Mathias, an 18‑year‑old West German with barely 50 hours in his logbook, pulled off a Cold War mic drop by casually flying his rented Cessna from Helsinki into Moscow’s airspace—and landing smack on a bridge by Red Square. He managed to confuse Soviet radars, get MiGs airborne (who were told not to shoot), and tick off top brass big time. His stunt led to the firing of the Soviet defense minister and hundreds of officers, ultimately giving Gorbachev room to shake up the military. Mathias spent 14 months in Lefortovo prison, then walked free as a Cold War goodwill gesture—and now lives more quietly.

READ MORE: When a German Teenager Penetrated Soviet Air Defenses in a Cessna – American Handgunner