319. Telegram From the Director of the National Security Agency (Carter) to the White House1
Washington, June 22, 1967,
1454Z.
SIGINT Readiness Bravo “Crayon” Report Nr. 2149.
Aftermath of Israeli Attack on USS Liberty, 8 June 1967.
1. General
The following activity is based on Israeli plain language VHF/UHF voice communications intercepted on 8 June 1967 between 1229Z and 1328Z. This activity deals solely with the aftermath of the attack by [Page 542] Israeli jet aircraft and torpedo boats on the USS Liberty (GTR5). There are no COMINT reflections of the actual attack itself.
2. Summary
At 1230Z, two Israeli helicopters 810 and 815, were dispatched by Hatsor to the area of the incident to check for survivors of an unidentified “warship.” Approximately at 1234Z, the air controller at Hatsor clarified the identity of the ship to the two Israeli helicopters by informing them that it had been identified as Egyptian. At 1239Z, Hatsor told the helicopters that it was an Egyptian cargo ship.
At 1307Z, Hatsor told helicopter 815 to take any survivors that spoke Egyptian to El Arish ((31–08N 34–54E)), but if they spoke English to take them to Lod ((31–58N 34–54E)).
At 1312Z, the Israeli helicopter 815 apparently informed Hatsor on a different frequency that it had sighted an American flag on the ship. Hatsor then asked the helicopter to make another pass to check “if this is really an American flag.”
The helicopters and the MTBs were communicating on a UHF frequency whereas the helicopters and the air controller at Hatsor were using VHF throughout. At 1310Z, helicopter 815 informed the MTB using callword “Pagoda” that the ship was not in danger. The same helicopter then reported that G.T.R.–5 was written on the ship and inquired if this meant anything. The MTB replied in the negative.
Throughout this intercept, the USS Liberty is referred to as the “big one” while the three Israeli motor torpedo boats are referred to as the “small ones.” The helicopters used call signs 810 and 815. The air controller at Hatsor Air Base used call word “Tribune.” The MTBs used callwords “Thorn,” “Pagoda,” and “Crisis.” The callword “Jewel” is not identified, but may be Haifa.
3. Details
| Time | To | From | Text | |
| — | — | I understand the course from Ashdod ((31–55N 34–39E)) is 215. | ||
| — | — | Negative ((the course is)) 250. | ||
| — | — | Roger | ||
| 815 | (Tribune) | To what altitude are you climbing? | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | I’m now at 500 feet. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | |||
| 1230Z | — | — | Five by. | |
| (815) | (Tribune) | Pay attention: there was a warship there which we attacked ((1 WD G)), the men jumped from it ((the ship)) into the water, you will try to rescue them. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger, I understand it was hit and unable to fire. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | No fire was seen from her and those ([less than 1 line of source text not declassified] onboard) did not fire; heavy smoke is rising from her. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | ([less than 1 line of source text not declassified] crossing the) coast now at a course of 250. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger, over. What location ((are you))? | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Over Ashdod. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger, what’s your altitude? | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | 500 feet. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Are you able to climb to an altitude of ((1,000 feet))? | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger, I’m climbing. | ||
| 1232Z | ||||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Altitude 1 ((1,000)), course 250. | ||
| 815 | (Tribune) | Roger. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Are you at sea now? | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | About 3 or 4 miles. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Visual ((radar)) contact with you. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | ((Calling)) | ((repeats)). | |
| (815) | (Tribune) | At the moment she ((Liberty)) is straight ahead at a distance of about 50 miles. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger. | ||
| Tribune | 810 | ((Calling)). | ||
| 815 | (815) | Five by, 810 is calling you. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | ((Calling)). | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Five by. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Pay attention: the ship is now identified as Egyptian, you can return home now. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger. | ||
| 1235Z | ||||
| 810 | (815) | Establish communications with you also. | ||
| 815 | (Tribune) | Did you receive? | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Affirmative, receive, I’m returning. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | ((Calling)). | ||
| (Tribune) | 815 | ((Calling)). | ||
| (Tribune) | 810 | Am I to return also? | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | I’ll let you know shortly. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Roger. | ||
| 1236Z | ||||
| Tribune | 810 | ((Calling)). | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Roger, I’ll let you know shortly. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | OK. | ||
| (Tribune) | (8)10 | ((Calling)) ((rpts)). | ||
| 810 | (Tribune) | You remain meanwhile in communications with me. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Roger, what am I to look for? | ||
| (Tribune) | 815 | ((Calling)). | ||
| 810 | (Tribune) | Where are you? | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | I’m close to Ashdod. | ||
| (810) | (815) | Roger, I’m also close to Ashdod, on the seaward side. | ||
| 1238Z | ||||
| Tribune | (810) | Did you receive? | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | What did 815 request? | ||
| 810 | (815) | What’s your altitude? | ||
| (815) | (810) | Altitude 500 feet, near Ashdod. | ||
| 810 | (815) | Roger, we’re at altitude 1200 feet over Ashdod. | ||
| (815) | (810) | Roger. | ||
| 810 | Tribune | ((Calling)). | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Five by. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Pay attention: you will continue meanwhile on a course of 250 from Ashdod. The both of you ((1–2 WD G)) will head toward the ship. | ||
| 815 | (Tribune) | ((Calling)). | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Five by. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger, you will continue ((at a course)) of 250 from Ashdod. The both of you will head for the ship, for the time being the both of you will be at altitude 1 ((1000 feet)). | ||
| 810 | (Tribune) | Do you see us? | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Affirmative, affirmative. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Where are you? | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Where are you now? | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Ashdod, altitude 1 ((1000)). | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Did you receive? | ||
| 810 | Tribune | ((Calling)). | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Five by. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Altitude is 1 ((1000)), at Ashdod. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Roger. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Going to course 250 together with 815. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Are the two of you together? | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Affirmative, we’re together. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Roger. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Pay attention: you ([less than 1 line of source text not declassified] nonetheless) are heading for the ship. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | You will try to take the men from the water. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Roger, okay. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | For your information: the ship is apparently ([less than 1 line of source text not declassified] burning). | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | ((1 WD G)) it is an Egyptian cargo ship. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Roger. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Visual ((radar)) contact with both of you. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Roger. | ||
| 1240Z | ||||
| (810) | (Tribune) | I understand that you ((1–2 WD G)) both of you? | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Affirmative. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Roger. | ||
| 1241Z | ||||
| 810 | Tribune | ((Calling)). | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Five by. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Take the men to El Arish. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Roger, okay. | ||
| (815) | (810) | Did you receive? | ||
| (810) | (815) | I received, affirmative. | ||
| 1242Z | ||||
| (810) | (815) | How much fuel do you have? | ||
| (815) | (810) | Two and a half tanks. | ||
| (810) | (815) | I have 1,700 ((liters)). | ||
| (815) | (810) | This isn’t good. | ||
| (810) | (815) | ((1 WD G)) to El Arish. | ||
| (815) | (810) | Roger. | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | The ship is located now straight ahead at a range of 50 miles. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Roger. | ||
| — | — | Are you first in line? | ||
| — | — | Affirmative. | ||
| — | — | Roger. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | ((2 WD G)) from the coast of El Arish. | ||
| 1248Z | ||||
| Tribune | 810 | ((Calling)) ((repeats)). | ||
| 1250Z | ||||
| (Tribune) | 810 | About how many men are there? | ||
| 815 | Tribune | ((Calling)). | ||
| Tribune | 810 | How many men are there? | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Turn right to ((course)) 260. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Repeat. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Turn right to course 260. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | ((Course)), they want to know how many men are there? | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | At the present time, it still isn’t known, the distance to you is now 33 miles. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | What is the distance from it ((the Liberty)) to El Arish? | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | The distance is approximately 30 miles. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger. | ||
| Tribune | 810 | ((Calling)). | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Five by. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | It’s noteworthy that it ((1 WD G)). | ||
| (810) | (Tribune) | Roger. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | ((Calling)). | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Five by. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | What is the distance? | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | The distance is now 23 miles. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger. | ||
| 815 | (Tribune) | Pay attention: call on 86 or on 186 Pagoda. | ||
| ((Tr Note: 186 and 86 refer to a UHF frequency.)) | ||||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | I’m going over to 186. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger. | ||
| (Tribune) | 810 | I’m also ((going over to 186)). | ||
| (815) | Tribune | Is someone calling ((me)) Tribune? | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Affirmative, I don’t have contact with Pagoda. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger, clear, the ship is now at a distance of 19 miles. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger, is Pagoda located near ((the Liberty))? | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Apparently it’s located near it ((the ship)). | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger. | ||
| 1257Z | ||||
| 815 | (Tribune) | If you are able, try to call her ((Pagoda)) on 86. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | I tried. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | I didn’t (C val get anything) ((make contact)). | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | ((Calling)). | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Do you have visual contact? Straight ahead, a distance of 18 miles. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | I have visual contact with ((1 WD G)) smoke or it could be ((1–2 WD G)). | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger, is there much smoke rising from it? | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Roger. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | I don’t have contact with Pagoda. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger. | ||
| 810 | 815 | ((Calling)). | ||
| 815 | 810 | Five by. | ||
| 810 | 815 | Do you have contact with Pagoda? | ||
| 815 | 810 | Negative. | ||
| 810 | 815 | Roger, I don’t either. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | ((Calling)). | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Five by. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | When you begin bringing up the men, clarify by the first man that you bring up, what nationality he is. | ||
| 1259Z | ||||
| 815 | Tribune | And report to me immediately, it’s important to know. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Roger. | ||
| 815 | TribuneWhat is your altitude now? | |||
| Tribune | 815 | Altitude is 1 ((1000 feet)). | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | I have ((visual)) contact with a vessel straight ahead ((at a distance of)) 12 ((miles)) a little from the right, smoke isn’t rising; QT the north it isn’t smoking. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | The distance is now 13 miles. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Roger. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Do you see the ship? | ||
| Tribune | 815 | I see the ship, a little to the right of the smoke. The smoke the smoke isn’t rising. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger, it’s possible that ((the smoke)) is from one of ours. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Roger. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | It’s worth clarifying. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Roger, what I see ([less than 1 line of source text not declassified] now) is ours, this is clear. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | 10 miles is the distance now. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Roger, I understand at 12 o’clock ((1 WD G)). | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Affirmative, a little on the right side. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Roger. | ||
| 1301Z | ||||
| 815 | Tribune | The distance is now 9 miles. | ||
| 1302Z | ||||
| Tribune | 815 | I’m going over to 86. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger, I request to receive a report, tell me the nationality. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | ((Calling)). | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Go ahead. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Roger, there is a large ship, smoke isn’t rising. At the present time smoke is a little to the right on its left side ((XG)) I see a small vessel. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Three small vessels. | ||
| 1303Z | ||||
| 815 | (Tribune) | Are you calling me? | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Five by. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Did you call me? | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Affirmative. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger, what’s the matter? | ||
| Tribune | 815 | There is a large vessel, near it are 3 small vessels, could this be it, at a distance of a mile from me? | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger, clear. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger, apparently the small vessels are ours. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Roger. | ||
| 815 | 810 | ((Calling)). | ||
| 810 | 815 | Five by. | ||
| 815 | 810 | What’s the matter? | ||
| 810 | 815 | Don’t you see it yet? | ||
| 815 | 810 | I’m behind you, I still don’t see the ship ((1 WD G)) on the right side of us. | ||
| 810 | 815 | Roger, exactly in front of me, there are the small vessels. | ||
| 815 | 810 | What’s with them, what’s going on? | ||
| 810 | 815 | It appears that they are ours. | ||
| 815 | 810 | On our right side? | ||
| 810 | 815 | Yes. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | All 3 of them are ours. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger, the small ones, right? | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Affirmative. | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Roger. I’m heading for the big one ((Liberty)). | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Are you going for the big one? | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Affirmative. | ||
| 1304Z | ||||
| 815 | Thorn | Roger, wait. | ||
| — | — | Five by. | ||
| — | — | Roger, transmit. | ||
| — | — | Yes. | ||
| — | — | With you. | ||
| ((Tr Note: Last 4 transmissions are one way communication—all 4 are from same source—other terminal is on different frequency.)) | ||||
| 185 | (sic) Thorn | We search around and didn’t find anyone. | ||
| ((Tr Note: It is believed that Thorn made an error and wanted to call 815. The call sign 185 however has been used by an Israeli jet aircraft (either a Mirage or a Mystere). It is of course possible that Thorn had previously been in contact with 185, but if this was the case there are no COMINT reflections of this activity.)) | ||||
| (Thorn) | (815) | Roger. | ||
| (815) | (Thorn) | The big one ((Liberty)) is not ours. | ||
| 185 (sic) | Thorn | How do you read me? | ||
| ((Tr Note: Again Thorn says 185 vice 815.)) | ||||
| (Thorn) | 815 | ((Calls)). | ||
| 815 | Thorn | We searched around and didn’t find anyone. | ||
| Thorn | (815) | Roger. | ||
| — | Tribune | We hear you excellently. | ||
| Pagoda | 810 | ((Calls)). | ||
| 810 | Pagoda | Transmit. | ||
| (Pagoda) | (810) | What are you saying? | ||
| (810) | (Pagoda) | Send your report. | ||
| (Pagoda) | 810 | What has to be done here? | ||
| Pagoda | 810 | ((Calls)). | ||
| (810) | (Pagoda) | Search to see if there are men in the water. | ||
| 1306Z | ||||
| (Pagoda) | (810) | Roger. | ||
| — | (Tribune) | I understand and for the big one ((Liberty)). | ||
| (Tribune) | (Pagoda) | Don’t speak on the channel now ((rpts)). | ||
| — | (Pagoda) | Five by, it appears to me that I found the men. | ||
| — | Pagoda | Affirmative? | ||
| — | (Pagoda) | Roger, that’s clear. | ||
| — | (Pagoda) | Roger. | ||
| — | (Pagoda) | Negative, it’s not men, it’s boats, it’s not men. | ||
| Tribune | 810 | ((Calling)). | ||
| 810 | Tribune | Go ahead. | ||
| 815 | 810 | ((Calling)). | ||
| 810 | 815 | Five by. | ||
| 815 | 810 | What’s going on? | ||
| 810 | 815 | I don’t know anything ((1 WD G)) ((about them)) I’ll try to contact them on 186. | ||
| ((Tr Note: 815 is trying to get in touch with the 3 small ships on 186 frequency.)) | ||||
| 815 | 810 | Are the small ones ours? | ||
| 815 | Tribune | ((Calling)). | ||
| Tribune | 815 | Five by. | ||
| 815 | TribunePay attention: if any of them are speaking, and if they are speaking Arabic ((Egyptian)), you take them to el Arish ((31–08N 33–45E)). If they are speaking English, not Egyptian, you take them to Lod (31–58N 34–54E). Is this clear? | |||
| Tribune | 815 | Roger. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Do you see the men? | ||
| 815 | Tribune | To whom does the big one ((ship)) belong? | ||
| 1307Z | ||||
| 815 | 810 | ((Calling)) ((repeats)). | ||
| 810 | 815 | Five by. | ||
| 815 | 810 | Don’t leave the vicinity. If you do leave, report ((to me)). | ||
| 810 | 815 | I’m not monitoring this channel. I’m speaking on 186 with Thorn. This is the small ones ((sic)). | ||
| 815 | 810 | Roger, what should be done? | ||
| 810 | 815 | Search for survivors ([less than 1 line of source text not declassified] whether you find them or not). | ||
| Pagoda | 815 | ((Calls)). | ||
| 815 | Pagoda | Transmit. | ||
| 1308Z | ||||
| (815) | (810) | Roger. | ||
| 810 | Tribune | Are you able to go up a little higher in order to see the situation better? | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Roger. | ||
| 810 | Tribune | ((Calling)). ((Repeats)). | ||
| 815 | Tribune | ((Calling)). | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Are you over whatever you located? | ||
| ((Tr Note: It should be noted here that helicopters 810 and 815 are now answering control on another frequency.)) | ||||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger, the first matter to clarify is to find out what their nationality is. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Report to me immediately. | ||
| 1310Z | ||||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger this is clear. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger, you watch out for the masts there. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | ((Calling)). | ||
| (Pagoda) | (815) | I understand that the ship is not in danger. | ||
| (815) | Pagoda | I am not sure that it ((the Liberty)) is not in danger. Are you suggesting the seriousness of it ((the situation)), by ((saying)) this? ((Tr Note: As heard.)) | ||
| (Pagoda) | (815) | Negative, G.T.R.–5 is written (on it). | ||
| ((Tr Note: Letters G.T.R. sent in English.)) | ||||
| (815) | (Pagoda) | Roger ((stops)). | ||
| (Pagoda) | (815) | Does this mean something? | ||
| (815) | (Pagoda) | Negative, it doesn’t mean anything. | ||
| (Pagoda) | (815) | From behind it ((Liberty)) several uninflated boats were seen. | ||
| (815) | (Pagoda) | Roger. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | You take 810 with you and return home, ([less than 1 line of source text not declassified] bearing) 070, distance of 6 miles. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Five by. | ||
| 1312Z | ||||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger, this is clear, did you clearly identify an American flag? | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Thanks, remain meanwhile over the area. | ||
| 810 | 815 | ((Calling)). | ||
| 815 | Tribune | We request that you make another pass and check once more if this is really an American flag. | ||
| (Tribune) | (815) | Roger. | ||
| ((Tr Note: Do not hear from 815 until 1327Z.)) | ||||
| — | (Tribune) | Five by. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger, this is clear, what kind of flag is it? | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger, this is clear. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Five by, remain meanwhile in waiting, and we’ll report to you immediately. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Is this clear? | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Take 810, and return home. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | ((Course)) 065, distance of 65 miles. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger, this is clear. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger, I received, I will notify you immediately as to what to do. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger. | ||
| 1316Z | ||||
| — | (Tribune) | Pay attention. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger, this is clear. According to the instruction, whoever has the most fuel. | ||
| 1317Z | ||||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Roger, I’m checking on it. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Pay attention: whoever has the most fuel between you will return home, the one with the least will go to El Arish. | ||
| 815 | Tribune | Not at the present time. Apparently the one who is going to El Arish will return later. | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Which one of you is going home? | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | Who is going home? | ||
| (815) | (Tribune) | OK. | ||
| [time illegible] | ||||
| 815 | Tribune | Roger, this is known. I received the notice and it’s known that these orders came from above. | ||
| 1321Z | ||||
| — | — | Go over to 170 on the way home. | ||
| 810 | Tribune | He says over to 170 on the way home. | ||
| (Tribune) | (810) | Roger. | ||
| 1327Z | ||||
| Jewel | 815 | ((Calls)) ((Rpts)). | ||
| ((Tr Note: 815 calls Jewel until 1328Z.)) | ||||
| ((End of radio telephone conversation.)) |
Comment: This activity had been reported in a condensed version by USA–556 in its 2/J15.[less than 1 line of source text not declassified]/R23–67, 082015Z, and follow-ups.
- Source: National Security Agency, NSA Archives, Accession No. 45981, U.S.S. Liberty Correspondence and Messages, 1965–1968. Secret; Savin.↩