Letters

To the Editors,

Reading the article on the state of orphanages [Mar/Apr 2013] in Russia literally brought me to tears. It is appalling that a country can have so much misplaced pride when it causes so much heartache.

The media only reacts when a foreign adoption goes wrong. If only we were told of the many children, once struggling and alone, who now live with loving families in the United States, as well as European countries.

The final article, “One Adoption Story” is just one of many, I’m sure.

I don’t know what can be done about this situation. A recent news article told of an American family at the last stage of adoption who were told it was no longer going to happen. I can only imagine the family’s, and the child’s sorrow. Those who run these institutions obviously have money and just don’t know how, or are unwilling, to help the children now.

Helen Kiechle

Belmont, CA

To the Editors:

First thing. I’m a Texan that has been a “Russianphile” since I was a kid in the 1930s...

I read your article on the “Scariest Year” [Mar/Apr 2013]. I had previously been flying F-86L jet fighters in the U.S.A.F. Air Defense Command. When the KAL 747 was shot down by a MiG off the end of Sakhalin Island and your article quoted the radio transmissions between the pilot, Major Osipovich and General Kornukov, this clarified to me the basic difference in the mentality of American and Russian military organizations.

I could not imagine any American F-86 pilot shooting down a civilian aircraft, regardless of his orders from the GCI (Ground Control Intercept) commander. American interceptor aircraft had a searchlight installed in the side of the aircraft that allowed the fighter pilot, regardless of night and bad weather to fly formation with the “bogie,” i.e. unidentified aircraft, and examine it very closely, from the cockpit to the tail, from about ten feet (3 to 4 meters). It would have been obvious to the interceptor pilot, Major Osipovich, that this was a civilian airliner, a Boeing 747, which he recognized. I’m sure he would be able to see the passengers through their windows.

An American interceptor would would have contacted the KAL aircrew on International Guard Channel 121.5 MHz or 243.0 MHz and asked for his identification, i.e. “KAL 007,” which could have been easily confirmed by trans Pacific ATC through the Russian communication system. This could have been done in two or three minutes. If Osipovich was unable to contact them because he did not speak English, which is the International ATC communication language, he could have spoken in Russian and flown close enough to the cockpit, and fired a warning missile “across their bow.” It was at night and believe me, a rocket propelled missile is an awesome sight, especially at night!

My point is that there were several actions that could have been made in a matter of minutes that should have been attempted before shooting down what is obviously a civilian aircraft and killing hundreds of innocent victims. I thought the article did a good job of describing the political and nuclear “scary” atmosphere that existed at the time. But this tragedy should never have happened. I don’t blame the Major because of the Russian military system. I blame his commander, General Kornukov, for a very bad decision.

Again, I love reading Russian Life and look forward to every issue.

Charles D. Foran,

L/Col. USAF (Ret)

Dallas, Texas