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The ShootdownCast of Characters
Tarasov— Pilot of SU-15, call sign 121, flying in support position to Osipovich. Titovnin—Flight controller, Fighter Division Combat Control Center Times are given in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC, formerly Greenwich Mean Time or GMT). In the air over Sakhalin, it was early in the morning of September 1, 1983. The following is quoted from Rescue 007, pages 22 to 26. The Russian transcripts are from the 1993 ICAO report. Osipovich’s communications to his ground controller, Titovnin, was also captured by the US National Security Agency and were played by the US in the UN Security Council right after the attack, much to the chagrin of the Russian delegates. Commentary is provided by Bert Schlossberg.
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. Gerasimenko: (18:22) Wilco. 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! Gerasimenko: Task received. Destroy target 60-65 with missile fire, accept control of fighter from Smyrnykh. Kornukov: Carry out the task, destroy [it]! Flight 007 was to get a brief reprieve. As the jumbo jet climbed, its speed decreased, engine power being diverted from velocity to lift, and Osipovich’s Sukhoi 15 quickly overtook and was soon abreast of the passenger plane. Major Osipovich showed irritation as he communicated with his flight controller, Titovnin. Osipovich: (18:22:02) The target is decreasing speed. Osipovich: (18:22:17) I am going around it. I’m already moving in front of the target. Titovnin: Increase speed, 805 [call sign of Osipovich’s Sukhoi]. Osipovich: (18:22:23) I have increased speed. Titovnin: Has the target increased speed, yes? Osipovich: (18:22:29) No, it is decreasing speed. Titovnin: 805, open fire on target. Osipovich: (18:22:42) It should have been earlier. How can I chase it? I’m already abeam of the target. For a look into Osipovich's state of mind at this point in his pursuit of KAL 007, click
here. These were his thoughts given at an interview with
"Izvestiya" newspaper eight years after the shootdown. Here again we can jump into Osipovich's mind at this crucial juncture of the
pursuit of flight 007. Click here for more of his thoughts from the aforementioned 1991
"Izvestiya" interview.
For a fascinating look (and listen) into the cockpit of KAL 007, and into the unfolding drama leading to Escape from Destruction, click
here for FAQ #5 - "What happened to KAL 007 when the missile exploded?"
Osipovich: (18:26:20) I have executed the launch. Osipovich: (18:26:22) The target is destroyed. Titovnin: Break off attack to the right, heading 360. Osipovich: (18:26:27) I am breaking off attack. In 1996, Osipovich would reverse his previous denials that he knew that the "target" he had downed was a civilian passenger plane. "I saw two rows of windows and knew that this was a Boeing. 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." (New York Times
interview, September 9, 1996) Back to The Story |
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