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History
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U.S.S. Liberty
Source: NSA
| On June 8, 1967, the Liberty, a ship of the Naval Security
Group, found itself in the middle of the 1967 Arab-Israeli Six-Day War.
Cruising 25 miles off the Gaza coast, it was attacked by Israeli fighters
and torpedo boats at 2 o'clock on a clear and sunny afternoon. There was
no apparent provocation, and the reason for the attack has never been
fully resolved, although Israel described it as an identification error
and sent restitution for the damage and loss of life.
The U.S. government accepted the explanation of the Israeli government concerning the identification error. The loss of thirty-four men was the largest loss of life in a single event in American cryptologic history. It occurred, ironically, during a war in which the United States was not a participant. On 02 July 2003, the National Security Agency (NSA) released additional
information relative to the 08 June 1967 attack on the U.S.S. Liberty.
This release includes three audio recordings, transcripts (in English),
three follow-up reports, and a U.S. Cryptologic History Report entitled
"Attack on a Sigint Collector, the U.S.S. Liberty." This month the NSA has released transcripts from helicopter rescue pilots and these are the transcripts in PDF File format. These transcripts were translated from the original language to English. Get a free Acrobat PDF reader HERE.
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The following pictures and information were supplied by the US Navy and shows damage to the U.S.S. Liberty from the Israeli attack of June 8, 1967
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U.S.S. Liberty right after the attack of June 8, 1967. |
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Commander William L. McGonagle, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Liberty (AGTR-5) In his cabin on board the
ship, 11 June 1967. |
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At Valletta, Malta, after arriving there for repair of damages received
after the attack. She arrived at Malta on 14 June. Note torpedo hole in her side, forward of the superstructure. |
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Commander William L. McGonagle, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Liberty (AGTR-5) Points out damage inflicted
on the ship's superstructure. |
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At Valletta, Malta, after arriving for repair of damages received when
she was attacked on 8 June 1967. She arrived at Malta on 14 June. Note torpedo hole in her hull side, forward of the superstructure. |
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Gunfire and rocket damage to her hull side and superstructure, inflicted
when she was attacked on 8 June 1967. Photographed after she arrived at Valletta, Malta, for repairs. Photo is dated 16 June. |
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Damage to the ship's bridge area, received in attacks on 8 June 1967. View looks aft and to port, from just in front of the superstructure. Note rocket entrance and exit holes, and ruined signal lamp in lower left. |
On 02 July 2003, the National Security Agency (NSA) released additional
information relative to the 08 June 1967 attack on the U.S.S. Liberty.
This release includes three audio recordings, transcripts (in English),
three follow-up reports, and a U.S. Cryptologic History Report entitled
"Attack on a Sigint Collector, the U.S.S. Liberty." The recordings
are in Hebrew and contain time counts in English that were added by the
intercept operator. The follow-up reports are summaries of the three transcripts
with non-substantive chatter omitted and a compiled report that summarizes
the activity and contains the text of the transcripts. The U.S. Cryptologic
History Report is a less redacted version of the same document originally
released in 1999.
Audio Files
Acrobat PDF File translations of recordings
Acrobat PDF File Follow Up Reports
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