buy 33 brand-new American cars. No understood that this was an impressive sum of money, but he did not understand why the Americans would want to compensate him for an aircraft that happened to be his ticket to freedom. The Korean assistant did not explain. Like everyone else whom No would meet in the hours and days ahead, he assumed that the North Korean pilot had been lured to South Korea by Operation Moolah.

Later in the morning, as the wait continued for the interrogators from Tokyo, Nichols sat down with No and informally questioned him. During their conversation, which was not recorded, the major casually declared, “You are a rich man now.”

Nichols did not elaborate, also assuming that No had come for the money and knew the particularsof Operation Moolah. No was deeply confused by this talk of his being a rich man. He did not know what to say.

Penguin Random House.

As No continued waiting for his interrogators, Air Force photographers insisted that he pose for propaganda photographs. For some pictures, he put on his Snoopy-style helmet, bulbous black oxygen mask, leather gloves and parachute. For others, he gazed soulfully into the middle distance with his leather flight jacket partly unzipped. For still others, he was photographed from behind as he looked over his MiG.

No looked like a defector from central casting. He was lean and handsome, with high cheekbones and a full head of thick black hair. He was 21 but looked younger.

After the photographers finished, No’s flight suit was confiscated. He was issued