Sec. of Defense at the time, Robert McNamara is still living. He was with LBJ when the American fighters were recalled. Has anyone asked him why the decision was made to recall them? ...
This decision cost 20 additional lives (at least). And maybe saved hundreds of thousands (at least).
There was a Soviet bomber base in Alexandria, plus several USSR-crewed missile sites in the Sinai.
Any guesses as to Ivan's reaction if a flight of F-4 Phantoms went racing in towards Gaza ?
No, he was replying "negative" to the attackers. And there were expletives also. To my knowledge there was never a "negative" from the ship to the command deneying fighter cover.
That would have been suicidal.