picture 170229

The Tupolev Tu-4 bomber was a Soviet clone of the American B-29, as is clear from even a cursory look. Yet it was not an exact copy: it differed from the US aircraft in the thickness of its skinning, its engines and the calibre of its defensive armament. Although quickly becoming obsolete, the Tu-4 remained highly significant for it plugged a gap in Soviet aviation technology development. Most importantly, it also gave the Soviets their first nuclear capable bomber: a capability which was not just theoretic, as demonstrated when on 14 September 1954 the Tu-4 illustrated here – construction number 2502287 – dropped a live nuclear bomb in the course of the Totskoye military manoeuvres. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)