1960 : Pilot Francis Gary Powers charged with espionage
Shot down just two months before while flying a secret mission over
Moscow, CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers is charged with espionage by the
Soviet Union on July 8, 1960. Although he would not be found guilty
until August 17 of the same year, Powers' indictment signaled a
massive setback in the peace process between the United States and the
Soviet Union.
By 1960, the 31-year old Powers was already a veteran of several
covert aerial reconnaissance missions. The CIA recruited him in 1956
to fly the Lockheed U-2, a spy plane that could reach altitudes of
80,000 feet, essentially making it invulnerable to Soviet
anti-aircraft weapons. The U-2 was equipped with a state-of-the-art
camera designed to snap high-resolution photos from the edge of the
atmosphere.
The Soviets had been well aware of U-2 missions since 1956, but did
not have the technology to launch counter-measures until 1960. On what
turned out to be Powers' last flight for the CIA on May 1, the Soviets
shadowed his U-2 at a lower altitude, then took him down as he crossed
over Sverdlosk, deep in enemy territory. To make matters worse, Powers
was unable to activate the plane's self-destruct mechanism, as
instructed, before he parachuted safely to the ground, right into the
hands of the KGB.
When the U.S. government learned of Powers' disappearance over the
Soviet Union, it issued a cover statement claiming that a "weather
plane" had crashed down after its pilot had "difficulties with his
oxygen equipment." What U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower did not
realize was that the plane landed almost fully intact, and the Soviets
recovered its photography equipment, as well as Powers, whom they
interrogated extensively for months before he made a "voluntary
confession" and public apology for his part in U.S. espionage.
The timing couldn't have been worse for the United States. A major
summit--with the theme of détente and progress toward peace--between
the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France was to
begin that month. Instead, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev launched
into a tirade against the United States, openly accusing the Americans
of being "militarist" and "unable to call a halt to their war effort."
Khrushchev then stormed out, effectively ending the conference and
setting back the peace process a considerable number of years.
On August 17, 1960, Powers was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but
was released after two, in exchange for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel. Though
Powers claimed he had not divulged details of the U-2 program, he
received a cold reception upon his return to the United States. Not
until May 1, 2000, the 40th anniversary of the U-2 incident and 23
years after Powers' death in a helicopter crash, did the United States
award him the medals of distinction he was denied during his lifetime.
history.com/tdih.do
1776 : The Liberty Bell rings
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6952
1853 : Commodore Perry sails into Tokyo Bay
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5161
1950 : MacArthur named Korean commander
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5162
1994 : North Korea's "Great Leader" dies
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5163
##########################################
Shot down just two months before while flying a secret mission over
Moscow, CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers is charged with espionage by the
Soviet Union on July 8, 1960. Although he would not be found guilty
until August 17 of the same year, Powers' indictment signaled a
massive setback in the peace process between the United States and the
Soviet Union.
By 1960, the 31-year old Powers was already a veteran of several
covert aerial reconnaissance missions. The CIA recruited him in 1956
to fly the Lockheed U-2, a spy plane that could reach altitudes of
80,000 feet, essentially making it invulnerable to Soviet
anti-aircraft weapons. The U-2 was equipped with a state-of-the-art
camera designed to snap high-resolution photos from the edge of the
atmosphere.
The Soviets had been well aware of U-2 missions since 1956, but did
not have the technology to launch counter-measures until 1960. On what
turned out to be Powers' last flight for the CIA on May 1, the Soviets
shadowed his U-2 at a lower altitude, then took him down as he crossed
over Sverdlosk, deep in enemy territory. To make matters worse, Powers
was unable to activate the plane's self-destruct mechanism, as
instructed, before he parachuted safely to the ground, right into the
hands of the KGB.
When the U.S. government learned of Powers' disappearance over the
Soviet Union, it issued a cover statement claiming that a "weather
plane" had crashed down after its pilot had "difficulties with his
oxygen equipment." What U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower did not
realize was that the plane landed almost fully intact, and the Soviets
recovered its photography equipment, as well as Powers, whom they
interrogated extensively for months before he made a "voluntary
confession" and public apology for his part in U.S. espionage.
The timing couldn't have been worse for the United States. A major
summit--with the theme of détente and progress toward peace--between
the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France was to
begin that month. Instead, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev launched
into a tirade against the United States, openly accusing the Americans
of being "militarist" and "unable to call a halt to their war effort."
Khrushchev then stormed out, effectively ending the conference and
setting back the peace process a considerable number of years.
On August 17, 1960, Powers was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but
was released after two, in exchange for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel. Though
Powers claimed he had not divulged details of the U-2 program, he
received a cold reception upon his return to the United States. Not
until May 1, 2000, the 40th anniversary of the U-2 incident and 23
years after Powers' death in a helicopter crash, did the United States
award him the medals of distinction he was denied during his lifetime.
history.com/tdih.do
1776 : The Liberty Bell rings
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6952
1853 : Commodore Perry sails into Tokyo Bay
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5161
1950 : MacArthur named Korean commander
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5162
1994 : North Korea's "Great Leader" dies
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5163
##########################################
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