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2059Z 14 June 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 R 142059Z JUN 67
FM CHINFO
TO CINCUSNAVEUR
COMSIXTHFLT
COMMIDEASTFOR
CINCLANTFLT
CTG SIX ZERO PT ONE
CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO
CTF SIX ONE
CTF SIX TWO
CTF SIX THREE
INFO CINCPACFLT
COMSEVENTHFLT
BT
UNCLAS
SIXTH FLEET HEADLINE REPORT 14 JUNE 1967
1. NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE DATELINED AMERICA (12 JUNE) REPORTS THAT
USS AMERICA HAS RESUMED NORMAL FLIGHT TRAINING OPERATIONS. THE REPORT
GOES ON TO SAY THAT CAPTAIN ENGEN ADDRESSED THE CREW, TELLING THEM
THAT BECAUSE OF THE CEASE FIRE AMERICA WAS GETTING BACK TO HER NORMAL
SCHEDULE OF TRAINING EXERCISES. THE CAPTAIN IS REPORTED TO HAVE TOLD
HIS CREW THAT IT WOULD BE SOME TIME BEFORE THE SHIP BEGAN MAKING PORT
CALLS IN THE MED.
2. AP STORY IN WASHINGTON POST (14 JUNE) REPORTS THAT ISRAELI JET
EYED LIBERTY BEFORE BLOW. TWO ISRAELI JETS FLEW OVER THE SHIP ABOUT
THIRTY MINUTES BEFORE THE RESEARCH VESSEL CAME UNDER ATTACK. HOWEVER,
WHAT BEARING THIS HAD ON THE ISRAELI ATTACK WAS STILL PUZZLING US
OFFICIALS TRYING TO PIECE THE STORY TOGETHER. ARTICLE GOES ON TO SAY
THAT IT ALSO WAS LEARNED THAT THE NAVY HAD ORDERED LIBERTY TO PULL
BACK TO EIGHTY MILES OFF THE EGYPTIAN COAST, APPARENTLY TO LESSEN THE
CHANCES OF ATTACK. OFFICERS ARE REPORTED SAYING THAT IT WAS NOT CLEAR
WHETHER THE LIBERTY'S SKIPPER, CDR MCGONAGLE, HAD RECEIVED THE ORDER
OR HAD BEGUN TO COMPLY WHEN THE ISRAELI ATTACK BEGAN.
3. AP WIRE STORY THIS MORNING REPORTS THAT LIBERTY, AN AMERICAN VICTIM
OF THE ARAB-ISRAELI WAR, CREPT INTO MALTA'S HARBOR TODAY WITH ORANGE
CANNON MARKS ON HER GRAY PAINT MATCHING THE COLOR OF THE DAWN. SHE
CAME IN UNDER HER OWN POWER. SHE WAS DOWN BY THE BOW, AND HER STARBOARD
SIDE, A GAPING TORPEDO HOLE, CANNON AND ROCKET HOLES SPREAD FROM THE
WATER TO THE TOP OF HER GRAY FUNNEL. CREW MEMBERS WILL NOT BE
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS UNTIL THE NAVY'S COURT OF INQUIRY IS COMPLETED
THE REPORT SAYS.
4. CURRENT ISSUE OF LIFE MAGAZINE RAN A SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE MIDDLE WAS WAR COVERAGE. ...
5. WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE (14 JUNE) REPORTS THAT US GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS HAVE DISCLOSED THAT FRESH SUPPLIES OF MIGS AND OTHER ARMS ARE
BEING RUSHED TO THE UAR BY THE SOVIET UNION. ...
BT

Note: Only news relating to Liberty incident and Sixth Fleet reproduced.

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