Attack on USS Liberty by Israel – Rescue Helicopter Co-Pilot Testimony

Wayne Stiles, a co-pilot on the first rescue helicopter to reach the USS Liberty after it was deliberately attacked by Israel on June 8th, 1967, describes the mission. He explains that due to the extent of the ship’s destruction, they had to hover at 25 feet and use a hoist cable to bring the wounded up to the helicopter.

In his testimony, Stiles recounts the events of the morning, including seeing blood flash back and forth in a machine gun emplacement in the forward gun tub. He later learned that two or three crew members had been machine gunned to death while trying to defend against the Israeli attack.

Wayne Stiles also notes that there was another helicopter squadron on board which had larger helicopters and completed the evacuation in the afternoon. Overall, Stiles describes the mission as a difficult and shocking experience.