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Former USSR-Russia Database
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At 03:26hrs (local time) of 1 September 1983, the Soviet Maj. Genadiy Osipovich - an experienced Su-15-pilot - fired two R-98/AA-3 "Anab" missiles. His target: a Boeing 747-230B (c/n 20559/186), registered as HL7442, ownership of the Korean Airlines, and underway from New York, via Anchorage to Seoul on the flight KAL007.
Apparently, both of Osipovich's missiles hit and the passenger aircraft was badly damaged. Nevertheless, it remained airborne for the following 12 minutes, during which it was permanently descending in a tight spiral - before breaking up and crashing directly into the sea surface near the Sakhalin Island. 269 people aboard were killed.
Several books, at least two movies, and dozens of articles were published to this topic, and time and again fierce discussions break out about the "actual" reasons for this tragedy. We do not want to attempt to "solve it" here, or explain whys or hows, but rather want to concentrate on what was going on in both of these and several other aircraft (mainly other Soviet interceptors), as well as in the Soviet chain of command during that intercept.
For this reason we post here a combination of the transcript of the cockpit-voice-recorder (CVR) from the Boeing 747, and the transcript of the communications between the Soviet interceptors and their ground control, as recorded by the NSA. In addition, at the end there are excerpts from an interview with the Soviet pilot, as published in the New York Times, in December 1996, which are interesting foremost because they clear some of the doubts that existed in the West for years.
Notes:
a) Transcripts
While the NSA provided quite a clear transcript of the Soviet communications, this is still missing not only quite a few parts, but especially all that was transmitted by the Soviet ground control. Namely, the NSA was listening to the frequency used by the pilots, but not that used by the ground control. Consequently, this part of the transcript is providing only indications about what the Soviet fighter-pilots were doing.
For this reason we added the transcript of Soviet GCI-transmissions, as published in the 1993 ICAO report, of which, however, only the part after 18:20 GMT is available.
The CVR-transcript, on the other side, is also incomplete, foremost because several recorded statements were inaudible.
Finally, we have added parts of transcripts of Soviet communications recorded by the NSA which were not published before the book "Rescue 007: The Untold Story of KAL 007 and Its Survivors", by Bert Schlossberg came out.
In total these transcripts should not be seen as "precise science" or used as a sole source, but only be used in conjunction with other evidence. In fact, many readers that might not have intimate knowledge of aviation could find them not easy to understand or even misleading. Readers are encouraged to search for additional materials with closer descriptions of this incident and its backgrounds, especially as posted on Aviation-Safety Network (http://aviation-safety.net) - and especially those that provide commentaries in addition.
b) Designations:
- 007 = KAL007 (or KE007)
- 015 = KAL015 (or KE015)
- C = Captain of KAL007, Chun Byung In, with 10.600 flying hours (6.618 on Boeing 747)
- FO = First Officer of KAL007, Son Dong Hui, with 9.000 flying hours (3.441 on Boeing 747)
- FE = Flight Engineer of KAL007, Kim Eui Doing, with 4.0000 flying hours (2.614 on Boeing 747)
- CA = Cabin Attendant of KAL007
- CAM-1 = First Officer of KAL007
- CAM-2 = 3rd Crewmember of KAL007
- CAM-3 = Cockpit Area Microphone of KAL007
- CAM-4 = Captain of KAL007
- TOKYO ATC = as heard on CVR of KAL007
- GCI = Titovnin, flight controler in the Fighter Division Combat Control Center on Sakhalin
- 805 = Su-15TM flown by Maj. Genadiy Osipovich, pilot from 41st Figther Regiment PVO
- 121 = Su-15TM flown by Tarasov, Osipovich's wingman, pilot of 41st Fighter Regiment PVO
- 163 = MiG-23 scrambled to support Osipovich and Tarasov
- Kornukov = Gen. A. Kornukov, CO Sokol AB, on Sakhalin (in 1998 appointed Russian Air Force CO, a position on which he served until 2002)
- Gerasmienko = Lt.Col. Gerasimenko, acting CO 41st Fighter Regiment PVO
- Novoseletskiy - Lt.Col. Novoseletsky, acting Chief-of-Staff, Fighter Division, Smirnykh AB
Times are given in GMT, for easier coordination of the three transcripts.
17:54:26 007 CAM-3: Have you had a long flight recently?
17:54:28 007 CAM-3: From time to time.
17:54:30 007 CAM-3: Sounds good, as far as I know Chief Pilot Park has a long flight occasionally, but Chief Pilot Lee has ...
17:55:03 007 CAM-3: ...
17:55:44 007 CAM-3: Ah [yawn]
17:58:35 007 CAM-3: Ah [yawn]
17:58:41 007 FO CAM-3: Having a dull time please write down a comment now.
17:58:47 007 C CAM-3: Yes ... give it to me.
17:58:49 007 FO CAM-3: If you don't write it I might not pass the document check.
17:58:58 007 CAM-3: Please write down seperatly I have already done it three times but write down two here. One landing is Narita the other is Anchorage ...
17:59:13 007 FO CAM-3: No I cannot do that.
17:59:15 007 C CAM-3: Why? You can do that.
17:59:18 007 FO CAM-3: The instructor will not write here so I will have to write it all myself.
17:59:26 007 C CAM-3: I am not an instructor too.
17:59:27 007 FO CAM-3: No if you are not an instructor, you can do it anyway.
17:59:33 007 C CAM-3: Don't you have anything else to sign?
17:59:38 007 FO CAM-3: Please sign here.
17:59:52 007 FO CAM-3: I heard that last time Chief Pilot Lee Sang Tuk checked nine persons seven failed the document check.
18:00:00 007 CAM-3: [NOISE - COCKPIT DOOR?]
18:00:08 007 FE CAM-3: Let's reduce ...
18:00:11 007 CA CAM-3: Captain sir, would you like to have a meal?
18:00:13 007 C CAM-3: What?
18:00:15 007 C CAM-3: Meal? Is it already time to eat?
18:00:26 007 CAM-3: Do you want to eat now?
18:00:29 007 CAM-3: Let's eat later.
18:00:36 007 PA CAM-2: GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE WILL BE LANDING AT SEOUL KIMPO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN ABOUT THREE HOURS. LOCAL TIME IN SEOUL RIGHT NOW IS THREE AM BEFORE LANDING WE WILL BE SERVING BEVERAGES AND BREAKFAST. THANK YOU.
18:00:38 007 C CAM-3 Well, if you say it too many times, it becomes a lie.
18:00:41 007 C CAM-3 Well, if you say too many times the good things, it becomes bad. Doesn't it?
18:00:57 007 PA CAM-2 (Cabin announcement in Japanese, see English announcement at 18.00.36).
18:01:03 007 CAM-3: ...The person must live this way ...
18:01:08 007 CAM-3: [NOISE - COCKPIT DOOR?]
18:01:56 007 FO CAM-3: ... Why is it still dark?
18:01:59 007 FE CAM-3: It is still a long way to go.
18:02:02 007 FO CAM-3: Isn't it time for sunrise yet?
18:02:39 007 C CAM-3: ... after doing ... check
18:02:45 007 FO CAM-3: This is who writes ... I won't write.
18:02:47 007 C CAM-3: Do it yourself.
18:02:50 007 FO CAM-3: Please write.
18:02:51 007 C CAM-3: Write it yourself.
18:02:52 007 FO CAM-3: How can I write it down myself?
18:02:55 007 C CAM-3: I don't care if you do it or not.
18:02:58 007 FO CAM-3: If I write it myself, in my own handwriting, I will fail the document check because ...
18:03:14 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3: ZERO ZERO SEVEN
18:03:19 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3: GO AHEAD.
18:03:21 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3: What are you doing?
18:03:24 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3: What?
18:03:26 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: I said what are you doing?
18:03:30 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3,4: We are ... we have a pleasant chat because Mr Kim here is giving us a little fun.
18:03:38 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: (Laughter) Well, after arrival in Seoul ... it is better for you to study all those things.
18:03:45 007 VHF 3 C CAM-1,2,3,4: Study what? There is nothing to be studied ... By the way, what a good season, it's autumn. I hope I could take a day off and for autumn leaves viewing...
18:03:53 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: Make a schedule. Make a schedule.
18:03:56 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3,4: Why don't you take some time off and go to Sorak Mountain?
18:04:04 007 CAM-3: Why... do you do that?
18:04:05 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: Are you about three minutes ahead of us?
18:04:06 007 CAM-3: Yes.
18:04:10 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3,4: AH AH.
18:04:20 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3,4: NOKKA ESTIMATE is ONE EIGHT TWO...er...TWO FIVE OVER.
18:04:30 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: AH AH TWO FIVE we estimate ONE EIGHT TWO NINE, ONE EIGHT TWO NINE.
18:04:35 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3,4: One minute late one minute FOUR minutes faster it's TWO FIVE.
18:04:41 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3,4: It will be very complicated to go through customs. if you want to go faster, go faster if you want to go slower, go slower. That's the complication.
18:04:55 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: Um Um We are now having an unexpected strong tailwind?
18:04:59 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3,4: How much do you get there? How much and which direction?
18:05:02 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3,4: TWO ZERO SIX.
18:05:04 007 CAM-1,2,3,4: Ask him how many knots?
18:05:05 805: 805, on course 240.
18:05:06 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: THIRTY-FIVE KNOTS.
18.05:07 007 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: Um which direction, which direction?
18:05:12 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: ZERO FOUR ZERO, ZERO FOUR ZERO.
18:05:15 007 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: Thirty degrees? Thirty knots?
18:05:18 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: Thirty, um, forty degrees direction THIRTY FIVE KNOTS.
18:05:23 007 VHF CAM-1,2,4: Ah! You got so much! We still got headwind. Headwind two hundred fifteen degrees FIFTEEN KNOTS.
18:05:32 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: Is it so? But according to FLIGHT PLAN wind direction THREE SIX ZERO FIFTEEN KNOTS approximately...?
18:05:40 007 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: We it may be like this...
18:05:47 007 CAM-3: (noise - yawn)
18:05:51 007 CAM-3: (noise - yawn)
18:05:52 007 CAM-3: The reasaon why to do this...
18:05:55 007 CAM-3: Is he ahead of us?
18:05:56 805: I'm watching.
18:05:57 007 CAM-3: Is he ahead of us?
18:05:58 007 CAM-3: ...
18:06:00 805: Understood. I'm flying behind him.
18:06:06 007 CAM-3: ...
18:06:32 007 CAM-3: [NOISE - COCKPIT DOOR?]
18:07:28 007 CAM-3: Let him go faster. ZERO ONE FIVE same TWO NINE at NOKKA as us. Let him go faster.
18:07:43 007 CAM-3: Why are they in such a hurry?
18:07:46 007 CAM-3: They have tailwind.
18:07:47 007 CAM-3: What?
18:07:48 007 CAM-3: They have tailwind THIRTY-FIVE KNOTS.
18:07:49 007 CAM-3: Oh...oh...?
18:07:50 805: 3.000 remaining. [fuel status]
18:07:52 007 CAM-3: ...
18:08:00 805: Left - sure. Not right.
18:08:06 805: New course 260.
18:08:10 805: On course 260...understood.
18:08:31 805: I should turn off the system?
18:08:32 007 CAM-3: [NOISE - COCKPIT DOOR?]
18:08:33 GCI: (-)
18:08:?? 805: Understood.
18:08:36 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: ZERO ZERO SEVEN?
18:08:37 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3,4: Go ahead.
18:08:42 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: Can you go up to flight level THREE FIVE ZERO?
18:08:46 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3,4: Sure we can
18:08:48 015 VHF CAM-1,2,3,4: OK we will REQUEST THREE SEVEN ZERO.
18:08:51 007 VHF 3 CAM-1,2,3,4: OK!
18:08:57 015 HF CAM-1,2,3: TOKYO RADIO KOREAN AIR ZERO ONE FIVE.
18:09:00 805: Yes, it turned around... The target is 80, to my left.
18:09:04 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,2,3: STATION CALLING TOKYO GO AHEAD.
18:09:06 015 HF CAM-1,2,3,4: AH ROGER KOREAN AIR ZERO ONE FIVE NOW MAINTAINS THREE FIVE ZERO REQUEST FLIGHT LEVEL THREE SEVEN ZERO OVER.
18:09:14 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,2,3,4: TOKYO ROGER STAND BY CALL YOU BACK.
18:09:17 015 HF CAM-1,2,3,4: ROGER STANDING BY.
18:09:35 805: New course 240.
18:10:16 805: Taking course 220.
18:10:35 805: But, my course is 220!
18:10:51 805: Understood. Target is flying with anti-collision lights on.
18:11:20 805: 8.000...
18:11:25 805: I have a visual contact and monitor it on the display.
18:11:27 007 CAM-3 I have heard that there is currency exchange at your airport.
18:11:30 007 CAM-3: In the airport currency exchange? What kind of money?
18:11:33 007 CAM-3: Dollar to Korean money.
18:11:36 007 CAM-3: ... (unreadble)
18:11:39 007 CAM-3: That s in the domestic building too, domestic building too.
18:11:40 007 CAM-3: Domestic. Where?
18:11:41 007 CAM-3: That is Cho-Hung Bank in the domestic building.
18:11:43 007 CAM-3: Can I exchange in Cho-Hung Bank?
18:11:44 007 CAM-3: Sure. There used to be no place in the domestic building.
18:11:49 007 CAM-3: If you go to Cho-Hung Bank in the domestic building ... What kind of money do you wish to exchange? Dollar to Korean money is all right, is all right?
18:11:55 007 CAM-3: Yes.
18:11:57 007 CAM-3: That is in the domestic building also.
18:11:59 007 CAM-3: It could be open nine o'clock in the morning. It could be ten o' clock in the morning...
18:12:01 007 CAM-3: It might be nine thirty...
18:12:15 805: Understood.
18:13:05 805: I see it. I locked-on on the target.
18:13:26 805: Target is not responding.
18:13:28 007 CAM-3: ... (unreadable)
18:13:35 805: Confirm. Target's course is 250 degrees.
18:13:40 805: Is on.
18:14:10 805: Understood. In the moment it's the first one.
18:14:30 007 CAM-1 [SELCAL] 20:25 18:14:35 015 HF CAM-1,2,3: .... KOREAN AIR ZERO ONE FIVE SELCA GO AHEAD
18:14:34 805: Understood. The speed is correct. I need no afterburners.
18:14:39 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,2,3: KOREAN AIR ZERO ONE FIVE. CLEARANCE TOKYO ATC CLEARS KOREAN AIR ZERO ONE FIVE CLIMB AND MAINTAIN FLIGHT LEVEL THREE SEVEN ZERO REPORT REACHING.
18:14:41 805: 2.700 remaining.
18:14:50 015 HF CAM-1,2,3: ... CLEARS ... CLIMB AH THREE SEVEN ZERO NOW LEAVING THREE FIVE ZERO FOR REPORT REACHING.
18:14:57 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,2,3,4: TOKYO...
18:14:59 007 HF 1 CAM-1,2,3,4: TOKYO RADIO KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN...
18:15:03 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,2,3,4: KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN TOKYO...
18:15:07 007 HF 1 CAM-1,2,3,4: KOREN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN REQUESTING CLIMB THREE FIVE ZERO...
18:15:13 TOKYO HF ATC CAM-1,2,3,4: REQUESTING THREE FIVE ZERO?
18:15:15 007 HF 1 CAM-1,2,3,4: THAT IS AFFIRMATIVE NOW MAINTAIN AT THREE THREE ZERO KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN
18:15:19 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,2,3,4: ROGER STAND BY CAL YOU BACK.
18:15:21 007 HF 1 CAM-1,2,3,4: ROGER.
18:15:21 007 CAM-1,2,3,4: Oh my God! This RADIO is very bad
18:15:52 007 CAM-4: [Audible morse transmission starts]
18:17:44 015 HF CAM-1,2,4: TOKYO RADIO KOREAN AIR ZERO ONE FIVE REACHING ER THREE SEVEN ZERO...
18:17:49 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,2,4: KOREAN AIR ZERO ONE FIVE TOKYO ROGER...
18:18:06 007 CAM-1,2,3,4: [Morse transmission audible, marked increase in volume of morse transmissions]
18:18:34 805: The anti-collision lights are on. The anti-collision lights are on.
18:18:56 163: Understood. I'm at 7 and half. Course 230.
18:19:02 805: I'm closing on target.
18:19:06 007 CAM-3: ... (unreadable)
18:19:08 805: There is enough time.
18:19:20 007 CAM-3: ... (unreadable)
18.19:26 007 CAM-3 ... (unreadable)
18.19:40 007 CAM-3 ... (unreadable)
18:19:44 163: I'm flying behind the target at a distance of 25. [kilometres]
18.20:02 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,2,3,4: [Selcal]
18:20:08 805: Nonsence! That means my ZG is already locked on!
18:20:08 TOKYO ATC: Korean Air ZERO ZERO SEVEN SELCAL.
18.20:11 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,2,3,4: KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN CLEARANCE TOKYO ATC CLEARS KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN CLMIB AND MAINTAIN FLIGHT LEVEL THREE FIVE ZERO.
18.20:21 007 HF 1 CAM-1,2,3,4: AH ROGER KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN CLIMB AND MAINTAIN AT THREE FIVE ZERO LEAVING THREE THREE ZERO AT THIS TIME.
18.20:28 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,2,3,4 TOKYO ROGER.
18.21:48 007 CAM-3: [Sound: altitude alert]
18:21:?? Kornukov: Gerasimenko, cut the horseplay at the command post, what is that noise there? I repeat the combat task: fire the missiles, fire on target 60-65 [KAL 007] destroy target 60-65.
18:22:?? Gerasimenko: Wilco.
18:22:?? Kornukov: Comply and get Tarasov here. Take control of the MiG-23 from Smyrnykh, call sign 163, call sign 163, he is behind the target at the moment. Destroy the target!
18:22:?? Gerasimenko: Task received. Destroy target 60-65 with missile fire, accept control of fighter from Smyrnykh.
18:22:?? Kornukov: Carry out the task, destroy [it]!
18:22:02 805: The target is decreasing speed.
18:22:17 805: I am going around it. I’m already moving in front of the target.
18:22:17 GCI: Increase speed, 805.
18:22:23 805: I have increased speed.
18:22:25 GCI: Has the target increased speed? Yes?
18:22:29 805: No, it is decreasing speed.
18:22:30 GCI: 805, open fire on target.
18:22:42 805: It should have been earlier. [You should have said that earlier.] How can I chase it? I’m already abeam of the target.
18:22:47 GCI: Roger, if possible, take up a position for attack. (-)
18:22:55 805: Not much in the moment. Now I have to fall back a bit from the target.
18.22:55 007 CAM-4: [Keyed microphone]
18.22:56 007 HF 1 CAM-1,2,3,4: TOKYO RADIO KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN REACHING LEVEL THREE FIVE ZERO.
18.23:00 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,2,3,4: KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN TOKYO ROGER.
18:23:?? Kornukov: Oh, [obscenities] how long does it take him to get into attack position? He is already getting out into neutral waters! Engage afterburner immediately! Bring in the MiG-23 as well... While you are wasting time it will fly right out.
18:23:00 GCI: (-)
18:23:05 805: Repeat!
18:23:05 GCI: 805, try to destroy the target with cannons.
18:23:37 805: I am dropping back. Now I will try a rocket. [missile]
18:23:39 GCI: Roger.
18:23:49 163: Twelve [kilometers] to the target. I see both! [805 and KAL007]
18:23:51 GCI: 805, approach target and destroy target.
18:24:22 805: Roger, I am in lock-on.
18:24:25 GCI: 805, are you closing on the target?
18:25:11 805: I am closing on the target, am in lock-on. Distance to target is eight kilometers.
18:25:15 GCI: Afterburner.
18:25:?? GCI: AFTERBURNER, 805!
18:25:16 805: I have already switched it on.
18:25:?? GCI: Launch!
18:25:46 805: ZG!
18:25:55 DYNASTY 312 HF CAM-4: TOKYO RADIO, DYNASTY THREE ONE TWO ON FIVE SIX.
18:26:00 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-4: DYNASTY THREE ONE TWO TOKYO.
18:26:02 007 CAM-3: [Sound of explosion?]
18:26:03 DYNASTY 312 HF CAM-4: Dynasty three one two position Payon one eight two five level three three zero estimate Shemya one nine three five remainder ... remaining one two six decimal zero minus five zero ... one zero diagonal four zero go ahead.
18:26:06 007 CAM-3: What's happened?
18:26:08 007 CAM-3: What?
18:26:10 007 CAM-3: Retard throttles!
18:26:11 007 CAM-3: Engines normal.
18:26:14 007 CAM-3: Landing gear.
18:26:15 007 CAM-3: [Sound: cabin altitude warning]
18:26:17 007 CAM-3: Landing gear! [Noise of possible selection]
18.26:18 007 CAM-3: [Sound: altitude deviation warning]
18:26:20 805: I have executed the launch [I fired!]
18:26:21 805 CAM-3: [Sound: autopilot disconnect warning]
18:26:22 805: The target is destroyed.
18:26:22 007 CAM-3: Altitude is going up.
18:26:23 007 CAM-3 [Sound: cabin call]
18:26:24 GCI: Break off attack to the right, heading 360!
18:26:24 007 CAM-3: Altitude is going up.
18:26:25 007 CAM-3: Speed brake is coming out.
18:26:26 007 CAM-3 What? What?
18:26:27 805: I am breaking off attack.
18:26:27 007 CAM-4: (unreadable)
18:26:29 007 CAM-3: CHECK it out.
18.26:30 007 CAM-2,3: [Sound: PA chime for automatic cabin announcment]
18.26:30 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-4: DYNASTY THREE ONE TWO ... CONTACT ANCHORAGE.
18:26:33 007 CAM-3 [Sound: cabin call]
18:26:33 007 CAM-3: I am not able to drop altitude now unable.
18:26:34 007 CAM-2: Attention emergency descent.
18:26:35 DYNASTY 312 HF CAM-4: THANK YOU OUT.
18:26:38 007 CAM-2: Attention emergency descent.
18:26:38 007 CAM-3: Altitude is going up.
18:26:40 007 CAM-3: This is not working. This is not working.
18:26:41 007 CAM-3: Manually.
18:26:42 007 CAM-3: Cannot do MANUALLY.
18:26:42 007 CAM-2: Attention emergency descent. {in Japanese}
18:26:43 007 CAM-3: [Sound: Autopilot disconnect warning] Not working manually also.
18:26:45 007 CAM-3: ENGINES are normal Sir.
18:26:46 007 CAM-2: Put out your cigarette. This is an emergency descent.
18:26:48 007 CAM-3: ... (unreadable)
18:26:49 007 CAM-2: PUT OUT YOUR CIGARETTE. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY DESCENT.
18:26:50 007 CAM-3: Is it POWER COMPRESSION?
18:26:51 007 CAM-3: Is that right?
18:26:52 007 CAM-2,3: Put out your cigarette. This is an emergency descent. {in Japanese}
18:26:52 007 CAM-3: ... all of both ... *
18:26:54 007 C CAM-3: Is that right?
18:26:55 007 CAM-2: Put the mask over your nose and mouth and adjust the headband.
18:26:57 007 HF 1 F/D CAM-1,3,4: TOKYO RADIO KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN.
18:26:?? Kornukov: Do you see the target on the screen?
18:26:?? Gerasimenko: We can see [it] for the moment.
18:26:?? Kornukov: Did he fire both missiles or one?
18:26:?? Gerasimenko: Both missiles....
18:26:?? Kornukov: Bring in the MiG-23!
18:27:01 007 CAM-2: PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH AND ADJUST THE HEADBAND.
18:27:02 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,3,4: TOKYO RADIO KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN.
18:27:04 007 HF 1 FO CAM-1,3,4: ROGER KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN ... (unreadable) AH WE (ARE EXPERIENCING) ...
18:27:08 007 CAM-2: Put the mask over your nose and mouth and adjust the headband. {in Japanese}
18:27:09 007 C CAM-3: ALL COMPRESSION.
18:27:10 007 HF 1 FO CAM-1: RAPID DECOMPRESSION DESCEND TO ONE ZERO THOUSAND.
18:27:15 007 CAM-2: Attention emergency descend.
18:27:19 007 CAM-2: ATTENTION EMERGENCY DESCEND.
18:27:20 007 CAM-3: Now ... * ... we have to set this.
18:27:21 TOKYO ATC HF CAM-1,3,4: KOREAN AIR ZERO ZERO SEVEN unreadble unreadable RADIO CHECK ON ONE ZERO ZERO FOUR EIGHT.
18:27:23 007 CAM-2: Attention emergency descent {in Japanese}.
18:27:23 007 CAM-3: Speed.
18:27:26 007 CAM-3: Stand by Stand by Stand by Stand by set.
18:27:27 007 CAM-2 Put out your cigarette. This is an emergency descent.
18:27:30 007 CAM-2: PUT OUT YOUR CIGARETTE. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY DESCENT.
18:27:33 007 CAM-2: Put out your cigarette. This is an emergency descent. {in Japanese}
18:27:38 007 CAM-2: Put the mask over your nose and mouth and adjust the headband.
18:27:43 007 CAM-2: Put the mask over your nose and mouth and adjust ...
18:27:46 - END OF RECORDING
18:27:?? Kornukov: Gerasimenko!?!
18:27:?? Gerasimenko: Yes?
18:27:?? Kornukov: This is the task... Bring the MiG-23 to destroy the target!
18:27:?? Gerasimenko: Yes, Sir.
18:27:?? Kornukov: Gerasimenko!?!
18:27:?? Gerasimenko: 163 has been ordered to engage afterburner. We are bringing him to attack position.
18:27:?? Kornukov: Roger. Did Osipovic see the missiles explode? ... Helo?
18:27:?? Gerasimenko: He fired two missiles.
18:27:?? Kornukov: Ask him, ask him yourself, get on channel 3 and ask Osipovic, did he or did he not see the explosions.
18:27:?? Gerasimenko: Right away.
18:27:?? Gerasimenko: 805, did you launch one missile or both?
18:27:?? 805: I launched both.
18:28:?? Novoseletsky: Titovnin, well, what is happening?
18:28:?? GCI: Nothing in the moment.
18:28:?? Novoseletsky: Well, what is happening, what is the matter, who guided him, he locked on, why didn't he shoot it down?
18:28:?? GCI: They fired. They fired. We are now waiting for result, Comrade Colonel.
18:28:?? Gerasimenko: The target turned to the north.
18:28:?? Kornukov: The target turned to the north?
18:28:?? Gerasimenko: Affirmative.
18:28:?? Kornukov: Bring the 23 in to destroy it!
18:28:?? Gerasimenko: Comrade right turn.
18:28:?? Kornukov: Well, I understand... I do not understand the result. Why is the target flying...? Missiles were fired. Why is the target flying...? [obscenities] Well, what is happening....?
18:28:?? Gerasimenko: Yes.
18:28:?? Kornukov: Well, I am asking, give the order to the Controller, what is wrong with you there? Have you lost your tongues?
18:28:?? Gerasimenko: Comrade General, I gave the order to the Chief of Staff, the Chief of Staff to the Controller, and the Controller is giving the order to...
18:30:?? Kornukov: Well, how long does it take for this information to get through...? Well, what, [you] cannot ask the results of firing the missiles, where, what, did [he] not understand or what?
18:27:?? Gerasimenko: Turning left, right, apparently... it's descending.
18:34:?? Kornukov: Destroy it, use the 23 to destroy it, I said!
18:34:?? Gerasimenko: Roger, destroy it.
18:34:?? KAL007 disappears from Soviet radar scopes while at 16.400ft/5.000m; V-PVO interceptors have no visual contact nor radar contact with it any more.
18:34:?? Kornukov: Well, where is the fighter, how far from the target?
18:34:?? Gerasimenko: Comrade General, they cannot see the target.
18:34:?? Kornukov: They cannot see the target?
18:34:??-18:36:?? Asking station by station Gen. Kornukov gets response that nobody is tracking KAL007 any more, until it is re-detected over the Island of Moneron again.
18:36:?? Kornukov: Oh, [obscenities]!! Well, you know the range where the Target is, it is over Moneron!
18:38:?? GCI: They lost the target, Comrade Colonel, in the area of Moneron.
18:38:?? Novoseletsky: In the area of Moneron?
18:38:?? GCI: The pilots do not see it, neither the one nor the other. The radio forces have reported. RTF has reported that after the launch, the target entered a right turn over Moneron.
18:38:?? Novoseletsky: Uh-huh.
18:38:?? GCI: Descending. And lost over Moneron…
18:38:?? Novoseletsky: So, the task. They say it has violated the State border again now?
18:38:?? GCI: Well, it is the area of Moneron, of course, over our territory.
18:38:?? Novoseletsky: Get it! Get it! Go ahead bring in the MiG 23.
18:38:?? GCI: Roger. The MiG-23 is in that area. It is descending to 5.000 [meters]. The order has been given. Destroy upon detection.
18:38:?? KAL007 apparently ditches on the sea-surface near the island of Moneron at around this time - full 12 minutes after being hit by two R-98/AA-3 Anab missiles fired by 805.
18:47:?? Novoseletsky: You don't have the sunrise there yet?
18:47:?? GCI: No, it will be in about 30 minutes.
18:47:?? Novoseletsky: Prepare whatever helicopters are there. Rescue helicopters.
18:47:?? GCI: Rescue helicopters?
18:47:?? Novoseletsky: Yes! And there will probably be a task set for the area where the target was lost.
18:47:?? GCI: Roger. Is this to be done through your SAR?
18:47:?? Novoseletsky: Eh?
18:47:?? GCI: Assign the task to Chaika through your SAR, Comrade Colonel, Khomutovo does not come under us and neither does Novoaleksandrovska. We have nothing there.
18:47:?? Novoseletsky: Very well.
18:47:?? GCI: Novoaleksandrovska must be brought to readiness and Khomutovo. The border guards and KGB are at Khomutovo.
18:54:?? Strogov: Hell... Hello, Titovnin... You s[obscenities]!!! I'll lock you up in the guard house. Why don't you pick up the phone?
18:54:?? GCI: Comrade General, everyone was busy here.
18:54:?? Strogov: You have nothing there to be busy with. Busy!?! What kind of nonsense is that? So, where is Kornukov?
18:54:?? GCI: Kornukov is here.
18:54:?? Strogov: Put him on the phone!
18:54:?? GCI: One minute. He is reporting to Kamenski, Comrade General.
18:55:?? Strogov: So, what you need to do now... Contact these... [obscenities], these sailors, these, what do you....[obscenities]?
18:55:?? GCI: Border guards?
18:55:?? Strogov: Huh?
18:55:?? GCI: Border guards?
18:55:?? Strogov: Well, the civilian sailors.
18:55:?? GCI: Understood.
18:55:?? The border guards. What ships do we have near Moneron Island, if they are civilians, send there immediately!
18:55:?? GCI: Understood, Comrade General.
Colonel Osipovich has no Regrets
(excerpt from interview with Col. Osipovich as published in the New York Times, on 9 December 1996)
MOSCOW -- Gennadi Osipovich held up his thick hands to show how, 13 years ago, he maneuvered his SU-15 fighter to blast a Korean 747 airliner out of the sky.
It was the morning of Sept. 1, 1983, and Lt. Col. Gennadi Osipovich's unit had scrambled from its secret base on Sakhalin Island to intercept an intruder. After trailing the unidentified plane for more than 60 miles, the Soviet pilot zoomed alongside to get a look for himself.
"I was just next to him, on the same altitude, 150 meters to 200 meters away," he recalled in conversations with a reporter this weekend.
From the flashing lights and the configuration of the windows, he recognized the aircraft as a civilian type of plane, he said.
"I saw two rows of windows and knew that this was a Boeing," he said. "I knew this was a civilian plane. But for me this meant nothing. It is easy to turn a civilian type of plane into one for military use."
Minutes later, he fired two air-to-air missiles, sending Korean Air Lines Flight 007 crashing into the sea, killing 269 people and causing what President Boris Yeltsin has called the greatest tragedy of the cold war.
...
A confirmed Communist who lives in the Caucasus region, Osipovich insists that the jetliner was on a spy mission and that there were no civilian passengers aboard. He even considers himself fortunate to have achieved a measure of celebrity by having destroyed Flight 007.
One of his few complaints is that the Soviet authorities paid him a smaller bonus for shooting down the plane than he had hoped: 200 rubles minus a small fee for postage.
The ground-based officer who first detected the plane on his radar scope received a 400-ruble bonus, he complained.
"Those who did not take part in this operation received double their monthly pay," he said. "At that time, monthly pay was 230 rubles. So I expected to be paid at least 400 rubles."
For years, experts have debated whether the Soviet pilot was aware he was downing a civilian plane or had mistaken the 747 for an RC-135 American military reconnaissance plane.
But Osipovich says he knew he had no doubts that he was dealing with a civilian plane and not an RC-135. Viewed through the prism of the cold war, the pilot treated the plane, not as a lost commercial airliner, but as part of a nefarious mission against the Soviet homeland.
Osipovich also revealed that in the pressure of the moment, he did not provide a full-description of the intruder to Soviet ground controllers.
"I did not tell the ground that it was a Boeing-type plane," he recalled. "They did not ask me."
...
Zooming to his target, Osipovoich pulled his SU-15 jet alongside the lumbering 747 at an altitude of about 34,000 feet. The 747's double row of windows were visible, he said.
But the Soviet pilot could not see inside the cockpit of the Korean plane or see passengers through the windows. Some experts believe that many of the shades over the windows would have been pulled down at that time of night.
To try to force the plane down he fired his cannon three times, shooting off a total of 520 rounds. But the shells did not contain tracers and were not visible at night.
He said the Korean pilots still should have seen the flashes from his gun and also noticed when the SU-15 flashed his lights. That, he said, was a signal to follow the Soviet interceptor to his base or risk destruction.
"I would have landed him on our airfield, and I wanted it very much," he said. "Do you think I wanted to kill him? I would rather have shared a bottle with him."
But he did not try to use his radio to call, saying that there was no time and that the intruder would not have understood Russian.
"How can I talk with him?" he said. "You must know the language."
Osipovich says he used a standard procedure to insure that he was not shooting down a Soviet transport plane. His SU-15 fighter sent out electronic signals that would have brought a response from a Soviet plane identifying it as friendly.
Western commercial airplanes are not equipped to respond to Soviet military signals, and no "friendly" response was received.
At that point, the Soviets' big problem was no longer establishing the identify of the intruder, but rather time, he said. The intruder plane would soon have passed over Sakhalin Island and re-entered international airspace.
Worried that the intruder might get away, the Soviet pilot became concerned when it slowed down to 350 knots, causing Osipovich's jet to overshoot its quarry.
Osipovich viewed the slowdown as an indication the Korean jet had seen him and was trying to evade his pursuer. Some experts believe that the Korean plane was simply beginning a planned ascent in accordance with its flight plan.
But Osipovich insists that the 747 did not ascend or descend. In any event, he was ordered to shoot down the plane.
Making a maneuver Russian pilots called the "snake," he descended and pulled behind the intruder. He fired two missiles.
"Thank god, they hit," he recalled.
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Red 17
The number of model-builders with predilection of building aircraft that are known to have taken part in specific air combats or incidents was always relatively high, but recently, it is further increasing as more details about different wars, "small" or former "Communist" air forces become known.
Although it might sound strange to many, building kits of such aircraft is more satisfactory, then - especially when one deals with such topic like Sukhoi Su-15 - it's always more interesting to prepare a model of an aircraft that was - or did - "something", but any of "one of hundreds" of "anonymous" airframes that were in service at some point in time.
In this case Jan Mikes has done something of this kind, with result of producing a Sukhoi Su-15TM of extremely high quality and precision.
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| The completely rebuilt nose-section of the "Red 17". |
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