Changes

'''The mystery of the disparity in time was solved by the handover by the Russian Federation of the Black Box and the real time Russian military communications of the shootdown. KAL 007 had not "plunged" down after the attack. It had gradually descended for 4 minutes after the attack and then leveled off at 16,424 feet (18;30-31 GMT), and at this altitude continued its post-attack flight for almost 5 minutes (18:35 GMT), ''and only then'' continue a descent in spirals until being tracked at 1,000 feet above sea level and 2.6 miles from Moneron Island.'''  

'''The mystery of the disparity in time was solved by the handover by the Russian Federation of the Black Box and the real time Russian military communications of the shootdown. KAL 007 had not "plunged" down after the attack. It had gradually descended for 4 minutes after the attack and then leveled off at 16,424 feet (18;30-31 GMT), and at this altitude continued its post-attack flight for almost 5 minutes (18:35 GMT), ''and only then'' continue a descent in spirals until being tracked at 1,000 feet above sea level and 2.6 miles from Moneron Island.'''  

'''Gen. Kornukov (18:32)''':  Tell the 23 [MiG]... afterburner. Open fire, destroy the target, then land at home base.

'''Gen. Kornukov (18:32)''':  Tell the 23 [MiG]... afterburner. Open fire, destroy the target, then land at home base.

'''Kornukov:'''  5,000 already?

'''Kornukov:'''  5,000 already?

'''Gerasimenko (18:34'''):  Affirmative, turning left, right, apparently it is descending.  

'''Gerasimenko (18:34'''):  Affirmative, turning left, right, apparently it is descending.

 

</blockquote> "The last plotted radar position of the target was 18:35 hours at 5,000 meters." (ICAO 1993, pg. 53, para. 2.15.8)

"The last plotted radar position of the target was 18:35 hours at 5,000 meters." (ICAO 1993, pg. 53, para. 2.15.8)

==Soviet Harassment of US Search and Rescue Efforts==

==Soviet Harassment of US Search and Rescue Efforts==