Francis Gary Powers
Francis Gary Powers (Jenkins, Kentucky August 17, 1929 – Los Angeles, California, August 1, 1977) was an American pilot. He was known for piloting a Central Intelligence Agency U-2 spy plane which was shot down while flying a reconnaissance mission over the Soviet Union.[1] This caused the 1960 U-2 incident, and played a large role in the Cold War.
Powers was held as a prisoner of war in the Soviet Union. On February 10, 1962, Powers was exchanged in a spy swap in Berlin. The exchange was for Soviet KGB Colonel Vilyam Fisher, known as "Rudolf Abel", who had been caught by the FBI and tried and jailed for espionage.[2] Powers credited his father with the swap idea. When released, Powers's total time in captivity was 1 year, 9 months, and 10 days.
Powers died in Los Angeles County, California in a helicopter crash, aged 47.
Francis Gary Powers Media
- SilverStarribbon
Prisoner of War Medal ribbon (United States)
Powers while he was in Soviet custody
Wooden U-2 model – one of two used by Powers when he testified to the Senate Committee. The wings and tail are detached to demonstrate the aircraft's breakup.
Pilot Francis Gary Powers at the American High Altitude*Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft
Clarence Johnson and Francis Gary Powers in front of a U-2
Powers with first wife, Barbara, in 1962
References
- ↑ "CIA FOIA - Francis Gary Powers: U-2 Spy Pilot Shot Down by the Soviets". Foia.cia.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
- ↑ Famous Cases: Rudolph Ivanovich Abel (Hollow Nickel Case) Archived January 21, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Other websites
Media related to Francis Gary Powers at Wikimedia Commons