USS Liberty - Israel's "War of Self Defense"
GreatestAlive
Active member
The US government did look the other way. As for help not coming to the ship, pilots were waiting for the order to go attack the Israeli attackers, but they were told to stand down.
GreatestAlive
Active member
The USS Liberty was a "Spy" ship, sent there to "listen" in on Israeli and Egyptian communications.
mmarsh
Active member
Correction: Not a spy ship, a Intelligence gathering ship. They are not the same. A intelligence ship makes no attempt to disguise what its role is. A spy ship like the ones North Korea uses disguise themselves as something else like a decriped fishing trawler.
And the USS Libery was in international waters which means it had every legal right to do what it was doing.
And the USS Libery was in international waters which means it had every legal right to do what it was doing.
GreatestAlive
Active member
Whatever you want to call it, its still did something that obviously the Israelis didnt want them to do and made sure they didnt have a chance to do it. Just to give a good debate, you call and Intelligence Gatherer a Spy.
greg2k
Active member
USS Liberty
USS Liberty was intelligenсe gathering ship acting as a SPY,because the mission and activity of this ship was a military secret and not known not only to Israel or Egypt but even to many in american Navy.National security Agency (NSA) prepared this ship and acted on their own.What the ship was actually doing was listening and collecting information on egyptian and russian communication lines.USA were very concern about safety of american oil installations in the Middle East and possible russian involvment in the war of 1967.Russia was an ally of Egypt at the time and there were russian instructors in Egypt,including pilots who managed a dozen or so heavy TU bomber planes stationed on egyptian territory,and that what USA was afraid of.On the USS Liberty itself there were translators of arabic and russian languages,but there were no hebrew language translators.The route of the ship was to be close to the egyptian territory,stay in international waters,monitor and collect all available communications and do not get in any contacts with anybody whatsoever.It is important to say that though USS Liberty contained advanced gathering equipment,still the radius of getting information from was limited due to the nature of radio communication waves.
What the US Navy Court of Inquiry was trying to establish was:
1.Did israelis know that the ship they were attacking was american.
2.And if they knew was the attack intentional and pre-planed.
On both of this points Navy Court failed to answer positively.Court did not find any reason to blame Israel for intentional attack.There were a dozen other investigations on this issue in USA and Israel with same unclear results.Israel apologyzed to USA for the attack and paid compensation for damages to the US Government and sailors.
USS Liberty was intelligenсe gathering ship acting as a SPY,because the mission and activity of this ship was a military secret and not known not only to Israel or Egypt but even to many in american Navy.National security Agency (NSA) prepared this ship and acted on their own.What the ship was actually doing was listening and collecting information on egyptian and russian communication lines.USA were very concern about safety of american oil installations in the Middle East and possible russian involvment in the war of 1967.Russia was an ally of Egypt at the time and there were russian instructors in Egypt,including pilots who managed a dozen or so heavy TU bomber planes stationed on egyptian territory,and that what USA was afraid of.On the USS Liberty itself there were translators of arabic and russian languages,but there were no hebrew language translators.The route of the ship was to be close to the egyptian territory,stay in international waters,monitor and collect all available communications and do not get in any contacts with anybody whatsoever.It is important to say that though USS Liberty contained advanced gathering equipment,still the radius of getting information from was limited due to the nature of radio communication waves.
What the US Navy Court of Inquiry was trying to establish was:
1.Did israelis know that the ship they were attacking was american.
2.And if they knew was the attack intentional and pre-planed.
On both of this points Navy Court failed to answer positively.Court did not find any reason to blame Israel for intentional attack.There were a dozen other investigations on this issue in USA and Israel with same unclear results.Israel apologyzed to USA for the attack and paid compensation for damages to the US Government and sailors.
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captiva303
Active member
1. yes they knew the ship was American they strafed it if the pilots couldn't see an American flag on it they shouldn't of been flying
2 if it was per planned that could be debatable there are many credible theories could explain hwy the Israelis would of attacked possibly to draw the americans into the war (couldn't see why they would of wanted to) or maybe the isrealis thought the Americans may hear something the wouldn't want them to hear
greg2k
Active member
1.You are saying israelis knew the ship they attacked was american.So you are saying they knew identity of the ship.Is it your assumption only ,or you have something to support your believe? If you have something in support bring it here.Now about flag on the USS Liberty.Lets say there was a flag on the ship. Can it be a situation the pilot just did not see it because of the small size or maybe because there was no wind to make the flag be full blown and visibile.It is possible.So if israeli pilot overlooked the flag on the ship it makes the pilot partially responsible right, and we can say it was an error on the part of the pilot.But this possibility does not make the case intentional in any way,and that what Naval Court of Inquiry could not find,they did not find intent.And if we calls it an error in the time of war, is it not true,that Israel was the first side,who aknowledge of this error and apologyzied?
2.You are saying there are many theories why Israel attacked the USS Liberty.If Israel wanted to draw USA into the war of 1967,what Israel could expect? As I said before,Soviet Union was ally of Egypt,so Israel by drawing USA into the war could expect the war with Soviet Union.You yourself said you cannot find ligic in this scenari
n another hand if Israel suspected the ship was interfiring in their affairs and collecting sensitive information why simply not to tell USA to remove the ship from the area or as a last resort to sink it and bury all the evidence.Israel could do it long before, when USS Liberty was near Port Said for example.Why Israel was waiting USS Liberty to approach very close to occupied Sinai near El Arish? Isn't it clear that if Israel was planning the attack on USS Liberty for quite period of time,they would create a better attacking force. But what happened in reality, Israel rerouted four of their planes from their missions at Suez Canal not equiped with antiship weapons.This provides more feeling that attack on USS Liberty was not planed in advance.
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captiva303
Active member
have you read this thread completely?
it should answer most of you questions
any way this is declassified nsa tapes transcripts of interviews with the liberty's crew which largely contradicts the official story
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB24/nsa10.pdf
the ship was also was in motion therefore the flag would be visble to the pilots and the attacking Israeli surface vessels
the attack may of had something to do with alleged Israeli atrocities
it should answer most of you questions
any way this is declassified nsa tapes transcripts of interviews with the liberty's crew which largely contradicts the official story
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB24/nsa10.pdf
the ship was also was in motion therefore the flag would be visble to the pilots and the attacking Israeli surface vessels
the attack may of had something to do with alleged Israeli atrocities
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greg2k
Active member
1.http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB24/
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Document 10: William D. Gerhard and Henry W. Millington, National Security Agency, Attack on a SIGINT Collector, the USS Liberty, 1981. Top Secret Umbra[/FONT]
One of the most controversial events in the history of U.S.-Israeli relations was the attack by Israeli aircraft, during the midst of the Six-Day War of June 1967, on the USS Liberty, a ship assigned to gather signals intelligence on behalf of the National Security Agency. The attack left thirty-four Americans dead and 171 wounded.
In additional to internal studies conducted by both countries there have been numerous books, portions of books, and articles that have sought to review the events and assess blame. The most controversial issue has been whether Israel knowingly attacked a ship it knew to belong to the U.S., which was cruising in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula, to prevent it from monitoring Israeli actions in the midst of the war. Authors have reached diametrically opposite conclusions on this issue. (Note 8)
This extensive report, written by a former head of the NSA element that produced studies of SIGINT crisis situations and the former head of the NSA library, examines the political-military background, consideration's leading to the ship's deployment, deployment to the Mediterranean, the attack, Israel's explanation, recovery and initial assessment, reviews of the incident, and "a final look." In their conclusion, the authors deal with the issues of possible Israeli foreknowledge of the ship's nationality and possible Israeli motivations for an attack. They report that a CIA assessment prepared within week of the attack, drawing heavily on communications intercepts, concluded (p. 64) that Israeli forces had not deliberately attacked a ship they knew to be American. 2.The ship just to be in motion not always bring the flag in full view.It should be enough combine force from the wind and the moving ship to make the flag wave in the air and be visible.The answer to the question was the flag visible or not could come only from one side,israeli side and they provided audio recordings between pilots and air base.
1345 1145 0745
MTB Division 914 ordered to go in and identify target. [IDF Navy HQ War Log.] Two Mirage
IIICJs, Kursa Flight, on combat air patrol near the Suez Canal and due to return to base, report
turning to a northern direction. [Israeli Air Force audio tapes.]
1350 1150 0750
MTB Division 914 reports target at 17 miles, speed 28 knots. Division requests air. Aircraft are
dispatched. Division told to tune to air frequencies. [IDF Navy HQ War Log.] Kursa Flight is to
be vectored towards the target’s reported position with instructions: “If it's a warship, then blast
it.” [IAF audio tapes.]
1354 1154 0754
Kursa Flight reports sighting the target “Affirmative, it looks longer by eyesight.” [IAF audio
tapes.]
1356 1156 0756
Both Kursa Flight and T-203 ask each other if they can identify the target. Kursa reports “I can't
identify it but in any case it's a military ship.” and “Its with one mast and one smokestack.” Royal
Flight, a pair of Super-Mystres armed with napalm canisters and already airborne, is diverted
towards this target from its assigned mission in the Sinai. [IAF audio tapes.]
1400 1200 0800
Air attack commenced. Liberty reported her position as 31-23N, 33-25E [US Naval Court of
Inquiry/Document 87 of Exhibit 48: DTG 081235Z June 1967, USS Saratoga to
CINCUSNAVEUR.] The generally accepted time of the initial attack is 1400 Sinai time.
1402 1202 0802
Royal Flight is given permission to attack following a brief delay. [IAF audio tapes.]
1404 1204 0804
Kursa Flight leaves Liberty. Royal Flight attacks Liberty.[IAF audio tapes.]
1409 1209 0809
IAF HQ requests that further effort be made to identify the ship. [IAF audio tapes.]
1411 1211 0811
MTB Division is advised that the planes are on their final run and now the boats are to attack.
[IDF History Department/MTB Division 914 War Log.] Royal Flight reports:
“Homeland from Royal, do you read me? Pay attention, this ships markings are Charlie
Tango Romeo 5. Pay attention, Homeland, Charlie Tango Romeo 5. There is no flag on
her!”
[IAF audio tapes.]
1412 1212 0812
IAF senior air controller Colonel Kislev orders Royal Flight to "leave her." The air attack is over.
MTB Division 914 reports it sees aircraft have left. [IAF audio tapes; Navy HQ War Log.] The
IDF History at p. 15 indicates the planes left the area at 1416.
1413 1213 0813
IAF HQ reports two helicopters are going to be sent out to the ship. [IAF audio tapes.]
1414 1214 0814
Aircraft reports seeing “P 30" on ship. MTB range 5 to 6 miles. MTB Div going in. Air Force
reports ship marked “C T R 5.” [IDF Navy HQ War Log.] Royal Flight Leader reported this
information to IAF HQ prior to 1412. [IAF audio tapes.] It apparently is not relayed to and
logged by the Navy until another two or three minutes later.
1415 1215 0815
MTB Division 914 records aircraft have departed. [MTB Division War Log.]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Document 10: William D. Gerhard and Henry W. Millington, National Security Agency, Attack on a SIGINT Collector, the USS Liberty, 1981. Top Secret Umbra[/FONT]
One of the most controversial events in the history of U.S.-Israeli relations was the attack by Israeli aircraft, during the midst of the Six-Day War of June 1967, on the USS Liberty, a ship assigned to gather signals intelligence on behalf of the National Security Agency. The attack left thirty-four Americans dead and 171 wounded.
In additional to internal studies conducted by both countries there have been numerous books, portions of books, and articles that have sought to review the events and assess blame. The most controversial issue has been whether Israel knowingly attacked a ship it knew to belong to the U.S., which was cruising in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula, to prevent it from monitoring Israeli actions in the midst of the war. Authors have reached diametrically opposite conclusions on this issue. (Note 8)
This extensive report, written by a former head of the NSA element that produced studies of SIGINT crisis situations and the former head of the NSA library, examines the political-military background, consideration's leading to the ship's deployment, deployment to the Mediterranean, the attack, Israel's explanation, recovery and initial assessment, reviews of the incident, and "a final look." In their conclusion, the authors deal with the issues of possible Israeli foreknowledge of the ship's nationality and possible Israeli motivations for an attack. They report that a CIA assessment prepared within week of the attack, drawing heavily on communications intercepts, concluded (p. 64) that Israeli forces had not deliberately attacked a ship they knew to be American. 2.The ship just to be in motion not always bring the flag in full view.It should be enough combine force from the wind and the moving ship to make the flag wave in the air and be visible.The answer to the question was the flag visible or not could come only from one side,israeli side and they provided audio recordings between pilots and air base.
1345 1145 0745
MTB Division 914 ordered to go in and identify target. [IDF Navy HQ War Log.] Two Mirage
IIICJs, Kursa Flight, on combat air patrol near the Suez Canal and due to return to base, report
turning to a northern direction. [Israeli Air Force audio tapes.]
1350 1150 0750
MTB Division 914 reports target at 17 miles, speed 28 knots. Division requests air. Aircraft are
dispatched. Division told to tune to air frequencies. [IDF Navy HQ War Log.] Kursa Flight is to
be vectored towards the target’s reported position with instructions: “If it's a warship, then blast
it.” [IAF audio tapes.]
1354 1154 0754
Kursa Flight reports sighting the target “Affirmative, it looks longer by eyesight.” [IAF audio
tapes.]
1356 1156 0756
Both Kursa Flight and T-203 ask each other if they can identify the target. Kursa reports “I can't
identify it but in any case it's a military ship.” and “Its with one mast and one smokestack.” Royal
Flight, a pair of Super-Mystres armed with napalm canisters and already airborne, is diverted
towards this target from its assigned mission in the Sinai. [IAF audio tapes.]
1400 1200 0800
Air attack commenced. Liberty reported her position as 31-23N, 33-25E [US Naval Court of
Inquiry/Document 87 of Exhibit 48: DTG 081235Z June 1967, USS Saratoga to
CINCUSNAVEUR.] The generally accepted time of the initial attack is 1400 Sinai time.
1402 1202 0802
Royal Flight is given permission to attack following a brief delay. [IAF audio tapes.]
1404 1204 0804
Kursa Flight leaves Liberty. Royal Flight attacks Liberty.[IAF audio tapes.]
1409 1209 0809
IAF HQ requests that further effort be made to identify the ship. [IAF audio tapes.]
1411 1211 0811
MTB Division is advised that the planes are on their final run and now the boats are to attack.
[IDF History Department/MTB Division 914 War Log.] Royal Flight reports:
“Homeland from Royal, do you read me? Pay attention, this ships markings are Charlie
Tango Romeo 5. Pay attention, Homeland, Charlie Tango Romeo 5. There is no flag on
her!”
[IAF audio tapes.]
1412 1212 0812
IAF senior air controller Colonel Kislev orders Royal Flight to "leave her." The air attack is over.
MTB Division 914 reports it sees aircraft have left. [IAF audio tapes; Navy HQ War Log.] The
IDF History at p. 15 indicates the planes left the area at 1416.
1413 1213 0813
IAF HQ reports two helicopters are going to be sent out to the ship. [IAF audio tapes.]
1414 1214 0814
Aircraft reports seeing “P 30" on ship. MTB range 5 to 6 miles. MTB Div going in. Air Force
reports ship marked “C T R 5.” [IDF Navy HQ War Log.] Royal Flight Leader reported this
information to IAF HQ prior to 1412. [IAF audio tapes.] It apparently is not relayed to and
logged by the Navy until another two or three minutes later.
1415 1215 0815
MTB Division 914 records aircraft have departed. [MTB Division War Log.]
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greg2k
Active member
Mr Bamford,the author of the book 'Dead in the water' was the first who brought the accusation about israelis massacre of egyptian POW in the war 1967.
That what Mr Cristol.author of the book 'Liberty incident' said:
Mr. Bamford provides as his source of this claim two Israeli journalists, both of whom have denied statements attributed to them by Bamford. First, it is literally impossible for an electronic intelligence gatherer to overhear murders taking place in a desert more than a dozen miles away. The Sinai was returned to Egypt in 1973. Egypt has made no claim that such murders took place. No mass graves have been located and no Egyptian soldiers from the '67 war are missing or unaccounted for. Mr. Bamford writings are much closer to fiction than to history.
"On July 2, 2003, as a result of my lawsuit using the Freedom of Information Act, the National Security Agency made two significant admissions. First, that there had been no radio intercepts made by the USS Liberty. Second, that there had been no radio intercepts made by the US submarine Amberjack. And finally, the National Security Agency released copies of the recordings it made from an EC-121 aircraft in the vicinity of the attacks during the time periods 2:30 p.m. Sinai time to 3:27 p.m. Sinai time. These tapes contain nothing to support the prior conspiracy claims and show that the helicopters were first dispatched to rescue Egyptians, and then demonstrate the confusion as to the identification of the target ship."
Cristol adds: "The tapes confirm that the helicopter pilot observed the flag at 3:12 p.m. This perfectly dove-tails with the audio tapes which the Israel Air Force released to Judge Cristol of the radio transmissions before, during and after the attack. The English translations of those tapes are published in Appendix 2, of Judge Cristol's book "The Liberty Incident". The NSA tapes are the last significant piece of evidence which remained classified until now. They clearly corroborates the Israeli Air Force tapes and support the decisions of ten official U.S. investigations and 3 or more official Israeli investigations, all of which concluded that the tragic event was a case of mistaken identity."
"As Admiral "Bud" Edney, former NATO supreme allied commander, Atlantic; and commander in chief, U.S. Atlantic command, stated, "Only those with an ulterior motive can still cling to the conspiracy theories after Judge Jay Cristol's excellent coverage documents each detail that led to the tragic mistaken attack."
That what Mr Cristol.author of the book 'Liberty incident' said:
Mr. Bamford provides as his source of this claim two Israeli journalists, both of whom have denied statements attributed to them by Bamford. First, it is literally impossible for an electronic intelligence gatherer to overhear murders taking place in a desert more than a dozen miles away. The Sinai was returned to Egypt in 1973. Egypt has made no claim that such murders took place. No mass graves have been located and no Egyptian soldiers from the '67 war are missing or unaccounted for. Mr. Bamford writings are much closer to fiction than to history.
"On July 2, 2003, as a result of my lawsuit using the Freedom of Information Act, the National Security Agency made two significant admissions. First, that there had been no radio intercepts made by the USS Liberty. Second, that there had been no radio intercepts made by the US submarine Amberjack. And finally, the National Security Agency released copies of the recordings it made from an EC-121 aircraft in the vicinity of the attacks during the time periods 2:30 p.m. Sinai time to 3:27 p.m. Sinai time. These tapes contain nothing to support the prior conspiracy claims and show that the helicopters were first dispatched to rescue Egyptians, and then demonstrate the confusion as to the identification of the target ship."
Cristol adds: "The tapes confirm that the helicopter pilot observed the flag at 3:12 p.m. This perfectly dove-tails with the audio tapes which the Israel Air Force released to Judge Cristol of the radio transmissions before, during and after the attack. The English translations of those tapes are published in Appendix 2, of Judge Cristol's book "The Liberty Incident". The NSA tapes are the last significant piece of evidence which remained classified until now. They clearly corroborates the Israeli Air Force tapes and support the decisions of ten official U.S. investigations and 3 or more official Israeli investigations, all of which concluded that the tragic event was a case of mistaken identity."
"As Admiral "Bud" Edney, former NATO supreme allied commander, Atlantic; and commander in chief, U.S. Atlantic command, stated, "Only those with an ulterior motive can still cling to the conspiracy theories after Judge Jay Cristol's excellent coverage documents each detail that led to the tragic mistaken attack."
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MontyB
All-Blacks Supporter
1.You are saying israelis knew the ship they attacked was american.So you are saying they knew identity of the ship.Is it your assumption only ,or you have something to support your believe? If you have something in support bring it here.Now about flag on the USS Liberty.Lets say there was a flag on the ship. Can it be a situation the pilot just did not see it because of the small size or maybe because there was no wind to make the flag be full blown and visibile.It is possible.So if israeli pilot overlooked the flag on the ship it makes the pilot partially responsible right, and we can say it was an error on the part of the pilot.But this possibility does not make the case intentional in any way,and that what Naval Court of Inquiry could not find,they did not find intent.And if we calls it an error in the time of war, is it not true,that Israel was the first side,who aknowledge of this error and apologyzied?
2.You are saying there are many theories why Israel attacked the USS Liberty.If Israel wanted to draw USA into the war of 1967,what Israel could expect? As I said before,Soviet Union was ally of Egypt,so Israel by drawing USA into the war could expect the war with Soviet Union.You yourself said you cannot find ligic in this scenari
The problem in all this is that nothing has yet explained why the ship was attacked in the first place, it was:
1) An unarmed ship
2) in International waters
3) Clearly flying a neutral parties flag.
Now I can accept an initial mistake that lead to confusion over the ships identity by the reconnaissance aircraft in the first flyby and that warplanes would then be dispatched (lets ignore that they were in international waters for a second) but it is hard to explain the same identification issues from the attacking aircraft and then the subsequent gunboat attack.
I don't accept the conspiracy theories that have sprung up around this attack as they are far fetched to say the least but I do believe it was a deliberate attempt to sink the ship more than likely caused by a compounding mistake at a local level.
greg2k
Active member
A.1.IDF had a standing order in the 1967 to sink any unidentified military ship in the area of war.From my previous posting it was clear that Israel identified the ship as enemy military ship,and the order was given to attack it.USS Liberty was not unarmed,it had 4 heavy machine guns,and opened fire from two of them on approaching Israeli MTB's.In confusion israeli motor boats sent 5 torpedos,one of them hit USS Liberty.2.International waters are not a safe heaven for enemy ships in the time of military conflicts.In order to be recognized as neutral ship in international waters the ship must not be painted in military colors (USS Liberty was painted in military gray),had a flag of neutral country and it's mssion must be known to the fighting parties in advance.USS Liberty failed on this part. Israeli Brig. Gen. (res.) Yiftah Spector (since retired), who participated in the Liberty attack, agreed to discuss it publicly for the first time. Spector was the first pilot to get to the ship; he identified it as a military vessel that was not Israeli but could not make a specific identification. "My assumption was that it was likely to open fire at me and nevertheless I slowed down and I looked and there was positively no flag. Just to make sure I photographed it," Spector told The Jerusalem Post (Oct. 10, 2003).
B.Israel acknowledged the ship had been identified as American and neutral morning June 8,at 6 a.m, however, it claims that at 11 a.m., the ship was removed from the command status board. Later that day,approx. 12 p.m,when explosions were heard in El-Arish, Israel claims to have reacquired the ship without being aware that it was the same one that was flown over earlier in the day.
C.If you have a belief the attack was deliberate you can live with it,if you want to prove something please bring facts.
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MontyB
All-Blacks Supporter
Yeah this is all nifty and if we take each individual chance to avoid an attack as a single event your argument would be plausible but the problem is that there were 3 opportunities to go "whoops this is a neutral vessel in international waters perhaps we shouldn't be attacking it" .
I am happy to accept that the ship was initially incorrectly identified and this no doubt led to it being attacked (no arguments and a perfectly understandable reaction during a war) but your argument fails to take into account that it flew the US flag throughout the attack and it was attacked by two separate combat entities (not counting the unarmed recon flights before the attack) at different times (aircraft as least two separate assaults and ships), I do not believe for an instant that neither of those two forces took the time to identify their target correctly.
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greg2k
Active member
Fist of all let me tell you this,you mostly telling me your feelings,instead of bringing facts,and by acting this way,you dont bring anything new to the discussion.You basically trying to separate events at one occasion and combine events on another occasions up to your understanding and it brings to confusion.You are telling about three oppotunities to identify the ship and I really dont understand what you mean by that. The ship was identified as USS Liberty June 8,at 6AM,moving toward Israeli coast,and after that there were no recognassant israeli planes over the ship (survivors claimed about 13 recognassant flight over the ship, which Naval Court of Inquiry didn't suppot).USS Liberty was put on the war map and removed at 11 AM,when new team came to work in israeli headquarter and forgotten.
The first wave of two planes attacked the ship at 2 PM and the leading pilot identified the ship as enemy military ship,moving in direction of Port Said.The order was given to attack the ship to the first pair of planes and to the second pair of planes ,which were close.Second pair did not need to identify the ship,because it was identified already by first leading pilot.When we understand these lets look at the situation with motor boats.They were the first which had gotten order to identify the ship,but because of the distance from their base in Ashdod to the location of Liberty was big,they called for assistance from air force.So by the time motor boats came to the scene, air attack already took place.Israelis already had doudts about the ship identification,based on the pilots messages quoting CTR5 letters on the ship.Approaching motor boats and USS Liberty were signalling to each other, but because of the distance and heavy smoke they did not understand each other signals.And then suddenly USS Liberty opened fire on approaching boats from two machine guns.For the israeli boats it was an indication of the hostility of the ship,and motor boat sent five torpedoes,one of them hit the target.This are the timetable of the event: 1420 1220 0820
IAF Command at Kirya tells Naval Command at Stella Maris there is doubt about the target’s
identification. [IDF History Department.] Stella Maris orders MTB Division 914 not to attack.
[IDF History Department/MTB Division War Log.] 1423 1223 0823
MTB Division 914 reports no clear eyeball identification. Target range 4 miles (8,000 yards.)
[IDF Navy HQ War Log.]
1424 1224 0824
Liberty records three (3) MTBs sighted abaft starboard beam, distance 3-4 miles. [USS Liberty
Deck Log, 8 June 1967.] The distance is recorded as 4-5 miles in the US Naval Court of
Inquiry/Exhibit 27: Chronology of Events.
MTB Division 914 reports ship may be commercial or a supply vessel. Not sure. [IDF Navy HQ
War Log.]
1424 3 MTB'S SIGHTED ABAFT STARBOARD 1BEAM DISTANCE 4 -5 MILES (ship log) 1425 1225 0825
Saratoga received from Liberty over the Hi-Com: "Three unidentified gunboats are approaching
vessel now." [US Naval Court of Inquiry/Document 85 of Exhibit 48: DTG 081237Z June 1967,
USS Saratoga to CINCUSNAVEUR.]1426 1226 0826
Liberty records normal (5x8-ft.) steaming ensign noticed not flying. Holiday-size (7x13-ft.) flag
hoisted on port yardarm. [US Naval Court of Inquiry/Exhibit 27: Chronology of Events; USS
Liberty Deck Log, 8 June 1967.]
1428 1228 0828
Liberty records “MTB signaling by flashing light from starboard quarter. Light obscured by densesmoke from burning motor whale boat.” [US Naval Court of Inquiry/Exhibit 27: Chronology of Events and Record of Proceedings, p. 39; USS Liberty Deck Log, 8 June 1967.] IDF History
Department states the MTB signaling time as 1427 with a response from the smoking vessel of
“AA.”[MTB Division 914 War Log.] The Navy HQ War Log indicates MTBs reported the range
as two miles [4,000 yards] while Commander McGonagle’s testimony on p. 39 estimated the
range as 2,000 yards.
1428 MTB SIGNALLING BY FLASHING LIGHT FROM STBD QUARTER.
LIGHT OBSCURED BY DENSE SMOKE FROM BURNING MOTOR WHALEBOAT. (ship log)
1430-31 1230-31 0830-31
Liberty records starboard .50-caliber machine guns opened fire on MTBs. Captain ordered “hold
fire.” Word passed to “standby torpedo attack starboard.” [US Naval Court of Inquiry/Exhibit
27: Chronology of Events and Record of Proceedings, p. 39; USS Liberty Deck Log, 8 June
1967.]
MTBs commence attack run after permission to do so from Naval HQ is granted. The MTB
Division 914 War Log records “detected firing flashes” at 1435, identification of the ship as the
El Quiser at 1437, and attack commencing at 1440.
Dispatched IAF helicopters are informed they are heading towards an attacked “warship.” [NSA
audio tapes.]
1430 ONE ROUND FIRED BY MACHINE GUN 51. C.O. ORDERED HOLD FIRE. (ship log)
1431 MACHINE GUN 53 OPENED FIRE. C.O. SENT ENS LUCAS AROUND
PORT SIDE OF BRIDGE TO GET MACHINE GUN 53 TO CEASE FIRING (ship log)
see next posting.
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MontyB
All-Blacks Supporter
I guess it comes down to how much stock you put into the survivors accounts, I tend to think that for the most part they are accurate as they have the bullet holes to back them up.
I also think it is incredibly unlikely that multiple waves of aircraft and ships operating at low level and in the case of the ships at close proximity never once focused enough attention on their target to notice the flag it was flying.
This is my personal belief:
1) The ship was incorrectly identified as an Egyptian vessel.
2) It was attacked.
3) It was then correctly identified as a US vessel and local commanders decided to complete the attack and sink the vessel in the hopes of being able to pass off a mistake as an Egyptian attack.
No conspiracies at senior levels just simple human error and stupidity, I do not believe that the US government was involved nor do I believe that the higher echelons of the Israeli government were involved.
I also think it is incredibly unlikely that multiple waves of aircraft and ships operating at low level and in the case of the ships at close proximity never once focused enough attention on their target to notice the flag it was flying.
This is my personal belief:
1) The ship was incorrectly identified as an Egyptian vessel.
2) It was attacked.
3) It was then correctly identified as a US vessel and local commanders decided to complete the attack and sink the vessel in the hopes of being able to pass off a mistake as an Egyptian attack.
No conspiracies at senior levels just simple human error and stupidity, I do not believe that the US government was involved nor do I believe that the higher echelons of the Israeli government were involved.
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greg2k
Active member
cont.from previous posting 1434 1234 0834
One torpedo passed astern logged by Liberty. [US Naval Court of Inquiry/Exhibit 27:
The Liberty Incident Time Line Page 25 of 56
Chronology of Events; USS Liberty Deck Log, 8 June 1967.]
IAF HQ is informed that the ship is “an Egyptian supply boat” by IAF Regional Control Central
based on the information passed by the navy. [IAF audio tapes.] Dispatched IAF helicopters are
informed the vessel is “now identified as Egyptian. You can return home now.” [NSA audio
tapes.]
1435 TORPEDO HIT STARBOARD SIDE AMIDSHIPS. TWENTY SIX MEN
DIED AS A RESULT OF THE TORPEDO HIT AND MTB STRAFING FIRE. (ship log)
1440 MTB'S STANDING AWAY FROM THE SHIP. ONE MTB HAS HULL NUMBER 206-17 (ship log)
1450 1250 0850
Admiral Martin transmitted directly to America ordering her to launch four armed A-4s and
provide fighter cover and tankers. He also transmitted directly to Saratoga to launch four armed
A-1s ASAP same mission.. [JCS Fact Finding Team Report, June 1967: DTG 081250Z June
1967, COMSIXTHFLT to USS America and USS Saratoga.]
Note: The next day Admiral Martin sent the following message to CTF60, Admiral Geis:
“In the rush of getting the flight off to protect Liberty, I went direct to your carriers
bypassing you. The action was inadvertent and I apoligize [sic] for it.” [Naval Historical
Center: DTG 091306Z June 1967, CTF60 to TF60.]
It is also interesting to note that Admiral Martin mentions "the flight" rather than “flights.” It also
confirms that bypassing the chain-of-command was not a normal event.
The MTBs are ordered to search for survivors and establish identity. [MTB Division 914 War
Log.]
1451 1251 0851
The MTBs report that ship might be Russian: “Based on writing on back [stern] of vessel.” [MTB
Division 914 War Log.]
1456 1256 0856
IAF HQ is informed that the dispatched IAF helicopters will be asked to determine the language
of the sailors picked up. [IAF audio tapes.]
1458 1258 0858
The IAF helicopters are instructed to determine the nationality of the first man picked up and to
report immediately. [NSA audio tapes.]
1503 ONE MTB RETURNED TO SHIP AND SIGNALLED "DO YOU NEED
HELP" IN ENGLISH C.O. SIGNALLED "NEGATIVE" (ship log)
1503 1303 0903
Israeli MTBs offered assistance by flashing light to Liberty. Assistance is declined. [USS Liberty
Deck Log, 8 June 1967; US Naval Court of Inquiry/Exhibit 27: Chronology of Events.] The Navy
HQ War Log reports MTB Division 914 “closely approaching in order to identify the vessel” at
1505.
The MTBs record two helicopters are coming. [MTB Division 914 War Log.]
The IAF helicopters report coming up on three small vessels and one large vessel. They are
informed the three small vessels are “ours.” [NSA audio tapes.]
1504 1304 0904
IAF Command records nationality of the ship is not established. [IAF audio tapes.] One of the
dispatched IAF helicopters has established communications with the MTBs. [NSA audio tapes.]
1506 1306 0906
The IAF helicopters are instructed to determine the language of any men picked up. If they speak
Arabic, take them to El Arish. If English, to Lod airport. [NSA audio tapes.]
1512 1312 0912
IAF Command records that the identification of the ship is American. The helicopters are
requested to double-check.[IAF and NSA audio tapes; CIA Report SC No. 01415/67, 13 June
1967.] The IDF Navy HQ War Log reports this events as 1513.
1514 1314 0914
IAF HQ is informed “it’s an American flag.” The helicopters are instructed to “return home.”[IAF
and NSA audio tapes.]
So now we can see that israeli motor boats were attacked first in the international waters,USS Liberty did not know the identity of the approaching boats and opened fire on them.USS Liberty was on fire with heavy smoke from air attack and israelis could not see flag on the ship.Only the pilots of the two israeli helicopters ,which came on the scene and approached very close to the ship first reported saw it at 3.12 PM.Only after that the ship was finally identified as american.
One torpedo passed astern logged by Liberty. [US Naval Court of Inquiry/Exhibit 27:
The Liberty Incident Time Line Page 25 of 56
Chronology of Events; USS Liberty Deck Log, 8 June 1967.]
IAF HQ is informed that the ship is “an Egyptian supply boat” by IAF Regional Control Central
based on the information passed by the navy. [IAF audio tapes.] Dispatched IAF helicopters are
informed the vessel is “now identified as Egyptian. You can return home now.” [NSA audio
tapes.]
1435 TORPEDO HIT STARBOARD SIDE AMIDSHIPS. TWENTY SIX MEN
DIED AS A RESULT OF THE TORPEDO HIT AND MTB STRAFING FIRE. (ship log)
1440 MTB'S STANDING AWAY FROM THE SHIP. ONE MTB HAS HULL NUMBER 206-17 (ship log)
1450 1250 0850
Admiral Martin transmitted directly to America ordering her to launch four armed A-4s and
provide fighter cover and tankers. He also transmitted directly to Saratoga to launch four armed
A-1s ASAP same mission.. [JCS Fact Finding Team Report, June 1967: DTG 081250Z June
1967, COMSIXTHFLT to USS America and USS Saratoga.]
Note: The next day Admiral Martin sent the following message to CTF60, Admiral Geis:
“In the rush of getting the flight off to protect Liberty, I went direct to your carriers
bypassing you. The action was inadvertent and I apoligize [sic] for it.” [Naval Historical
Center: DTG 091306Z June 1967, CTF60 to TF60.]
It is also interesting to note that Admiral Martin mentions "the flight" rather than “flights.” It also
confirms that bypassing the chain-of-command was not a normal event.
The MTBs are ordered to search for survivors and establish identity. [MTB Division 914 War
Log.]
1451 1251 0851
The MTBs report that ship might be Russian: “Based on writing on back [stern] of vessel.” [MTB
Division 914 War Log.]
1456 1256 0856
IAF HQ is informed that the dispatched IAF helicopters will be asked to determine the language
of the sailors picked up. [IAF audio tapes.]
1458 1258 0858
The IAF helicopters are instructed to determine the nationality of the first man picked up and to
report immediately. [NSA audio tapes.]
1503 ONE MTB RETURNED TO SHIP AND SIGNALLED "DO YOU NEED
HELP" IN ENGLISH C.O. SIGNALLED "NEGATIVE" (ship log)
1503 1303 0903
Israeli MTBs offered assistance by flashing light to Liberty. Assistance is declined. [USS Liberty
Deck Log, 8 June 1967; US Naval Court of Inquiry/Exhibit 27: Chronology of Events.] The Navy
HQ War Log reports MTB Division 914 “closely approaching in order to identify the vessel” at
1505.
The MTBs record two helicopters are coming. [MTB Division 914 War Log.]
The IAF helicopters report coming up on three small vessels and one large vessel. They are
informed the three small vessels are “ours.” [NSA audio tapes.]
1504 1304 0904
IAF Command records nationality of the ship is not established. [IAF audio tapes.] One of the
dispatched IAF helicopters has established communications with the MTBs. [NSA audio tapes.]
1506 1306 0906
The IAF helicopters are instructed to determine the language of any men picked up. If they speak
Arabic, take them to El Arish. If English, to Lod airport. [NSA audio tapes.]
1512 1312 0912
IAF Command records that the identification of the ship is American. The helicopters are
requested to double-check.[IAF and NSA audio tapes; CIA Report SC No. 01415/67, 13 June
1967.] The IDF Navy HQ War Log reports this events as 1513.
1514 1314 0914
IAF HQ is informed “it’s an American flag.” The helicopters are instructed to “return home.”[IAF
and NSA audio tapes.]
So now we can see that israeli motor boats were attacked first in the international waters,USS Liberty did not know the identity of the approaching boats and opened fire on them.USS Liberty was on fire with heavy smoke from air attack and israelis could not see flag on the ship.Only the pilots of the two israeli helicopters ,which came on the scene and approached very close to the ship first reported saw it at 3.12 PM.Only after that the ship was finally identified as american.
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MontyB
All-Blacks Supporter
I get the impression here you are trying play at being an apologist, I suspect that by the time the MTBs arrived the crew of the Liberty were wishing they had something more useful than a couple of 50cals to fire at the approaching ships and I certainly don't blame them for that (in fact you have to admire them for being able to engage an enemy given the damage they suffered).
I have no idea why you want to bring "international waters' into this as an Israeli defence given that the Liberty was defending itself from an attack that was already underway in "international waters" and when you consider that the testimony of the Liberty's crew was that they managed to ID the nationality of the Recon flights, attacking aircraft and naval vessels even while under attack I find it impossible to accept Iraeli accounts that they couldn't ID the Liberty given the bloody great flag it was flying.
I accept that my views as you have stated are based on opinion/feeling but I think most people know when someone is trying to pull a fast one without requiring written documentation and in the case of the Israeli excuses on this one I think it is pretty clear.
I have no idea why you want to bring "international waters' into this as an Israeli defence given that the Liberty was defending itself from an attack that was already underway in "international waters" and when you consider that the testimony of the Liberty's crew was that they managed to ID the nationality of the Recon flights, attacking aircraft and naval vessels even while under attack I find it impossible to accept Iraeli accounts that they couldn't ID the Liberty given the bloody great flag it was flying.
I accept that my views as you have stated are based on opinion/feeling but I think most people know when someone is trying to pull a fast one without requiring written documentation and in the case of the Israeli excuses on this one I think it is pretty clear.
greg2k
Active member
Here you said very good sentence:It comes down to how much stock you put into the survivors account.And I agree with this sentence.But we have disagreement on the second sentence.I mostly see in accounts of survivors (and by the way,not all survivors support the claims of some)imagination,fantasy and simply lies.I can understand all their pain and anger toward Israel and their own Government who left them alone for many hours in the sea, without actual help,I can understand,and anybody with decent soul can understand the suffering of the sailors. But what I still cannot understand,how the people who were in US Navy uniform can create the things and lie in order to move their case forward.This I cannot understand.I cannot understand when they bring accusation toward Israel for War Crimes,when israelis admitted their error,offered help in the sea several times (which was rejected by USS Liberty every time),after Israel officially apologyzed to the US Government,to the survivors of this tragic incident and paid reparation to the survivors.Why they are bringing these imaginatory things?They want official Congressional Investigation and what do they expect?They think they can lie to Congress and Congress will support them simply because they are american citizens or former sailors?No,american judiciary system based on the facts,not simply someone said something.And the claims of the survivors are imaginatory,without facts,and sometimes even laughfable.The book of the Lt J Ennes 'Assalt on Liberty' is half thruth and half fiction,which cannot be taken as a document describing what really happened there.The action of those survivors,who are pushing for reinvestigation of the Liberty Incident case and blaming many US officials,US Navy,NSA and CIA brings another sad moment on top of all sadness and pain,that US and Israel had in this tragic incident.
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MontyB
All-Blacks Supporter
Clearly you do not understand human nature then because I will guarantee you that immediately after the attack there is no way Israeli personnel or help would have been accepted on that ship without a gun battle first to think that anyone is going to accept aid from the same guys the minutes before sucker punched them and killed their shipmates in international waters is wishful thinking to say the least.
As far as the survivors beliefs regarding their own government, CIA etc. go I see that as perfectly understandable when you take into account the actions taken and no amount of apologising will change this, it is easy for governments to brush aside incidents and accept apology's when they were not there at the time.
Out of interest if I unexpectedly opened up on your house killing a couple of family members then a couple of hours into the attack suddenly said "whoa sorry I thought you were someone else, my bad can I call you a doctor" and the police that showed up told you that I apologied so they are not going to pursue the matter, how happy would you be?
I am betting you wouldn't be at all satisfied.
As far as the survivors beliefs regarding their own government, CIA etc. go I see that as perfectly understandable when you take into account the actions taken and no amount of apologising will change this, it is easy for governments to brush aside incidents and accept apology's when they were not there at the time.
Out of interest if I unexpectedly opened up on your house killing a couple of family members then a couple of hours into the attack suddenly said "whoa sorry I thought you were someone else, my bad can I call you a doctor" and the police that showed up told you that I apologied so they are not going to pursue the matter, how happy would you be?
I am betting you wouldn't be at all satisfied.