The Mikoyan i Gurevich MiG-15 jet fighter is almost synonymous for the first decade of the Cold War – foremost for the impact it had during the Korean War and the impression it left in the West. The fact that it could outmatch its Western competition at the maximum operational altitude came as a rude surprise, especially for the USA. Although manoeuvrable and packing considerable punch – thanks to its heavy cannon armament, including two 23mm and one 37mm gun – it could not carry nuclear ordnance. It did take part in related testing however, and a unit of these early MiG fighters – including the example illustrated here – took part in the Totskoye exercise that involved a live air drop and detonation of a nuclear bomb. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)