CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers was flying the U-2 Spy Plane on May 1st, 1960 when it was shot down by the Soviet Union. Powers had been recruited from the U.S. Air Force to fly U-2 planes, along with several other people. They had been flying U-2 planes over the Soviet Union before this incident occurred. "To keep its reconnaissance program shrouded in secrecy, the CIA stationed the pilots at the Second Weather Observation Squadron at the Incirlik Air Force Base in Turkey. (ABC-CLIO)" The pilots would fly over Pakistan and continue over the Soviet Union collecting pictures and data. It was during a normal surveillance mission that Powers' plane was shot down. He was headed from Pakistan to Norway. "Soviet premier Nikita S. Khrushchev told the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. that an American spy plane had been shot down on May 1 over Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg), referring to the flight as an “aggressive act” by the United States. (Britannica)"
"At first the plane was used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to monitor electronic emissions, to sample the upper atmosphere for evidence of nuclear weapons tests, and to photograph sites deep within the territory of the Soviet Union, China, and other Cold War enemies. (Britannica)" The plane was considered invincible because it could fly at an altitude of 70,000 feet with the ability to fly 4,000 miles without requiring more fuel. "The U-2...flew high enough to render it well nigh invulnerable to other aircraft, anti-aircraft guns, and surface-to-air missiles... (Khrushchev)" However, a U-2 Spy Plane had been spotted on radar. "To Khrushchev, this overflight was a particular affront because it occurred on a communist holiday (May Day), and because he saw it was an intentional pre-summit provocation. (ABC-CLIO)" After tracking the plane for awhile, the Soviets decided on a plan of attack. Three missiles were supposed to be fired at the plane. However, only one launched. Khrushchev's son explains the moment, "The lone missile approaching the target was now the only hope. A fiery point blossomed in the sky. Several seconds later came the faint sound of an explosion. It was 8:53 A.M., Moscow time." The Soviet Union was in amazement that they hit the plane. The plane was shot down with a V-750 surface-to-air missile. Later they found out the plane was not actually hit. The missile exploded behind the plane, causing the plane's wings to fall off. The U-2 Spy Planes were supposed to self destruct in the event of a crash or an attack. However, "...the espionage equipment had been captured almost intact and that film found in the camera was now being developed. (Khrushchev)" Powers was able to escape and his parachute helped him land safely. "A few minutes later the friends were helping the pilot to his feet and disentangling him from the parachute's shroud lines. They had no idea who he was, but they marveled at his equipment...noticing the stamp on Powers's pistol, wrote "USA" in the dust on the car's dashboard. Powers nodded. They decided to take the captured spy--they had no doubt that was what he was--to the office of a nearby state farm. (Khrushchev)" Powers was then transported to Sverdlovsk.
To hear audio of Francis Gary Powers Jr. speaking about the U-2 incident and some of the aftermath, click here.
To hear audio of Francis Gary Powers Jr. speaking about the U-2 incident and some of the aftermath, click here.
When Powers got shot down, he was in the middle of the U.S.'s 24th spy mission over the Soviet Union. "Correctly assuming that the United States did not know that the Soviet Union had both Powers and incriminating aircraft components, Khrushchev set out to embarrass the Eisenhower administration. (ABC-CLIO)" The U.S. was not aware that Powers was captured and the plane was intact. They attempted to cover up the debris by saying a weather plane went down over the Soviet Union. "After the United States announced that the downed plane was a weather research aircraft, the Soviet leader publicly revealed the damning evidence to the contrary and announced his intent to try Powers for espionage. (ABC-CLIO)" The Soviets knew about the U.S. flying planes over their nation. It frustrated them that they couldn't shoot them down. It made the Soviets look bad, and made the Americans look good. "On May 7 he (Khrushchev) revealed that the pilot of the plane, Francis Gary Powers, had parachuted to safety, was alive and well in Moscow...Powers admitted working for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. (Britannica)" Powers was then tried for espionage and sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment and 7 years in a corrective labor colony. "In February 1962, however, he was traded for a Soviet spy being held in U.S. custody. (ABC-CLIO)" That Soviet spy was Rudolf Abel (whose real name was William Fischer).