Between 1969 and 1972, Iraq acquired a total of 39 MiG-15bis and MiG-15UTI fighter-bombers and two-seat conversion trainers, respectively. The latter were primarily required for the newly established Air Force Academy, while the former – which wore Iraqi serial numbers 1019 to 1034, and one of which (1021) is illustrated here – were operated as fighter-bombers. Indeed, ex-Czechoslovak MiG-15bis saw intensive action during the early stages of the Second Iraqi-Kurdish War of 1974–1975, when they flew hundreds of strike sorties from air bases in the Erbil and Mosul areas. As far as is known, most were left in bare metal overall – covered by two layers of clear lacquer mixed with 5 percent and 10 percent aluminium powder, respectively – throughout their careers, which ended in the 1990s. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)