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 Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and North Arabian Sea dated 8 September 1987, which notified all Persian Gulf countries of additional defense precautions which U.S. warships would be exercising. It highlighted the requirement for aircraft operating in the area to maintain a listening watch on 121.5 mhz VHF or 234.0 mhz UHF. Both Department of State and ICAO report that this NOTAM was transmitted through channels to the Government of Iran. (IO Exhibit 52).

U (18)  The current verbal warnings issued by CJTFME units do not clearly identify exactly which aircraft the ship is attempting to contact. (IO Exhibits 275, 306).

U (19)  Commercial aircraft normally do not have radar homing and warning (RHAW) equipment. U.S. Navy ships either "locking up" with pulsed fire-control or continuous wave radars expect no reaction from a commerical air flight. (Enclosure (21)).

(20) (U) For the period of 2 June 1988 to 2 July 1988, analysis of challenges and warnings conducted by CJTFME resulted in the following statistics:

(a) 150 challenges were issued

(b) only 2 were to COMAIR (1.3%)

(c) 125 were to Iranian military aircraft (83%)

(d) Largest number of challenges issued were by the USS SPRUANCE patrolling the eastern entrance of the SOH. (IO Exhibit 118).

U (21)  No Iranian F-14's were challenged during the 2-17 June 1988 timeframe but seven were challenged in the 13 June – 2 July 1988 time period. (IO Enclosure (21)).

(22) (U) Commercial air carriers have been observed changing IFF codes when crossing the Persian Gulf area. (IO Exhibits 54, 55, p. 174,  p. 194).

(23) (U) Iranian military aircraft have been observed squawking all IFF modes (I, II, and III) and codes and at times follow commercial air routes within the Persian Gulf. (IO Exhibits 15, 37, p. 195,  p. 7).

(24) (U) Iraqi military aircraft have followed the air routes from Iraq during Persian Gulf ship attack profile (SAP) missions and return using the same air routes. (IO Exhibit 15, p. 7).

(25) (U) Iran Air Flight 655 a was regularly scheduled biweekly flight from Bandar Abbas to Sharjah, often referred to as a "HAJ" flight by ships’ crews. (IO Exhibit 162, 54, 55, 73, p. 175,  197).