Rescue 007

Book excerpt: “The target is destroyed,” so said Major Gennadie Osipovich as he launched two Anab medium range air-to-air missiles in the direction of the Korean Airlines Boeing 747 flying over Russia’s Sakhalin Island carrying 269 unsuspecting passengers and crew. It was August 31, 1983. “Not so!” said Russian General Kornukov and Lt. Col. Gerasimenko as they watched KAL 007 on their radar screen slowly descend in search of a favorable landing site. Gerasimenko: “Turning left, right, apparently. . . it’s descending.” Kornukov: “’Destroy it, use the [MiG] 23, destroy it,’ I said!” “Not so!” said Lt. Col. Novoseletski, Smirnykh Air Base Chief of Staff as he first realized that KAL 007 had indeed survived. Novoseletski: “What is happening, what is the matter, who guided him in, he locked on, why didn’t he shoot it down?” “Not so!” says General Kornukov again when, three minutes after the missile attack, he is informed by Major Osipovich’s ground controller that not only has the airliner not been downed, it is also able to negotiate turns. Kornukov: “I do not understand the result, why is the target flying? [obscenities], well, what is happening?” “Not so!” says Lt. Col. Novoseletski again at twelve minutes after the attack as he futilely tries again to bring down the huge Korean passenger plane. Novoseletski: “Get it! Get it! Go ahead, bring in the MiG 23.” Ground Controller: “Roger. The MiG 23 is in the area. It is descending to 5000 [meters]. The order has been given. Destroy upon detection.” And, “Not so!” say Lt. Col. Novoseletski 21 minutes after the strike, and General Strogov, the Deputy Commander of the Soviet Far East Military District, 29 minutes after, as they order rescue missions to be sent to tiny Moneron Island (4 1/2 miles long, 3 miles wide), where the jet liner has just ditched. Novoseletski: “Prepare whatever helicopters there are. Rescue helicopters.” Ground Controller: “Rescue?” Novoseletski: “Yes.” ... Ground Controller: “The border guards and KGB are at Khornutovo. Strogov: “The border guards. What ships do we now have near Moneron Island? If they are civilian, send [them] there immediately.” Ground Controller: “Understood, Comrade General.” Rescue 007: The Untold Story of KAL 007 and it’s Survivors A fascinating and startling reexamination of this air tragedy based on recent information chronicling the attack, futile chase, rescue, and subsequent deception through the eyes and real-time communiqués of the pilot and co-pilot while and after they were being attacked, of the attacker, Major Osipovich flying his Sukhoi Flagon Interceptor, and of the Soviet general and his chain of subordinates as they directed the failed interception and futile chase to finish KAL 007 off—all supported by Soviet radar trackings reexamined in the light of the new evidence. This air emergency, then, is probably the most dramatic and fully documented flight-gone-wrong ever. The new evidence includes the following: 1. The new International Civil Aviation Organization Completion Report (1993) and equally important, the startling real-time ground-to-ground military communiqués related to the shoot down—barely commented upon previously. 2. The CIA investigation report initiated by Senator Helms’ Committee on Foreign Relations which became the basis, according to Committee Minority Staff Director, Rear Admiral Bud Nance, for Helms’ letter to Yeltsin requesting/demanding release of all information regarding...