Spy pilot is a deeply moving book of a sons lifelong search to uncover the hidden history of his father. Open to the public, planes of fame air museum chino, ca presents its monthly living history flying day on march 7, 2020, featuring the lockheed p38 lightning. Powers was born in jenkins, kentucky, to oliver and ida powers. There is a presentation by francis gary powers, jr. U2 pilot francis gary powers is a central character in the movie bridge of spies starring tom hanks. For the past twentyfive years, francis gary powers, jr.
Spypilotfrancisgarypowers central intelligence agency. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. American spy takes the reader on a behindthescenes journey filled with espionage, intrigue, sex, lies, and betrayal. Francis gary powers august 17, 1929 august 1, 1977 was an american pilot whose central intelligence agency u2 spy plane was shot down while flying a reconnaissance mission over soviet union airspace, causing the 1960 u2 incident. The bridge links berlin with potsdam and was unique in that it was a place where the soviet union and the united states stood directly opposite one another.
Powers was captured by the kgb, subjected to a televised show trial, and imprisoned, all of which created an international incident. On 1 may 1960, a united states u2 spy plane was shot down by the soviet air defence forces while performing photographic aerial reconnaissance deep into soviet territory. Wreckage of the u2 flown by francis gary powers in an exhibition at the central museum of the armed forces in moscow. If youre interested in the cold war or just a good old fashioned story of redemption you cannot go wrong with spy pilot. James gregory played donovan in the 1976 tv movie francis gary powers. The true story of the spy they traded for gary powers the son of u2 pilot francis gary powers has written an indepth, detailed account of his fathers life, the infamous u2 shootdown, and the aftermath. Francis gary powers, the u2 incident, and a controversial cold war legacy in new york journal of books. Spy pilot by author and historian, francis gary powers, jr. Soviet spy rudolf abel was then swapped at glienicke bridge for downed american u2 pilot francis gary powers. This flight was to be the first u2 flight across the whole of russia.
Jun 29, 2015 u2 spyplane shotdown francis gary powers excerpt. This book tells the story of francis gary powers and the u2 flight that went down in soviet territory in may,1960. The truth about what happened to francis gary powers. In 1999, the history channel aired mystery of the u2, hosted by arthur kent as part of their history undercover series. Born june 5, 1965, in burbank, california, he is the son of francis gary and claudia sue powers. He went to work after the inquiry as a u2 test pilot for lockheed aircraft corporation the planes maker. The details surrounding this event are to this day still shrouded in mystery. As he floated to earth, parachuting toward the vast russian steppe on the morning of may 1, 1960, american u2 pilot francis gary powers envisioned the tortures and unknown horrors awaiting. On february 10, 1962, american spy pilot francis gary powers is released by the soviets in exchange for soviet colonel rudolf abel, a senior kgb spy who was caught in the united states five years. The event was recently depicted in the steven spielberg movie bridge of spies. Feb 25, 2018 francis gary powers son shares famous fathers story in new book.
Francis gary powers simple english wikipedia, the free. Right now, we have a 2to1 matching gift campaign, so you can triple your impact. He grew up in pound, virginia, just across the state border. This made it an ideal place for prisoner exchanges. When i was stationed at osan air base, republic of korea, from 1996 to 1998, i often heard the roar of u2s launching. The true history in bridge of spies at the smithsonian. Francis gary powers august 17, 1929 august 1, 1977 was an american pilot whose cia1 u2 spy plane was shot down while over the soviet union, causing the 1960 u2 incident. In 1967, donovan published his second book, challenges. Francis gary powers, the u2 incident and a controversial cold war legacy. Powers is the author of a new book spy pilot, which details the life of his father, former u2 airplane pilot francis gary powers, sr. In sum, spy pilot is a brief but engaging and readable book on a significant event in cold war history, a deeply personal book about a young. Gallo, president, uss liberty veterans associationto most of us, francis gary powers was an abstraction, a name in a history book. Born june 5, 1965, he is the son of francis gary and claudia sue powers.
The son of the most famous cold war pilot, francis gary powers sr. May 06, 2015 fiftyfive years ago this may, francis gary powers was piloting a u2 on a reconnaissance mission for the central intelligence agency when he was shot down over the soviet union. Movies are movies, but books are something else besides. Powers, a civilian under contract to the cia at the time, was divorced and remarried in 1963. Using newly available information, the son of famed u2 pilot francis gary powers presents the facts and dispels misinformation about the cold war espionage program that turned his father into a. Dear internet archive supporter, i ask only once a year. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. On may 1, 1960, powers took off from pakistan at the controls of an. The true story that inspired the feature film bridge of spies in this new edition of his classic 1970 memoir about the notorious u2 incident, pilot francis gary powers reveals the full story of what actually happened in the most sensational espionage case in cold war history. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Francis gary powers august 17, 1929 august 1, 1977 was an american pilot whose central. As chairman of the presidential advisory committee for the cold war theme study, he works with the national park service and leading cold war experts to identify historic cold war sites for commemoration, interpretion, and preservation.
From the moment this book dropped through my letterbox, it had me thinking back several decades to a tv drama featuring lee majors in the. Francis gary powers, the u2 incident, and a controversial cold war legacy francis gary powers, jr. American relations 17 years ago, was killed today in the crash of a. Fiftyfive years ago this may, francis gary powers was piloting a u2 on a reconnaissance mission for the central intelligence agency when he was shot down over the soviet union. The personal journal and correspondence of cia u2 pilot francis gary powers, self published may 1, 2017. In the ussr, captured american u2 pilot francis gary powers is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for his confessed espionage. The result is a fascinating book set in this unique period in american history a definitive account proving that francis gary powers acted honorably in his service to his country. After the u2 fiasco had slipped from public memory, pilot francis gary powers settled back into a normal lifes routine. Air force and completed twentyseven u2 photographic reconnaissance missions for the cia, including several overflights of the soviet union, until shot down by a soviet surfacetoair missile on may 1, 1960. Mar 31, 2017 author of operation overflight, sudebnyi prot. Powers was born in jenkins, kentucky, with melungeon ancestry, and raised in. While the journal, pocket diary, and correspondence are the only items currently available for transcription more items may be added later, the majority of the powers collection has also been digitized and can be viewed online for the first time. Wrote common sense book of babies and child care very popular. The book relates how the spy plane was developed and ready for service in just 88 days.
Jul 27, 2019 in the ussr, captured american u2 pilot francis gary powers is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for his confessed espionage. Attend viewing of bridge of spies and book signing. Book, spy pilot, francis gary powers, the u2 incident, and a controversial cold war legacy, prometheus publishing, january 2019. The singleseat aircraft, flown by pilot francis gary powers, was hit by an s75 dvina sa2 guideline surfacetoair missile and crashed near sverdlovsk todays yekaterinburg. Francis gary powers august 17, 1929 august 1, 1977 was an american pilot whose central intelligence agency cia u2 spy plane was shot down while flying a reconnaissance mission in soviet union airspace, causing the 1960 u2 incident. In his classic 1970 memoir, powers reveals the full story behind what happened in the most sensational espionage case in cold war history. The personal journal and private correspondence of cia u2 pilot francis gary powers. One of the most talkedabout events of the cold war was the downing of the american u2 spy plane piloted by francis gary powers over the soviet union on may 1, 1960. Sep 20, 2018 francis gary powers, soviet prison journal, entry backdated to may 1, 1960. The true story of the u2 spy incident, based on powers.
Powers was born in jenkins, kentucky, with melungeon ancestry, and raised in pound, virginia, on the virginiakentucky border. Francis gary powers, pilot who was captured on may 1, 1960, while on a reconnaissance flight deep inside the soviet union. On 1 may 1960, francis gary powers flew a u2 espionage mission from northern pakistan over the soviet union. Urged women to stay at home to love and nurture their children. The author relates how the cameras,film and and air fields in foreign countries were developed and built. Letter to the editor, the wall street journal, july, 2018. On may 1, 1960, a u2 spy plane piloted by francis gary powers was brought down near svedlovsk, soviet union while performing high altitude reconnaissance. Gary has lectured internationally for over 25 years and enjoys talking with people about the cold war, u2 incident, and the need to honor veterans and preserve cold war history for future generations.
The case of colonel abel and francis gary powers by james donovan, francis gary powers and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A memoir of the u2 incident by francis gary powers with curt gentry. On the eve of the paris summit and during the may day holiday, cia pilot francis gary powers took off from a base in pakistan bound for another base in norway, with his planned flight path transgressing 2,900 miles of soviet airspace. After surviving the shootdown of his reconnaissance plane and his capture on may 1, 1960, powers endured sixtyone. The capture, known as the u2 incident, resulted in the cancellation by the soviet union of a conference with the united states, great britain, and france.
Transcribing francis gary powers soviet prison diary. Cold war museum founder to speak about his book news. The story of francis gary powers, a u2 pilot for the c. The virginia boy who spied on russia and came home. The francis gary powers helo crash aviation history and. Francis gary powers son shares famous fathers story in new book. He was known for piloting a central intelligence agency u2 spy plane which was shot down while flying a reconnaissance mission over the soviet union. A memoir of the u2 incident by francis gary powers is an invaluable firsthand account of. Son of cold war u2 pilot francis gary powers to appear at. Roy offers a firsthand account of being a covert agent in hostile countries and war zones during the. U2 spyplane shotdown francis gary powers excerpt youtube.
421 1512 658 151 739 60 1472 310 1467 1171 435 1179 656 1364 656 1223 435 799 1375 467 452 1114 1170 1452 1244 95 1116 992 152 594 917 288 494 1118 1089 683 1337 745 321 228