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2145Z 08
June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S.S. America to
Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
O R 082145Z 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 FOR URGENT COLLECT TRANSMISSION TO NEW YORK TIMES NEW
YORK PARA
PROFOREIGN DESK FIRST ADD NEW LEAD SHEEHANS HARASSMENT PARA
THE ABRUPT CHANGE FROM WHAT HAD BEEN A RETURNING ATMOSPHERE OF
NORMALITY OCCURRED AT TWO FORTY-FIVE P.M. LOCAL TIME BRACKET
TWELVE FORTY FIVE GMT UNBRACKET THIS AFTERNOON WHEN A CORRES-
PONDENT VISITING THE BRIDGE OF THE CARRIER OVERHEARD A RADIO
TRANSMISSION IN WHICH A VOICE IN AMERICAN ENGLISH SAID QUOTE
WE'VE BEEN HIT UNQUOTE PARA
THE VOICE WAS APPARENTLY AN OFFICER ABOARD THE LIBERTY REPORTING THE
ATTACK BY ISRAELI PANES AND TORPEDO BOATS PARA
THE CORRESPONDENT WAS IMMEDIATELY ASKED TO LEAVE THE BRIDGE AND
THE CARRIER WAS BROUGHT TO ALERT PARA
THE VOICE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL OFFICER ANNOUNCED WITHIN A FEW
MINUTES THAT THE CARRIER WOULD BEGIN RECOVERING UNARMED AIRCRAFT
IT HAD LAUNCHED SHORTLY BEFORE FOR PRACTICE DUMMY BOMBING RUNS
AGAINST THE GREEK ISLAND OF AVGONISI ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CRETE
PARA
QUOTE WE WANT TO RECOVER ALL AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY UNQUOTE HE SAID
OVER THE LOUDSPEAKER TO THE FLIGHT DECK CREW STOP REQUOTE THIS IS
NOT A DRILL UNQUOTE PARA
WHILE THE DECK WAS BEING CLEARED FOR THE INCOMING AIRCRAFT, F-4
PHANTOM PILOTS ON NORMAL ALERT TO DEFEND THE CARRIER AGAINST ANY
SURPRISE ATTACK RAN TO THEIR AIRCRAFT BESIDE THE CATAPULTS STOP
TWO OF THE PHANTOMS WERE ALREADY ARMED WITH SIDEWINDERS AND SPARROWS
AND WERE LAUNCHED WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THE LANDING
OF THE UNARMED AIRCRAFT BEGAN PARA
OTHER SKYHAWK AND PHANTOM PILOTS WERE SUMMONED TO THE READY ROOMS
FOR A PRESTRIKE BRIEFING WHILE ORDNANCE CREWS BEGAN WHEELING MORE
SPARROWS AND SIDEWINDERS ACROSS THE DECK ON TROLLEYS TO ARM OTHER
PHANTOMS PARA MORE SHEEHAN
BT
Note: See COMSIXTHFLT 081716Z JUN
67 for reason press copy sent
to OASD(PA).
Glossary |
8 June Messages |
Message Tables | U.S.
Messages page |