Special thanks to CurtisLemay's friend Matt Wiser who was kind enough to share some advice on this next part.
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World War III: 1988
Addendum H: "The July ’87 Bering Strait Incident"
Although interceptions of Soviet bomber and reconnaissance aircraft over Alaskan airspace were common during the Cold War, particularly along the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line, there was a noticeable uptick in detection of air incursions by Soviet aircraft beginning in February 1987. The “July ’87 Bering Strait Incident” was notable for the loss of a Soviet MIG-23MLA “Flogger G” as well as significant wing damage to a F-15B belonging to the 54th Fighter Squadron, that had just been activated in May 1987 as part of the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing. It was also notable as while Soviet bomber/reconnaissance aircraft had penetrated American and NATO airspace in the past, it had rarely ever done so with fighter aircraft escorts. The incident was reported worldwide and resulted in numerous accusations and several hearings on both sides, and further inflamed tensions between the United States and Soviet Union. The United States Air Force released a cut audio transcript several days after the incident to back it’s claims the Soviets had unlawfully violated their airspace and acted aggressively, while the Soviet Union released a suspected edited audio transcript which it claimed proved the Americans acted in aggression resulting in the loss of one of their aircraft. The complete American audio transcript was not released until after the ’88 War. The participants in the incident are listed as follows by their callsigns:
Watchtower 6: EW Radar Control, Alaskan Air Command responding to Soviet air incursion 10 miles west of EW radar site Nome, Alaska.
F-15B Chevy 24, Capt. Michael Kozlowski, performing aerial patrol over Alaska out of Elemendorf AFB.
F-15B Chevy 28, 1st Lt. Lisa Monroe, wingman to Chevy 24, also performing aerial patrol over Alaska, out of Elemendorf AFB.
TU-95KM “Bear Charlie”, Reconnaissance bomber believed to be based out of SAF Aerodrome Provedenya.
IL-78 “Midas” Refueling tanker also believed to be based out of SAF Aerodrome Provedenya.
MIG-23MLA “Flogger Golf One” Escort fighter to Bear reconnaissance bomber and Midas tanker.
MIG-23MLA “Flogger Golf Two” Escort fighter and wingman to Flogger Golf One.
The audio transcript as recorded by the United States the day of the incident is as follows, with additional notes in parentheses.
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Watchtower 6: Unidentified four-ship aircraft formation at bearing Two-Two-Five, twelve miles west of Nome, this is Alaskan Air Command, please identify yourself and state your intentions.
(No reply from aircraft.)
Watchtower 6: Repeat, unidentified four-ship aircraft formation at bearing Two-Two-Five, ten miles west of Nome, this is Alaskan Air Command, please identify yourself and state your intentions, acknowledge.
(Still no reply from aircraft)
Watchtower 6: Chevy Two-Four, Chevy Two-Eight, this is Watchtower Six, how copy, over?
Chevy 24: Watchtower Six, this is Chevy Two-Four, we copy.
Watchtower 6: Chevy Two-Four, Chevy Two-Eight, we have four radar contacts at bearing Two-Two-Five, eight miles west of Nome, identification is Sierra Flight Five-Five-Eight-Nine. Turn to bearing three-three-zero northwest, descend to angels two-three for interception and visual identification, acknowledge.
Chevy 24: Watchtower Six, confirmed, turning to three-three-zero, descending to angels two-three.
(Timelapse 1 minute)
Chevy 28: Chevy Two-Four, I’ve got four bogies on my scope, approximately thirty miles out.
Chevy 24: Confirm Chevy Two-Eight, on my scope as well. Watchtower Six, we have confirmed radar contact with four bogies, about thirty miles out at bearing three-three-zero.
Watchtower Six: Confirmed Chevy Two-Four, weapons are to remain tight at this time, report positive identification of bogies in Sierra Flight Five-Five-Eight-Nine when in visual range, out.
(Timelapse 10 minutes)
Chevy 24: LT, I’ve got eyes on four red birds to our eleven o’clock?
Chevy 28: Copy that Cap, I see ‘em, looks like Ivan’s come to visit again.
Chevy 24: Watchtower Six, this is Chevy Two-Four, I have visual ID on Sierra Flight Five-Five-Eight-Nine, consisting of one TU-Nine-Five Bear-Charlie, one IL-Seven-Eight Midas, and two MIG-Two-Three Flogger Golfs, copy?
Watchtower Six: Chevy Two-Four, confirmed. Observe current ROE, squawk Soviet aircraft on international GUARD frequency, ask them to state their intentions and inform them that they have unlawfully entered U.S. airspace. Also inform them that they are to turn immediately to bearing two-four-zero and that you will escort them out of U.S. airspace.
Chevy 24: Ah, Roger that Watchtower Six. Attention Soviet aircraft to my nine-o’clock, this is callsign Chevy Two-Four of the 54th Fighter Squadron, 21st Fighter Wing, United States Air Force. Who am I addressing today?
TU-95KM “Bear Charlie”: American aircraft to our three o’clock, this is KM One-Five-Three-Eight of the Soviet Long Range Aviation Forces Command. Good day to you sir.
Chevy 24: Good day to you, ma’am. I am to inform you radar control Watchtower Six has attempted to hail you twice and has received no response, please state your intentions. Also, please be aware that you have unlawfully entered U.S. airspace.
TU-95KM “Bear Charlie”: Chevy Two-Four, sir, I have been instructed by my superiors to inform you that due to your many recent incursions into the sovereign airspace of the Soviet Union with your SR-71 reconnaissance flights, we now reserve the right to fly reconnaissance flights over your territory at will, over.
Chevy 24: Ah, KM One-Five-Three-Eight, respectfully ma’am, that’s a negative on your last statement, you are not authorized to continue flight over U.S. airspace. My superiors have instructed me to inform you, that you are to turn immediately to bearing two-four-zero and will be escorted out, acknowledge.
TU-95KM “Bear Charlie”: I am sorry, Chevy Two-Four, but my orders are specific.
Chevy 24: And so are mine, ma’am. I repeat, turn immediately to bearing two-four-zero or you risk further escalation, and I cannot guarantee your safety if you do.
(Background indecipherable chatter on GUARD frequency heard believed to belong to pilots of Soviet four-ship aircraft formation.)
Chevy 28: Cap, I’ve got movement from the Floggers, looks like they’re taking up position alongside us…hold on, I’ve got one moving to my three o’clock. Cap, I don’t like this.
Chevy 24: Yeah, I see it LT, got the other one moving to my nine o’clock, stay cool. KM One-Five-Three-Eight, why are your escorts moving into position so close to us? Tell them to back off, they’re too close.
TU-95KM “Bear Charlie”: Chevy Two-Four, my escorts wish to remind you of our orders, you will allow us to pass unheeded.
Chevy 24: Negative, ma’am, tell your escorts to back off now they’re…wait, what?
Chevy 28: Cap, these Floggers are trying to buzz us!
(More indecipherable chatter in Russian heard on GUARD frequency.)
Chevy 24: Attention all Soviet aircraft, this is my final warning, turn to bearing two-four-zero or…SHIT!
(Multiple klaxon alarms going off in Chevy 24’s cockpit.)
Chevy 28: Cap, what happened? Are you hit? Are you hit?!
Chevy 24: Trying to…oh fuck! Portside collision on my left wing, I’m in a spin! Trying to compensate!
Chevy 28: Watchtower Six, Chevy Two-Eight, Chevy Two-Four just had a collision with one of the Flogger’s, Chevy Two-Four’s in a spin, the Flogger lost its wing and falling out to sea!
Watchtower Six: Copy Chevy Two-Eight, alerting search and rescue, Chevy Two-Four, do you copy?
Chevy 24: This is Chevy Two-Four…increasing throttle…attempting to compensate. I’ve got control Watchtower Six, I’ve got control. I lost a third of my left wing but I’ve barely got control.
Chevy 28: Cap, that other Flogger’s moving to your six!
Chevy 24: What’s he doing back there LT? I can barely fly the plane!
Chevy 28: Watchtower Six, the other Flogger’s lining up on Chevy Two-Eight’s tail, I’m moving in behind him…I’ve got a clear shot, request clearance to fire, Watchtower Six!
Watchtower Six: Negative, Chevy Two-Eight, stand down, you are not authorized to engage, stand down immediately.
Chevy 28: Watchtower Six, one of these Floggers just kamikazed my flight leader and the other’s lined up on his six, I think he’s going to shoot! Request clearance to fire, let me take the shot!
Watchtower Six: Negative on your request Chevy Two-Eight, do not fire unless fired upon.
Chevy 24: This Flogger’s still on my tail, get him off!
Chevy 28: Watchtower Six, my wing leader’s lost a wing and this Flogger’s lined up to take a shot, give me clearance to fire now!
Watchtower Six: Chevy Two-Eight…Lt. Lisa Monroe, this is your squadron commander, stand down immediately, that is a direct order, do not fire!
(Timelapse 10 seconds)
Chevy 28: This is Chevy Two-Eight to all callsigns…the Flogger’s bugging out, so is the Bear Charlie and the Midas, looks like they’ve had enough fun for one day.
Chevy 24: Jesus, that’s a relief.
Watchtower Six: Copy that Chevy Two-Eight. Chevy Two-Four, what is your status?
Chevy 24: Watchtower Six, I’ve lost a third of my left wing and I’m losing hydraulic fluid and fuel, I’ve got control of the aircraft for now but I don’t know for how long, declaring an emergency, over.
Watchtower Six: Copy that Chevy Two-Four, bring your bird back to the barn at Elemendorf if you can, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, we will have emergency vehicles standing by. Additional interceptors are being launched now and will continue to monitor the area and Sierra Flight Five-Five-Eight-Nine’s egress from U.S. airspace. Chevy Two-Eight, stay with Chevy Two-Four and escort his plane back to the barn, Watchtower Six out.
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F-15B callsign Chevy 24 was able to safely land at Elmendorf, barely as his fuel was reaching bingo state. Pilots Captain Michael Kozlowski and Lt. Lisa Monroe underwent a formal inquiry by both the Safety Investigation Board and Accident Investigation Board, but neither were found to be at fault. It was concluded the Flogger pilot had been reckless and gotten too close to Capt. Kozlowski’s aircraft. The Soviet Flogger pilot in question, Senior Lt. Alexander Turgenev, successfully ejected out of the damaged Flogger and was recovered by U.S. Air Force Search and Rescue. He was then briefly interrogated before being handed off to a U.S. Coast Guard ship who turned over the pilot to a Soviet merchant marine vessel. Captain Galina Yahantov, who flew the TU-95 Bear reconnaissance bomber during the incident went on to fly additional missions during the ’88 War, performing reconnaissance and anti-shipping missions before being shot down by USN F-14 Tomcat fighters and was taken POW, only later choosing to stay in the United States after the war concluded. In a postwar interview, Captain Yahantov had this to say in regard to the mission that day:
I was told, “Captain Yahantov, it is time that we make a show of force to the Americans, and make them see that they do not reserve the right to meddle in our affairs nor overfly our country at will with their reconnaissance planes. You will perform the task assigned to you to the best of your abilities and do your duty.” And I performed my duty, a show of force was made, albeit the results were questionable at best. I had to, I was a loyal officer of the Soviet Union, you were severely punished or worse if you dared disobeyed, as I’m sure you are well familiar by now, no?
After the “July ’87 Bering Strait Incident” as it was known, intercepts of Soviet aircraft in the airspace of NATO and Western-aligned countries worldwide, including near Alaska continued, albeit more often with Soviet fighter escorts as the range permitted, with Western aircraft keeping a respectable distance from the Soviet aircraft. The nature of such interceptions, while an air of congeniality was maintained when possible, became more tense, another dire factor as the world further drifted toward the eventual outbreak of the Third World War.
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