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[[Image:KAL007 in Ancorage.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The aircraft that flew Korean Airlines Flight 007, on the ground in [[Hong Kong]], possibly just days before its final flight as KAL 007 on September 1, 1983.]]

[[Image:KAL007 in Ancorage.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The aircraft that flew Korean Airlines Flight 007 - HL7442 - on the ground in [[Hong Kong]], possibly just days before its final flight as KAL 007 on September 1, 1983.]]

'''Korean Airlines Flight 007''' was a scheduled passenger flight from [[New York City]] to [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]] between August 31 and September 1, 1983.  It was attacked and shot down by fighter aircraft of the [[Soviet Union]] after straying into Soviet airspace near the Kamchatka Peninsula and Sakhalin Island.  The reported deaths of 269 passengers (including one sitting Congressman - [[Georgia]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Larry McDonald]]) and crew combined with massive Soviet [[deceit|deception]] as to the location of the crash site provoked international outrage, and may have been a catalyst leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union itself as a [[Politics|political]] entity.

'''Korean Airlines Flight 007''' was a scheduled passenger flight from [[New York City]] to [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]] between August 31 and September 1, 1983, when it was attacked and shot down by fighter aircraft of the [[Soviet Union]] after straying into Soviet airspace near the Kamchatka Peninsula and Sakhalin Island.  The reported deaths of 269 passengers (including one sitting Congressman - [[Georgia]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Larry McDonald]]) and crew combined with massive Soviet [[deceit|deception]] as to the location of the crash site provoked international outrage, and may have been a catalyst leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union itself as a [[Politics|political]] entity.

It being a catalyst for the collapse of the Soviet Union may be inferred from the fact that [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] had decided, under the impetus of the U.S. administration, to deploy [[Pershing II]] and cruise [[missile]]s in [[Europe]], primarily [[West Germany]]. This deployment would have placed missiles just 6-10 minutes striking distance from [[Moscow]]. But support for the deployment was wavering and many doubted that the missile deployment would find enough support to effect it.

It being a catalyst for the collapse of the Soviet Union may be inferred from the fact that [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] had decided, under the impetus of the U.S. administration, to deploy [[Pershing II]] and cruise [[missile]]s in [[Europe]], primarily [[West Germany]]. This deployment would have placed missiles just 6-10 minutes striking distance from [[Moscow]]. But support for the deployment was wavering and many doubted that the missile deployment would find enough support to effect it.

When the Soviet Union shot down Flight 007 with 269 people aboard—an act which U.S. President [[Ronald Reagan]] characterized as a "massacre"—enough support was galvanized for the deployment. Many believe this U.S. confrontational demonstration of strength to be a factor in the demise of the Soviet Union.

When the Soviet Union shot down Flight 007 with 269 people aboard—an act which U.S. President [[Ronald Reagan]] characterized as a "massacre"—enough support was galvanized for the deployment. Many believe this U.S. confrontational demonstration of strength to be a factor in the demise of the Soviet Union.

[[Image:KAL007.JPG|thumb|550px]]

[[Image:KAL007.JPG|thumb|300px]]

==The Flight==

==The Flight==

KAL 007, a commercial [[Boeing]] 747-230B [[747|jumbo jet]] (registration number HL7442) departed [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] in New York on August 31, 1983, stopped at Anchorage, Alaska for refueling at 3:00 AM local time, then departed on the final leg to Seoul-Kimpo International Airport in South Korea. On board, there were 269 occupants comprised of 3 flight crew, 20 cabin attendants, 6 dead-headers (repositioning KAL employees), and 240 passengers (including air marshals). Nationalities (in descending order) were 76 Koreans, 61 Americans, 28 Taiwanese, 23 Japanese, 16 Filipinos, and a lesser number for remaining nationalities. There were 22 children on board under the age of 12 years.<ref>For passenger (and crew) seating, photos, and stories for some, written by family and loved ones see [http://www.rescue007.org/passengers.htm Rescue 007: Passengers].</ref>

KAL 007, a commercial [[Boeing]] 747-230B [[747|jumbo jet]] (registration number HL7442) departed [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] in New York on August 31, 1983, stopped at Anchorage, Alaska for refueling at 3:00 AM local time, then departed on the final leg to Seoul-Kimpo International Airport in South Korea. On board, there were 269 occupants comprised of 3 flight crew, 20 cabin attendants, 6 dead-headers (repositioning KAL employees), and 240 passengers (including air marshals). Nationalities (in descending order) were 76 Koreans, 61 Americans, 28 Taiwanese, 23 Japanese, 16 Filipinos, and a lesser number for remaining nationalities. There were 22 children on board under the age of 12 years.<ref>For passenger (and crew) seating, photos, and stories for some, written by family and loved ones see [http://www.rescue007.org/passengers.htm Rescue 007: Passengers].</ref>