Overview of the USS Liberty Interview
In this interview, USS Liberty survivor Bryce Lockwood recounts the 1967 attack on the American intelligence ship, describing it as a deliberate assault by Israeli forces rather than a case of mistaken identity. He explains the ship’s mission, walks through the attack in detail, and argues that the incident was covered up by both U.S. and Israeli officials. The conversation also broadens into a critique of U.S. foreign policy toward Israel, congressional inaction, and the consequences of refusing to investigate the attack openly.
What the USS Liberty Was Doing
Intelligence mission in the Cold War
- The USS Liberty was a converted World War II cargo ship repurposed by the National Security Agency as a signals-intelligence vessel.
- It carried linguists, code breakers, Morse operators, and surveillance equipment, including what was described as a massive Univac computer for the time.
- Its job was to collect radio and electronic intelligence off Africa and later the eastern Mediterranean as tensions rose in the Middle East.
Why it was sent to the Mediterranean
- Lockwood says the ship was rushed to the region as the 1967 Arab-Israeli War began.
- He claims the U.S. was already providing Israel with intelligence about Arab military positions.
- He also says the ship was ordered into position to monitor Soviet and Egyptian communications.
The Attack as Recounted by the Survivor
Initial overflights
- On June 7–8, 1967, the ship was repeatedly overflown by Israeli aircraft.
- Crew members could see the pilots clearly, and some even waved at them.
- Lockwood says there was no indication at first that the aircraft were hostile.
The strike
- Around 2 p.m. local time on June 8, the ship came under heavy air attack.
- He describes:
- machine-gun fire,
- rockets,
- napalm,
- torpedoes,
- and intense jamming of distress frequencies.
- He says the attack lasted about 25 minutes, though it felt much longer to those trapped aboard.
Chaos below decks
- The forward intelligence spaces, where many of the linguists worked, were badly damaged.
- Lockwood recounts helping wounded sailors, trying to move them toward the hatch, and dealing with flooding and fire.
- He describes the ship rolling heavily after a torpedo strike, which he says blew a large hole in the hull and flooded compartments with oil and seawater.
The Mayday and the end of the attack
- He says a distress call finally got through when the attackers briefly stopped jamming the radios.
- According to Lockwood, the attack ceased after the Liberty’s distress call was acknowledged.
- He also says torpedo boats continued firing on life rafts and machine-gunning the ship even after the ship had signaled distress.
Casualties and Damage
Reported losses
- Lockwood says 34 Americans were killed:
- 31 sailors,
- 2 Marines,
- 1 civilian NSA linguist.
- He also describes many wounded crew members, some of whom were badly injured but survived.
Physical damage
- He says the ship suffered:
- hundreds of large-caliber strikes,
- thousands of machine-gun rounds,
- torpedo damage,
- and near-total destruction of key communications and intelligence spaces.
- He emphasizes that the ship’s American markings and large flag were visible, making the “mistaken identity” explanation implausible in his view.
Why He Believes It Was Deliberate
Rejection of the “mistaken identity” claim
- Lockwood says the Israeli explanation—that the ship was mistaken for an Egyptian vessel—does not hold up because:
- American ships and Egyptian ships are visually distinct,
- the Liberty was clearly marked,
- and its distress frequencies were jammed.
- He argues the attack was too coordinated and specific to be accidental.
His broader theory
- Lockwood says many survivors believe the attack may have been a false-flag-style setup or at minimum a deliberate attack concealed by U.S. leaders.
- He claims President Lyndon Johnson and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara ordered aircraft sent to assist the Liberty to turn back.
- He also suggests the U.S. government protected Israel politically after the attack to avoid embarrassing an ally.
Aftermath and Silence
Immediate aftermath
- Lockwood describes being evacuated and recovering with severe physical and emotional trauma.
- He says he did not fully learn the identities of the men he helped save for many years afterward.
- He also describes the psychological toll of the attack, including nightmares and stress.
Why survivors stayed quiet
- He says intelligence personnel were effectively bound by a culture of secrecy: “what you see here, what you say here, leave it here.”
- He did not discuss the attack openly for years, and his family initially did not understand what had happened to him.
- He later learned more through books, survivor reunions, and contact with other crew members.
The Political and Moral Argument
Criticism of Congress and U.S. policy
- Lockwood says Congress has ignored the attack for nearly six decades.
- He cites the need for an open investigation while survivors are still alive.
- He argues that U.S. leaders’ refusal to act sent a message that Israel could attack an American ship without consequences.
Connection to current events
- He links the Liberty attack to present-day U.S. support for Israel, especially in Gaza and Lebanon.
- He condemns American military aid to Israel and says the U.S. should be ashamed of enabling civilian destruction.
- He frames the issue as one of national integrity and moral responsibility, not just foreign policy.
What he wants now
- An open congressional investigation.
- Full transparency before surviving witnesses are gone.
- Public airing of all evidence, even if it is politically embarrassing.
Key Takeaways
- The interview presents the USS Liberty attack as a deliberate strike, not an accident.
- Lockwood gives a vivid first-person account of the assault, rescue efforts, and aftermath.
- The episode strongly criticizes U.S. government secrecy and congressional inaction.
- The conversation ends with a call for transparency, accountability, and a formal investigation into what happened in 1967.