Ok, let's try this again :) Xymmax So let it be written So let it be done 22:26, 13 March 2009 (UTC)
Lead looks good.
First section: I'd put the date of departure up with the time of departure, especially since it differs from the date the aircraft was shot down.
Under the section "Flight deviation from assigned route" the following sentences appear: According to the ICAO, the autopilot was not operating in INS mode for one of two reasons: the autopilot was not switched to INS mode by the crew (shortly after Cairn Mountain). Alternatively, INS mode was selected by the crew, but the aircraft had already deviated off track by more than the 7.5 nautical miles (13.9 km) tolerance permitted for the inertial navigation computer to activate. I think that construction calls for an either/or clause following it, or drop the colon.
There are lots of small sentence structure issues, as is to be expected with such a long article. It needs copy-editing, but is OK for the "reasonably well-written" standard of GA.
Lots of references and sources, not all of which I can read. Still, the links of the online sources are good, and seem to relate to the purpose for which they're used, so generally OK here. Also, generally a good enough job with backing up the POV sources with a more neutral one.
The tone gets a little loose towards the end. For example, in the Aftermath section we see: "NATO had decided, under the impetus of the Reagan administration, to deploy Pershing II and cruise missiles in West Germany. This deployment would have placed missiles just 6–10 minutes striking distance from Moscow. Support for the deployment was wavering and it looked doubful that it would be carried out. However when the Soviet Union shot down Flight 007, the U.S. was able to galvanize enough support at home and abroad to enable the deployment to go ahead." Unfortunately, not a citation in sight.
Reference 125 needs an article title. Similarly, 127 needs something beyond "?" Baltimore Sun if it's going to stay in the article.
I'm not quite sure what to make of the "Timeline for attack" = it just appears to me as a box with no content. Should I be able to see something here? See below. Anyway, on hold for now, but I have every reason to think it can make GA this time. Xymmax So let it be written So let it be done 23:47, 13 March 2009 (UTC)
OK, I looked at the timeline box again. I have a script killer that kept me from viewing it; I can expand the box now. And I have questions. First of course are the usual OR questions. I have no real problem on this score provided that all sources are reliable and all have time stamps. I would like a cite to each source in the color key, however, and follow up cites for commentary (for example, when it say the the fighter jet changed position, we should cite to the source that let's us conclude this). I would also consider calling this section something like "Timeline of the final flight of 007" or "Timeline of flight and downing of 007" my point being that it isn't JUST the attack.
This is a long article, I'll read it through again later and will probably have more comments. Xymmax So let it be written So let it be done 12:10, 14 March 2009 (UTC)
Overall though, I think the changes to the article certainly have improved it. If the copy editors can get to it, I think you'll be most of the way there. Xymmax So let it be written So let it be done 10:43, 24 March 2009 (UTC)