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Soviet air defense forces had tracked the aircraft when it first entered airspace over the Kamchatka Peninsula, attempting first to use radio; fighters were scrambled and fired several bursts in front of the plane's nose.  Due to the lack of tracer rounds in the Soviet fighter's ammunition, the pilot of KAL 007 was unaware of the bursts. The fighters were ordered back to base when KAL 007 left Soviet airspace over the Sea of Okhotst.

Soviet air defense forces had tracked the aircraft when it first entered airspace over the Kamchatka Peninsula, attempting first to use radio; fighters were scrambled and fired several bursts in front of the plane's nose.  Due to the lack of tracer rounds in the Soviet fighter's ammunition, the pilot of KAL 007 was unaware of the bursts. The fighters were ordered back to base when KAL 007 left Soviet airspace over the Sea of Okhotst.

When KAL 007 re-entered Soviet airspace, this time over Sakhalin Island, fighters were again scrambled with orders to "destroy the target." The Commander of the Soviet Far East District Air Defense Forces, General Valeri Kamensky,<ref>[http://www.rescue007.org/kaminski.htm Rescue 007: Kamenski Interview]</ref> was adamant that KAL 007 was to be destroyed even over neutral waters but only after positive identification showed it not to be a passenger plane. His subordinate, General Anatoli Kornukov, commander of Sokol Air base, was adamant that there was no need to make positive identification as "the intruder" had already flown over Kamchatka.  

When KAL 007 re-entered Soviet airspace, this time over Sakhalin Island, fighters were again scrambled with orders to "destroy the target." The Commander of the Soviet Far East District Air Defense Forces, General Valeri Kamensky,<ref>[http://www.rescue007.org/kaminski.htm Rescue 007: Kamenski Interview]</ref> was adamant that KAL 007 was to be destroyed even over neutral waters but only after positive identification showed it not to be a passenger plane. His subordinate, General Anatoli Kornukov, commander of Sokol Air base (later to become commander of the Russian Air Force), was adamant that there was no need to make positive identification as "the intruder" had already flown over Kamchatka.  

[[Image:Kornukov2.gif|General Anatolie Kornukov|left|thumb|150px]]

[[Image:Kornukov2.gif|General Anatolie Kornukov|left|thumb|150px]]

[[Image:Osipovich1983.jpg|Maj. Gennadie Osipovich (1983)|left|thumb|100px]]

[[Image:Osipovich1983.jpg|Maj. Gennadie Osipovich (1983)|left|thumb|100px]]