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
- Летчик Фрэнсис Гэри Пауэрс у американского высотного самолета У-2.jpg
Летчик Фрэнсис Гэри Пауэрс у американского высотного самолета У-2
- U2 Powers Senate model.jpg
Wooden U-2 model used by Powers when he testified to the Senate Committee. The wings and tail are detached to demonstrate the aircraft's breakup.
- RIAN archive 35174 American Spy Pilot Francis Gary Powers.jpg
Powers while he was in Soviet custody
- KellyJohnsonandGaryPowers.jpg
Clarence Johnson and Francis Gary Powers in front of a U-2
- Francis Gary Powers with wife 1962.jpg
Powers with first wife, Barbara, in 1962
- Francis Gary Powers for KGIL, 1973.jpg
Powers in 1973, reporting for KGIL
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