In an appendix to its findings, the Court noted that LIBERTY might
have been mistaken for the Egyptian supply ship EL QUSEIR. In commenting
on this possibility, the Court stated: "While EL QUSEIR bears a highly
superficial resemblance to LIBERTY, she more closely resembles the
majority of older tramp steamers operating in ocean shipping. EL QUSEIR
is less than half the size and lacks the elaborate antenna array and distinctive
hull marking of LIBERTY. The location of the superstructure island, a
primary recognition feature of merchant type ships, is widely different. By
this criteria as a justification for attack, any ship resembling EL QUSEIR
was in jeopardy."
The Court also noted reports of rumors that the town of El Arish had
been bombarded from the sea, but pointed out that neither LIBERTY, with
four .50 caliber machine guns, nor EL QUSEIR, which is armed with two
3-pounders, could logically be suspected of having conducted a shore
bombardment.
USS LIBERTY arrived at Malta, under her own power, at 6 a.m.
(local time) June 14, escorted by the destroyer USS DAVIS and the fleet tug
USS PAPAGO. She was drydocked the same day.
The hole in LIBERTY's side is being patched and other repairs are
being made to make it possible for her to return to the United States safely
under her own power. She is expected to be in Malta until about July 10.
Her home port is Norfolk, Va.
Note: Discrepancies in times in the summary and the Commanding Officer's
testimony were caused by battle damage which caused clocks in various parts
of the ship to stop at different times or to behave erratically. All times
given are ship's local time 6 hours ahead of Washington time.
