Customer Reviews

Shootdown: Flight

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Shootdown examines Flight 007 in good depth but strays off course in many aspects. Some of the chapters ramble on too much while others the author can barely hide his dislike of Reagan along with members of his administration. When the author sticks to the subject the book does offer alot of information on what really happened to Flight 007.

In Shootdown, Johnson examines every aspect of KAL flight 007, from the takeoff to the years following the incident. He argues that while no one can 'prove' KAL was on a surveillance mission, the evidence is so overwhelming no other theory should be believed. He does indeed provide considerable evidence for his thesis. The 400 page book chronicles example after example of oddities that only make sense if the flight course was intentional. I am not a believer, but his arguments made me think twice about it all. Although I am no expert on aircraft handling and navigation, and therefore cannot comment on the details of the flight, I am left wondering about a few matters. First of all, what need was there to use a jet for spying when sattelite imagery is even better? Johnson claims the CIA wished to activate Soviet radars. But why is KAL needed for this? The US could have used any plane they wished, including a 747 made up to look civilian. Also, it is argued that no one thought the Soviets would shoot down a civilian airliner, even though another Korean Airlines plane had been shot down by the Russians just five years earlier! It boggles my mind to think that with all the equipment at their disposal, the CIA would feel forced to enlist a private airline to do their work, especially in view of the tremendous risks involved for everyone.