MILITARY OFFICIAL: "Is, is this real world or exercise?"

CONTROLLER: "No, this is not an exercise, not a test."

An order to launch fighter jets came as Flight 11 was hitting the North Tower. At the same time, another plane -- United Flight 175 -- was being hijacked. It struck the South Tower.

At nine thirty-eight, American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. A military transport plane reported the crash.

TRANSPORT PLANE: "Roger, we’re climbing to three thousand, sir, and it looks like that aircraft has impacted the west side of the Pentagon."

CONTROLLER: "All right. Thank you."

The fourth plane, United Flight 93, crashed just after ten near Shanskville, Pennsylvania. Passengers had rebelled against the hijackers, who had turned the plane toward Washington.

At ten thirty-two came this message for military officials.

MALE VOICE: "You need to read this. Region commander has declared that we can shoot down tracks if they are not responding to our, uh, directions."

By then it was too late. The 9-11 attacks killed nearly three thousand people. The complete audio monograph is on the Rutgers Law Review website. You can find a link to the site at voaspecialenglish.com.

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WORDS AND THEIR STORIES was written by Avi Arditti. I'mFaith Lapidus