Nation: KGB: Russia's Old Boychiks

The Soviet secret service is getting bigger—and better

Panama City, Fla., 1971: Carrying a hefty attaché case, U.S. Air Force Sergeant Walter T. Perkins walks to a commercial jet destined for Mexico City, where he plans to rendezvous with an agent of the KGB, the Soviet intelligence service. In the attaché case are top-secret U.S. plans for defense against a Soviet air attack. Air Force security men arrest Perkins as he boards, and his KGB contact, Oleg Shevchenko, flees Mexico for Cuba.

Damascus, Syria, 1974: Hidden KGB cameras click softly, and a secret microphone...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!