Mathias Rust and breaching USSR border

[racedo]

Following on from the fascinating thread on RAF overflights in USSR I'm interested in the story from the services side of the breach of the USSR border landing close to Red Square by Mathias Rust in 1987.

It seems implausible but its often the least expected thing happens.

Can anybody shed light on the immediate response seen or they were involved in after this had occurred.

Included a Wiki post in case anybody too young to have remembered.

Mathias Rust - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[c130jbloke]

I remember this - the Soviets were not best pleased

[airborne_artist]

It seems implausible but its often the least expected thing happens.

Let's hope those running security for London 2012 have heard about Rust's aerial adventure.

[Gainesy]

Aeroplane brought out a nice dark blue tie with a Cessna 150(?) superimposed on a Red Square. I gave one to the Soviet Air Attache at an Embassy piss up, he was not best pleased I recall.

[Nantucket Sleighride]

Wasn’t this a big pantomime?

Gorbachev was pushing ahead with Glasnost, but meeting resistance particularly from top brass within the military, the story goes that his team colluded with the West to let this guy infiltrate Soviet airspace, at a given time when there were certain events going on, including the Moscow radar being down for repairs.

The subsequent sackings of top military leaders for their incompetence paved the way for reforms with the west.

Guess the truth will out one day

[cazatou]

Re Post No 5

There ain't nothing like a good conspiracy theory.

[Gainesy]

...and that is nothing like a good one.

[xxgunnerxx]

How exactly did he "breach of the USSR border"? He was constantly tracked as he entered the Soviet airspace, they brought up multiple jets to see who it was and realizing it was some hooligan they decided to do the right thing (especially after KAL 007) and not shoot him down (nor waste a missile), after all what exactly can he do with a cessna 150 .

[LH2]

after all what exactly can he do with a cessna 150

Cause a lot of embarrassment? (and it was a 172, btw)

[xxgunnerxx]

So you see embarrassment in that they have let him live?

[LH2]

So you see embarrassment in that they have let him live?

Don't know, maybe ask one of the soon-to-be ex-Generals at the time?

Anyway, back to the OP's interesting question:

Can anybody shed light on the immediate response seen or they were involved in after this had occurred.

Incidentally, a more detailed account of the flight than that posted above, can be found here: The Notorious Flight of Mathias Rust | History of Flight | Air & Space Magazine

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by xxgunnerxx

How exactly did he "breach of the USSR border"? He was constantly tracked as he entered the Soviet airspace, they brought up multiple jets to see who it was

After reading the article quoted, you will se that Rust was indeed tracked for almost the whole time. What is equally clear, besides the interference with the identification officers making him friendly, is that there was no continuous or integrated air defence system.

The cross talk between sectors and between sectors and centre were difficient.

[angels]

A ripping yarn though!!