[MilCom] NORAD Incident at the Cape Today.

[GeorgeF.]

At about 15 minutes before launch NORAD CAP (Combat Air Patrol) aircraft 
noticed a single engine aircraft heading right for the Shuttle Pad 
(39B).  NORAD CAP aircraft attempted to contact the intruder on 121.5, 
there was no response, CAP aircraft reported to OAKGROVE (NORAD) the 
intruder was still heading for the pad.

A few minutes later the intruder aircraft was heard on 121.5 saying  with a 
"smart ass" tone of voice "I'm not in the restricted area, I'm one mile 
south".  There was silence then on the CAP frequencies of 228.9000 MHz and 
264.1000 MHz.  Then CAP aircraft was heard on 121.5 telling the intruder to 
turn west NOW!.  Minutes later on one of the CAP freqs (I forget which 
freq) one of the CAP aircraft announced "Flares Launched" or something to 
that effect (I think I heard 4 flares).

Then a few minutes later CAP aircraft were saying the intruder had landed 
at a small grass airstrip, gave the lat/long (I didn't have time to write), 
and "N"umber.  Also it was mentioned that it appeared the pilot was trying 
to "hide" the aircraft.

Anyone want to fill in the details or make corrections to what I heard?

Note: at one time I had listed 264.1000 as a NORAD freq, but on 9/4/03 was 
told that "264.1 is not a NORAD allocation".   Today it was being used by 
aircraft related to the intruder aircraft.  CAP aircraft callsign was 
PITTMAN(sp?) and was using 228.9 and 264.1 during today's launch.

George  KI4FIA  Daytona Beach, FL
http://www.MilAirComms.com