The exchange concluded one of the most dramatic episodes of the Cold War. Powers had been a pilot of one of the high altitude U-2 spy planes developed by the United States in the late-1950s. Supposedly invulnerable to any Soviet antiaircraft defense, the U-2s flew numerous missions over Russia, photographing military installations. On May 1, 1960, Powers’ U-2 was shot down by a Soviet missile. Although Powers was supposed to engage the plane’s self-destruct system (and commit suicide with poison furnished by the CIA), he and much of the plane were captured. The United States at first denied involvement with the flight, but had to admit that Powers was working for the U.S. government when the Soviets presented incontrovertible evidence. In retaliation, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev called off a scheduled summit with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Powers was put on trial, convicted of espionage, and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. In February 1962, the Soviet Union announced that it was freeing Powers because of a petition from the prisoner’s family. American officials made it quite clear, however, that Abel was being exchanged for Powers-a spy-for-a-spy trade, not a humanitarian gesture on the part of the Soviet Union. The U.S. government announced that in exchange for Powers, it would release Col. Rudolf Abel, a Russian convicted of espionage in the United States. On February 10, Abel and Powers were brought to the Gilenicker Bridge that linked East and West Berlin for the exchange. After the men were successfully exchanged, Powers was flown back to the United States. In an announcement, the Soviet Union declared that its release of Powers was partially motivated by "a desire to improve relations between the Soviet Union and the United States.” U.S. officials were cautious in evaluating the Soviet overture, but did note that the action could certainly help lessen Cold War tensions. The exchange was part of the ongoing diplomatic dance between Khrushchev and President John F. Kennedy. Both men seemed earnestly to desire better relations, and the February 1962 exchange was no doubt part of their efforts. Just a few months later, however, the Cuban Missile Crisis, in which the Soviets helped construct missile bases in Cuba, erased the memory of these diplomatic overtures and brought the two powers to the brink of nuclear conflict.





https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Gary_Powers

Bridge of spies is a excellent movie that is based on the exchange, very enjoyable family orientated movie, no cussing or nudity but very enjoyable.

Came to post this.

Tom Hanks for the win again.

Only not entirely accurate. Donovan was actually much more experienced in spycraft than the movie portrays. He worked for "Wild Bill" Donovan (no relation) in the OSS during WWII and put together the damning film footage evidence against the Nazis at the Nuremberg trials as a US Military attorney for the prosecution. The film portrays him as a naive insurance lawyer and that is most definitely not the case he was a highly distinguished attorney and dean. His accomplishments in his lifetime are pretty extraordinary.

The U2 going down scene was pretty amazing.  Great movie.

Wrong model in the pic.
That us a U2-R
Powers was in a far earlier and smaller 'A' version.

EW was not nearly as good as we have now.

With any warning he could have simply banked and avoided the missile.

The air is thin at that altitude and missiles do not have large enough control surface to chase a target.

Even now only a missile with thrust vectored steering can give chase.
And we have warning receivers and jammer systems.

They didn't cuss during the cold war?

 

censorship



 

There are allusions to his past throughout that make it clear that he is humble, not incompetent.

https://youtu.be/8GgS-SwKPxU

???

 

Tom Hanks dropped the f-bomb if I recall.



Also, did Powers actually exit the cockpit when he was hit like the movie showed?

That scene ruined the movie for the SO. She felt that it was overdone for effect.