTILIZING RANDOM PIMS AND UTILIZING PERIODS OF HIGH SPEED TO
DENY SOVIETS THE CAPABILITY TO CONCENTRATE THEIR FORCES IN A
PARTICULAR AREA FOR SURVEILLANCE. DISPOSITION/FORMATION AT YOUR
DISCRETION TO PROVIDE BEST POSTURE FOR DEFENSE AND TASKING
AS REQUIRED.
4. AT THIS TIME IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT EXACTLY WHAT TASKS
WILL BE ASSIGNED. UNTIL SUCH TIME AS INTENTIONS OF HIGHER
AUTHORITY BECOME MORE CLEAR, KEEP TF 60 ON THE MOVE WITHIN
LIMITATIONS OF LOGISTIC SUPPORT AND GEOGRAPHICAL RESTRICTIONS.
5. FOR CTF 63. WHEN NOT JOINED WITH TF 60 FOR LOGISTIC SUPPORT,
DESIRE LOGISTIC SUPPORT GROUP UTILIZE DIVERSIONARY COURSES WITHIN
LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY REQUIRED RDVU.
GP-3
BT


Jim McLaughlin
CR Div.
USS America CVA-66
65-67
Don't Tread on Me

The only liberty port we hit after Gibralter was Souda Bay, Crete up to this point in time.
The fleet was together and its quite an impressive sight with two carriers and all the escorts and auxilary ships together.

The only news we had about what was going on in the middle east on the smaller ships was what we could glean from copying the UP channel broadcast back to the states.

Gerry, were port visits to Gibralter the norm rather than Rota in the mid 60's?

Mike

I don't know if it was the norm but we went accross the pond with the Saratoga and she went to Rota. I think Desron 12 going to Gibralter was to relieve the pressure from a carrier being in Rota.

An interesting note. While we were tied up in Gibralter there were several flash messages about Russian trawlers approaching the area.
Every officer aboard every ship there was on deck and the Russians just sailed by slowly, not 300 feet from where we were, takeing pictures. Somebody had missed putting the chop order in for us on the radio schedual so we saw the messages but didn't know they were addressed to us so when the Captain called down to ask if there was traffic for us we told him no. He wasn't a happy camper about that snafu. I never did find out who was supposed to put the change in on the daily orders.

Gerry,

How long were you in the Med prior to this going down. At this point, we had been there since mid January, with still three long months to go.

Your S/S Orestes was with the Sara I take it. And yea seeing most of the Med warships together was at sea was really something. Only other times I saw 2 carriers together was during turnover.

And speaking of snafu's with TTY comm, a little know fact is that there were undelivered messages from JCS (or CNO) and also CincUSNavEur (I think) to Liberty ordering her to move away from her position that were never delivered.
The one from Washington originally was misrouted to the PI and not Morocco. Then delays in re-routing,etc.,etc. (You and I both know that drill).
Kinda hard to believe that Liberty was out there without a direct S/Shore TTY ckt with Morocco, Greece or Asmara. She was copying the KRTT Morocco Broadcast.
I do remember this from back then. Our S/Shore Romulus TTY CKT was with Rota (AOK). And whenever we went out to the eastern Med, we always had a helluva time Xmitting messages out. I mean reeeaallly bad at times. I spent many a mid-watch with a test loop running on the ckt. That was our only secure comm out, mind you. Not only us, but the Flag (CTF60) and all our escorts S/Shore traffic went thru us too.

Speaking of dropped broadcast traffic, we had an RM3 miss a msg from an embassy that had clearance for a couple of our planes to leave either Cyprus or Sigonella. Big stink. Captain's Mast. RNIR.


Jim McLaughlin
Cr Div.
USS America CVA-66
Call Sign: Courage

I noticed the date on the picture above is July 29, 1967, six weeks after the attack. Pretty amazing work those guys did in Malta.
She looks pretty good. Hardly know it's the same ship in the first pic of this thread.

(Of course you don't see the torpedo repaired side either.)

Jim McLaughlin

COMSIXTHFLT warns USS LIBERTY to be vigilant in hostile area. LIBERTY comes under operational control of COMSIXTHFLT AT 0001Z June 7th.

2349Z 06 June 1967 drafted message text from
Commander, Sixth Fleet to USS Liberty


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMMEDIATE PRIORITY
DTG 062349Z JUN 67

FROM: COMSIXTHFLT

TO: LIBERTY

INFO: CINCUSNAVEUR/USCINCEUR/JCS/CNO/DIRNSA/CINCLANTFLT/
DIRNAVSECGRU/DIRNAVSECGRUEUR/ASSTDIRNAVSECGRU/
DIRNAVSECGRULANT/HQ NSAEUR/COMFAIRMED/COMSERVLANT/
COMSERVON EIGHT/CTF 60/CTF 64/NFOIO/NAVCOMMSTA
MOROCCO/CINCLANT/CTF 63/CTF 67/
NAVCOMMSTA GREECE/NAVCAMS MOROCCO/NAVCOMMSTA SPAIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L

USS LIBERTY OPERATIONAL CONTROL

A. CINCUSNAVEUR 061357Z JUN 67 NOTAL
B. JCS 011545Z JUN 67 NOTAL
C. CINCUSNAVEUR 311750Z MAY 67 (MOVORD 7-67) NOTAL
D. CINCUSNAVEUR 011305Z JUN 67 NOTAL
E. COMSIXTHFLT OPORD 1-66 NOTAL
F. CINCUSNAVEUR P03120.5B NOTAL

1. UPON CHOP TO COMSIXTHFLT AT 070001Z, CONDUCT OPERATIONS IAW REF B,
C AND D.

2. IN VIEW PRESENT ARAB/ISRAELI SITUATION AND UNPREDICTABILITY OF UAR
ACTIONS MAINTAIN A HIGH STATE OF VIGILANCE AGAINST ATTACK OR THREAT OF ATTACK.
REPORT BY FLASH PRECEDENCE ANY THREATENING OR SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS DIRECTED
AGAINST YOU OR ANY DIVERSION FROM SCHEDULE NECESSITATED BY EXTERNAL THREAT.
ADVISE IF LOCAL SITUATION DICTATES CHANGE IN AREA OF OPS ASSIGNED BY REF B.

3. KEEP COMSIXTHFLT AND CTF 63 INFORMED OF LOGISTIC NEEDS SUFFICIENTLY IN ADVANCE
TO ENABLE ORDERLY LOGSUP PLANNING. MAIL DELIVERY WILL BE ARRANGED IF FEASIBLE.

4. INCLUDE COMSIXTHFLT AS INFO ADDEE ON REPORTS REQUIRED BY PARA 2 REF B
AS MODIFIED BY REF C AND D.

5. SUBMIT REPORTS OF CONTACT WITH SHIPS AIRCRAFT AND SUBMARINES WHICH ARE
UNIDENT, HOSTILE, OF INTELL INTEREST OR ENGAGE IN HARASSMENT, IAW REF
F. EMERGENCY PLAN CHARLIE NOW IN EFFECT IN SIXTHFLT.

6. COMSIXTHFLT OPERATIONAL DOCUMENTS ON ALERTS, EMERG ACTIONS AND NUCLEAR
RELEASE WILL NOT BE PROVIDED. THEREFORE, ACTION IS NOT REQUIRED ON NATIONAL
EXERCISE AND DRILL MSGS IDENTIFIED BY FLAG WORD WHITE OR BLUE DELTA.
NO ACTION REQUIRED ON NATO EXERCISE MSGS. IN EVENT OF ACTUAL ALERT
OR OTHER EMERGENCY,
COMSIXTHFLT WILL SEPARATELY DIRECT LIBERTY BY CLASSIFIED MSG.

7. COMMUNICATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANNEX CHARLIE REF E.
A. COPY KR BROADCAST. ADVISE IF CARDS AVAILABLE TO COPY XRA BCST.
B. IF PERMENANT TERMINATION REQUIRED WITH MED COMM STA SUBMIT REQUEST
IAW APPENDIX XVI TO ANNEX CHARLIE TO REF E.
C. ALTHOUGH NOT ASSIGNED TO TF 60 UTILIZE TF 60 TACTICAL CIRCUITS AS REQUIRED.
D. AUTRGRA TO ENTER SIXES ALFA AS REQUIRED.

8. ACKNOWLEDGE.

GP-4

quote:

Gerry,

How long were you in the Med prior to this going down. At this point, we had been there since mid January, with still three long months to go.

We left Newport, RI on May 2, 1967. The Liberty was attacked on June 8th and we were alongside June 9th. So we were in the Med about three weeks when it happened. We had been in Gibralter about May 11th and Souda Bay, Crete on the 7th of June.

After the wounded were removed from the ship and the ship stabilized we escorted her to Valetta, Malta. The trip took six days from where she was attacked. Because of the damage she could only do four knots without excessive leaking and danger of bulkhead collapse. I found out later that Malta was the only port close by that would take the ship because of the fuel leaking from ruptured fuel tanks.

While we were alongside the Liberty the water intakes for the desalinization plant abord the Davis were open and we got that leaking fuel in the fresh water system all throughout the ship.
Everything we ate and drank for weeks had a deisel taste to it.

I was at a reunion a couple summers ago with six of the survivors and took this picture of a piece of hull plate where a rocket went through that one of the guys had saved in Malta when they were repairing it.

From CHINFO USS AMERICA history.

On 7 June 1967, the destroyer USS Lloyd Thomas (DD-764), in company with America, obtained a sonar contact, which was classified as a "possible" submarine. Rear Adm. Geis immediately dispatched Lloyd Thomas and the guided missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG-10) to investigate the contact. Sampson obtained contact quickly and coordinated with Lloyd Thomas in tracking the possible submarine.


America launched one of her antisubmarine helicopters, a Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Nine (HS 9), and gained sonar contact. At midnight, the contact was reclassified as a "probable" submarine. At that time, no known or friendly submarines were reported to be in the area of the contact. The destroyers maintained good sonar contact through the night.


At 0530 on 8 June, a Lockheed SP-2H Neptune antisubmarine patrol plane of Patrol Squadron Seven (VP 7), coordinating with the destroyers and helicopters, obtained a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) confirmation over the contact. The MAD equipment allows an ASW aircraft to confirm that a contact detected in the sea by other means is actually a very large metal object.


Rear Adm. Geis announced the "probable" submarine's presence at noon. The newsmen, still embarked, dashed off stories to their home offices. Other events, however, would soon over-shadow the story about a 'probable' sub lurking near an American carrier task force.


At about 1400 local time, on 8 June 1967, the technical research ship USS Liberty (AGTR-5) was attacked by Israeli torpedo boats and jet fighters.

quote:

Originally posted by FordhamMike:
Gerry, as of 1970, the incoming Carrier and all escorts would inchop at Rota with the outgoing task group returning home. What a wild time that was! I really enjoyed Rota. After my initial sea duty tour, I spent 3 years ashore at NCS Rota.

YN1 Mike (Retired)

What? You got ashore during turnover? I recall our turnovers in Pollensa Bay having no liberty for the crew. Heck, we were in and out in 8 hours or less. Last carrier in, first one out..heading home. Never hit Rota in my 2 years aboard. Or Barcelona.

Jim

Jim, yes there was liberty in Rota during turnover. We were usually there for 48 hours before heading out. I forgot how many times the ship was in Barcelona.


Mike

quote:

Originally posted by FordhamMike:
Jim, yes there was liberty in Rota during turnover. We were usually there for 48 hours before heading out. I forgot how many times the ship was in Barcelona.


Mike

The story I heard was that sometime during the mid 60's, the crew of one of our carriers (maybe the INDY) tore up Barcelona pretty bad to the point that it was off limits to the fleet for a few years. Our bad luck. I heard it was a fun liberty town. Our only Spanish mainland POC was Valencia during the 67 cruise. Also hit Palma, Majorca in summer 66. Sweet!

2 days for a turnover. Were there transfers of weapons, planes or material to take 2 days? I wouldn't think so, but you never know.

My lasting memory of turnovers was in July 66, as we slowly started to steam away from our relief, we played loud and long over the 1MC "We gotta get out of this place" by the Animals, which in 66 was a pretty current tune. What a great feeling! Actually felt sorry for the guys on the other carrier...for a nano-second.

Jim McLaughlin
CR Division
USS AMERICA CVA-66
65-67

Just want you to know, I'll never forget. Nor let my grandchildren forget, starting about 6 years from now. I know this anniversary message is hours to a day early, but the thought is real.

Thank you and God bless!!!

A little after 9:30 AM local time, USS LIBERTY overflown by Israeli jets.

0742Z 08 June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S.S. Liberty to
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Force Europe and
Commander, Sixth Fleet and others


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O P 080742Z JUN 67
FM USS LIBERTY
TO CINCUSNAVEUR
COMSIXTHFLT
COMFAIRMED
PATRON SIGONELLA
PATRON ROTA
CTF 60
CTG 60.2
CTU 60.1.5
CTU 60.2.5
USCINCMEAFSA
COMIDEASTFOR
INFO SECNAV
CNO
CINCLANTFLT
USCINCEUR
FICEUR
CINCUSAFE
CINCONAD
DIA
OSD (ISA)
COMSERVLANT
COMSERVRON EIGHT
BT
UNCLAS E F T O LOCATION TWO
TWO DELTA WING SINGLE ENGINE JET FIGHTER A/C ORBITED USS LIBERTY
THREE TIMES AT 31-27N, 34-00E AT TIME 08/0650Z. NO IDENT. VISIBLE
DUE ALT. EST. 5,000 FT, DISTANCE EST 2 MILES. NO AMPLIFYING
REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED.

Approx. 2:30PM local time, USS LIBERTY (voice call sign "ROCKSTAR") begins transmitting over USN Hi Command voice net (in the clear) that she is being attacked. Message first heard by USS Saratoga and relayed to CincUSNavEur and other commands.

1235Z 08 June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S.S. Saratoga to
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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