Posted on 02/10/2006 5:47:38 PM PST by oxcart
1962: Russia frees US spy plane pilot American spy plane pilot Captain Francis "Gary" Powers has been freed from prison in the Soviet Union in exchange for a Russian spy jailed in the US. Gary Powers was sentenced to 10 years in a Soviet prison after his U-2 plane was shot down over Russia in May 1960.
But on Saturday Captain Powers, 32, walked into West Berlin across a bridge separating the city's east and western sectors.
At the same time Russian spy Colonel Rudolph Abel crossed in the opposite direction.
Colonel Abel had served five years of a 30-year term for running a spy ring in the US.
His sentence was commuted by US Attorney-General Robert Kennedy two weeks ago.
However, the Russians have always denied any knowledge of Colonel Abel and even now maintain Mr Khrushchev freed the US pilot simply as a "goodwill gesture".
Another American, student Frederic Pryor, was also freed from the eastern bloc at the same time as Gary Powers.
Mr Pryor had been held in East Germany without charge since last August.
'Weather plane'
Gary Powers' capture in 1960 caused an international crisis.
Initially the American authorities believed there was no evidence left of either plane or pilot and tried to convince the Russians the U-2 had been a weather plane.
However, the Russians then produced Mr Powers alive and well claiming he had admitted spying for the CIA.
Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev demanded an apology from US President Eisenhower and when none was forthcoming plans for a superpower summit in Paris collapsed.
US authorities have said it will be at least a week before the freed airman is allowed to meet the press.
In the meantime they will no doubt want to establish how Mr Powers came to be shot down when U-2s were believed to be impregnable to anti-aircraft fire.
They will also be keen to find out exactly how much Mr Powers told his captors about the spy planes.
There was speculation during his trial that he had said more than his oath of secrecy permitted.
The release of Captain Powers comes a year after that of the two US airmen whose reconnaissance aircraft was shot down over the Barents Sea in January 1960.
Four of the crew died. Authorities in the USSR claimed the plane had been in Soviet airspace.
The two survivors, John McKone and Freeman Olmstead, were held in prison in Moscow for a year before being freed.
And to Kelly Johnson and the entire SKUNK works that made it all possible.
(((PING)))
Died as a radio traffic, helicopter reporter when he let his chopper run out of gas. Always lived on the edge.
As I recall there was a school playground in Encino to land in, but he crashed his chopper nearby to avoid kids out playing there.
In the stately hall of columns, 1960 was the year
When young Francis Gary Powers stood before the Russian bear.
They were trying him for spying; o'er the Soveits he flew,
In that famous plane, U 2.
Glory, glory, he's a hero,
Glory, glory, he's a hero,
Glory, glory, he's a hero,
Whe flew for Uncle Sam.
Far across the foreign waters, in the state, USSR
O'er the Lubyanka prison shines a bright, foreboding star.
In that godless land of Russia, in that vale of endless tears,
They gave him ten long years.
Glory, glory, he's a hero,
Glory, glory, he's a hero,
Glory, glory, he's a hero,
Whe flew for Uncle Sam.
In the future page of history, In the ages yet to come,
When free men speak of their heroes, and the deeds that they have done,
They will sing of Francis Powers, and the famous plane he flew
For the great Red, White, and Blue.
Glory, glory, he's a hero,
Glory, glory, he's a hero,
Glory, glory, he's a hero,
Whe flew for Uncle Sam.
Red River Dave [Dave McEnery], Savoy Records, 1960
When the clouds are hangin' high above the Kremlin,
And the moonbeams many happy memories bring,
"There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere,"
That's the song the Russian jailers hear him sing.
In a lonesome prison cell in godless Russia,
Where no Bible ever speaks His precious name,
There's the boy who flew the U2 for his country,
To make sure that no Pearl Harbor comes again.
When the clouds are hangin' high above the Kremlin,
And the moonbeams many happy memories bring,
"There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere,"
Waving o'er the land of heroes brave and true.
Red River Dave [Dave McEnery];
Recorded by Tommy Dee & His Teenaires, 1960
1962: Russia frees US spy plane pilot American spy plane pilot ==
In 1962 there were Soviet Union not Russia!
I've always wondered why I didn't make the news on that day? Now I know. It was covered up by other Cold War News.
It was the same day I arrived in Bremerhaven, Germany on the USNS Gordon after having pulled KP for nine days.
RIP Capt. Powers.
Thank You!
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