| |
N0KFQ > TODAY 08.06.13 23:37l 49 Lines 2276 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 40970_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Jun 8
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<JH4XSY<JE7YGF<XE1FH<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 130608/1455Z 40970@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.55
.
Jun 8, 1967:
Israel attacks USS Liberty
During the Six-Day War, Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats attack
the USS Liberty in international waters off Egypt's Gaza Strip.
The intelligence ship, well-marked as an American vessel and only
lightly armed, was attacked first by Israeli aircraft that fired
napalm and rockets at the ship. The Liberty attempted to radio
for assistance, but the Israeli aircraft blocked the
transmissions. Eventually, the ship was able to make contact with
the U.S. carrier Saratoga, and 12 fighter jets and four tanker
planes were dispatched to defend the Liberty. When word of their
deployment reached Washington, however, Secretary of Defense
Robert McNamara ordered them recalled to the carrier, and they
never reached the Liberty. The reason for the recall remains
unclear.
Back in the Mediterranean, the initial air raid against the
Liberty was over. Nine of the 294 crewmembers were dead and 60
were wounded. Suddenly, the ship was attacked by Israeli torpedo
boats, which launched torpedoes and fired artillery at the ship.
Under the command of its wounded captain, William L. McGonagle,
the Liberty managed to avert four torpedoes, but one struck the
ship at the waterline. Heavily damaged, the ship launched three
lifeboats, but these were also attacked--a violation of
international law. Failing to sink the Liberty, which displaced
10,000 tons, the Israelis finally desisted. In all, 34 Americans
were killed and 171 were wounded in the two-hour attack. In the
attack's aftermath, the Liberty managed to limp to a safe port.
Israel later apologized for the attack and offered $6.9 million
in compensation, claiming that it had mistaken the Liberty for an
Egyptian ship. However, Liberty survivors, and some former U.S.
officials, believe that the attack was deliberate, staged to
conceal Israel's pending seizure of Syria's Golan Heights, which
occurred the next day. The ship's listening devices would likely
have overheard Israeli military communications planning this
controversial operation. Captain McGonagle was later awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic command of the
Liberty during and after the attack.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Using Outpost Ver 2.7.0 c21
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
