Operation Overflight:

by Francis Gary Powers, Curt Gentry (Contributor)

For the first time since his release from a Russian prison in 1962, pilot Francis Gary Powers reveals the full story of the most sensational espionage case in Cold War the U-2 incident.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Aviation, Biography, Espionage, Russia

375 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Francis Gary Powers (August 17, 1929 – August 1, 1977) was an American pilot whose CIA[1] U-2 spy plane was shot down while over the Soviet Union, causing the 1960 U-2 incident.

Powers was born in Jenkins, Kentucky, with Melungeon ancestry, and raised in Pound, Virginia, on the Virginia-Kentucky border. He was raised by his mother and father, Ida and Oliver Powers, and had five sisters Jean Goff (residing in Pound, VA), Joan Meade (residing in Norton, VA), Joyce (residing in Virginia) Janice Melvin (residing in Salt Lake City, Utah) and Jessica Hileman (residing in Mechanicsville, MD). After graduating from Milligan College in Johnson City, Tennessee, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force in 1950. Upon completing his training (B52-H) he was assigned to the 468th Strategic Fighter Squadron at Turner Air Force Base, Georgia as an F-84 Thunderjet pilot. He was assigned to operations in the Korean War, but (according to his son) was recruited by the CIA because of his outstanding record in single engine jet aircraft, soon after recovering from an illness.[2] By 1960, the 31-year old Powers was already a veteran of many covert aerial reconnaissance missions.

From Wikipedia

Reviews

[RANGER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memorable, Well-Written Cold War Relic that should be read as a classic
Operation Overflight, sometimes subtitled, "Memoirs of the U2 Incident", is the personal memoir of Francis Gary Powers, a USAF pilot who was operating as a contract civilian CIA pilot when his U2 was shot down over the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960. For the next 21 months he would be incarcerated in two Soviet prisons, subjected to intense marathon interrogation sessions and a well-publicized show trial, and forced to endure the rigors of Soviet political prisoner life. However, he was generally well-treated and not subject to torture or brainwashing, which came as a surprise to both him and his USAF and CIA peers who assumed he would be treated harshly as were Korean War POWs and other downed Cold War pilots. This was likely due to the fact that his capture was well-publicized by the Soviet Premier, Khrushchev, who used the event to embarrass US President Eisenhower and to terminate a planned US-Soviet Summit aimed at ending the Cold War (or at least the Nuclear Arms Race). On his return to the US, Powers was shocked to discover that a large number of American citizens, misled by press reports claiming he intended to remain in the Soviet Union for life, believed he had betrayed US secrets while in captivity. A thorough CIA investigation and US Senate Committee Hearing on the matter cleared his name, but a lingering dissatisfaction with his employers, the USAF and CIA, who were clearly embarrassed by his capture, led him to leave government service to become a test pilot and later a news channel pilot in the private sector.
This is an extremely interesting and fast-paced thriller of a memoir. It can be assumed that Powers' co-author, veteran journalist Curt Gentry, gets credit for the heavy lifting that produced this memorable book. But it is Power's story and a heck of a story it is.
Operation Overflight portrays Powers as a typical elite pilot of his era, skilled, patriotic, and one who served his nation honorably under horrific conditions. Other sources confirm that Powers was well-respected and generally admired by his peers in the CIA and USAF. But the book draws the reader into the complex web of deceit and coverup attempted by the US government to hide its secrets, even at the risk of Power's reputation--which should serve as a cautionary tale to anyone considering a career in clandestine or covert intelligence operations. The dilemma is further compounded by the Air Force and CIA's utter recklessness in providing little in the way of training and no cover story for the pilots in the event of a U2 pilot coming down in the Soviet Union. There was an assumption that no Soviet air defense missile could reach the true altitude of the U2 (approx. 75,000 feet) and a bit of wishful thinking that a mechanical breakdown over Soviet territory wouldn't likely happen. Powers was also navigating a troubled marriage to his unfaithful first wife during his captivity. That he overcame all this to move on to a successful civilian career, a very happy second marriage, and have a family is a tribute to his strength of character and integrity.
The U2 incident has always raised questions and sparked conspiracy theories. Many of the most controversial matters related to the case are covered in the book. But the perspective is always from Powers' point of view. He has his own questions about some of these issues and his conclusions might interest those who are curious about the same questions and controversies. But truthfully, much of the obfuscations of the U2 incident were the result of the inept attempt at cover-up that Khrushchev so masterfully exposed, humiliating both the United States and President Eisenhower in the process. Powers took much of it personally which made the need to publicize his story so important to him (He must have passed this on to his son, Gary Powers, Jr., who is an admired Cold War scholar, historian, author, and founder of the Cold War museum).
Powers remained a good soldier to the end. He was a pilot at heart, his favorite aircraft would always be the U2, and he never doubted the importance of the U2 espionage mission nor his role as the program's iconic figure.
This book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- for those who are interested in US history, Cold War/Soviet history, conspiracy, espionage, military subjects, the U2, USAF special operations, CIA covert activities, POWs, and Survival/Escape/Resistance/Evasion (SERE) studies.
And all Americans who appreciate a good memoir from a man who risked and sacrificed so much for this great nation.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a neat book for a whole bunch of reasons. It was an incredibly fascinating and well-written memoir about the pilot of a super awesome, top-secret reconnaissance plane who gets trapped in Soviet Russia after a near-fatal crash landing. What’s not to love?

I realize that this is insanely tangential and nowhere close to an actual review, but the main takeaway point for me was that I WANT TO BE A U-2 PILOT. I’m not kidding. In another life, I think I’m just going to go for it: join the CIA, learn to fly, and spend my days gliding between Earth and Universe. Honestly, if I weren’t already halfway through a career in the social sciences, I’d quit right now and spend my life savings on flying lessons and bribing the U.S. government to overlook my damning history of uninhibited political bias.

If I could have a superpower, I hope it would be wings. But I’m a meager little human, so I think this might be the next best thing.

P.S. The book was good. I’m talking the actual content! Perfect balance of patriotism, critical thinking, and appreciation/respect for other cultures and people. Nicely done!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The U2 Incident sits right at the nexus of two of my interests - aviation and espionage - so I was keen to read this. The background to the overflights, Powers's time in USSR and the consequences on his return to the US were all fascinating.

[Michael Toleno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixty-five years after his U-2 was shot down by a Soviet surface-to-air missile, former U.S. Air Force captain and CIA pilot Gary Powers is still unjustly blamed for things that he did not do or which did not occur. He does an excellent job of refuting those accusations in this book, even though that does not appear to have been his primary objective. Operation Overflight provides a thorough and engaging account of the U-2 program and the overflights of the Soviet Union from 1956 to 1960. Powers and co-author Curt Gentry explain the political situation, technical aspects of the U-2, and U-2 pilot training in fascinating detail. They then recount in detail Powers’s fated flight, capture, interrogation, trial, imprisonment, and eventual release after 21 months. The entire book has a neutral, even-handed tone, not giving the slightest indication of deception or any motive other than a desire to provide a true account.

Here are just a few examples: (1) Powers has been accused of failing to kill himself after he was captured. He was never instructed to do so, though he was given a pin with deadly curare, hidden inside a hollowed-out silver dollar. (2) Powers has been accused of revealing secrets. In reality, he made enormous efforts to protect secrets; he received no guidance before his flight about handling interrogations. During pre-mission training, he even asked for additional guidance and a plausible cover story and was given only minimal and unhelpful answers. He did not even have the benefit of a SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) course or similar training, which almost all U.S. military aircrew receive today. His improvisation of plausible stories, indicating that he knew far less than he actually did—and his consistent adherence to them—mirrored techniques that are actually taught at SERE School. (3) He has been accused of failing to destroy the U-2 or to sacrifice his life in the attempt. On the contrary, he risked his life as he made every effort to do this, while falling with the wreckage from over 60,000 feet, though he was never instructed to sacrifice his life to protect the aircraft.

Overall, this was a gripping, plainly written, detailed, and completely believable account of Operation Overflight. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in Cold War, CIA, or military aviation history—and for those who have heard the slanderous and scurrilous accusations against Powers.

I recall that my father, a naval aviator, obtained this book for me at a library used book sale because of my interest in aviation. As with all of my pre-2000 books, the “Date finished” may be a few years off.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francis Gary Powers was a great American with a fascinating story to tell. A U-2 reconnaissance pilot, he was shot down during an overflight of the Soviet Union in 1960 and faced austere, yet humane, conditions in Russian prison. What surprised me the most about his book was the lukewarm attitude the general populace had toward him upon his return to the US. Rather than welcoming him home as a hero who withstood tough odds, there was a great deal of skepticism. Why didn’t Powers destroy himself to evade capture? Did he disobey orders? Did he tell the Russians too much? Luckily, after spending more than a year of incarceration in Russia and handling everything else that followed as best he could, I feel as though Mr. Powers was vindicated in the end.

As a fan of both espionage and aviation books, I thoroughly enjoyed his autobiography. Will read again at some point in the future.

[jj Grilliette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an autobiography. I enjoyed it as I did not know much about this event. Of course, being an autobiography, it will be very one sided, but it is important for the pilot to get out his side of the story. This book was out 10 years after his flight. At the end he gave his opinions on the good and bad of him being shot down as far as what America learned. He seems to think that the American public finding out about the U-2 at this time and the spying the government was doing led to the American interest in spy novels and movies.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've probably read this previously, but decided to do it again...great read! It's a no nonsense account of how Powers was approached, and eventually accepted, his job as a civilian CIA pilot. And later how he began over flying Russia. He was shot down, captured and tossed in Lubyanka and Vladimir prisons. His show trial made international news. His account is thrilling and was delayed for some years after the event, a sign of the times. I enjoyed the read and it was reminiscent of some times in my life. Yes, U-2s are still flying in the 21st century.

[Greg Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worked in Iran in the mid-1970’s with an ex-Air Force pilot who was considered for this project and know Powers. He turned it down because he would have had to resign his commission. He mentioned that our community in Iran was similar to how Powers described the community in Turkey. Glad the true story finally came out.

[Danny Theurer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Powers writes quite an interesting retelling of events! For anyone wondering what an American POW in the Soviet Union would've gone through, this book is a good place to start. This story tells the human cost of espionage and the fallibility of surveillance technology.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting especially after just reading “Strangers on a Bridge.” This was a much easier read and told a different part of the story from another perspective. Would highly recommend to anyone interested in the U-2/Abel/Powers story.

[Magic M · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very authentic and included many interesting detail. Great insight in to american pilots life in 60s.

[Yazan Rawashdeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story, highly recommend it if you are interested in the Cold War and espionage

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great story and better written than I thought. I have listened to his son speak on the incident - it is a great piece of aviation history.

[Phillip Visnansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

On May 1, 1960, Francis Gary Powers took off from an air force base in Pakistan on an overflight of the Soviet Union in a U-2 spy plane. Detected by Soviet radar over Sverdlovsk, Powers' aircraft was targeted by many missiles and interceptor aircraft. Ultimately, Powers' plane was struck by a near miss and he was forced to bail out over the Soviet Union. Standing trial in Moscow, Powers' was sentenced to ten years of captivity and labor.

Powers spent 18 months in Soviet prisons after his capture. Upon his release to the United States, he received a luke-warm welcome and was criticized for his failure to destroy the aircraft and his failure to utilize a poisoned pin to kill himself and avoid capture. Powers was ultimately exonerated by the Central Intelligence Agency and commended for his performance. Years after his release, he was awarded the Intelligence Star.

Many years after the U-2 incident Powers began to tell his side of the story. In Operation Overflight, Powers provides an inside look at his training, the overflight of the Soviet Union, his capture and interrogation, and his return to the United States. Peppered with portions of transcripts from his trial in the Soviet Union and the hearings held in the United States upon his release, Operation Overflight provides a unique view of the Powers' story and leaves the reader with a remarkable impression of bravery and courage in very intense circumstances.

Interestingly, Operation Overflight reveals the limited interrogation training received by U-2 pilots. For example, Powers recalls his counter-interrogation training being limited to an instruction to tell the Soviets everything because "they're going to get it out of you anyway." Despite this ominous instruction, Powell recounts how he embarked on a program of providing disinformation to his Soviet captors. Deciding calculated co-operation was key to his survival, Powers decided to give disinformation sprinkled with truth to his captors. His goal was to provide a "foundation of truthfulness" that would lead the Soviets away from more sensitive information.

Powers also provides interesting insight on Soviet curiosity by discussing the questions his captors never asked. Despite knowing he was assigned to Strategic Air Command, Powers' interrogators did not question him on his knowledge of American nuclear weapons or tactics. This surprised the captive as he was quite worried about the possibility of being caught in a web of lies based on earlier answers claiming a simplicity of information.

While Operation Overflight provides a ground level view of the plight of captured American agents in the Soviet Union, its limitations must be acknowledged. The book was written in 1970, ten years after Powers' U-2 was shot down. Unfortunately, this raises the specter of memories dulled by the passage of time.

Moreover, the book's purpose included correcting the public's misconception of Powers caused by his failure to destroy the aircraft and his failure to commit suicide. While the United States Congress and the Central Intelligence Agency had already lauded his performance in captivity, the American public remained critical. Review of Operation Overflight must be viewed in conjunction with its purpose and possible bias.

Nevertheless, Operation Overflight is a wonderful window into the Cold War. It allows the reader to observe a frontline Cold War warrior in unfathomable circumstances. Moreover, the book provides insight on Soviet motivations and actions. Despite its limitations, Operation Overflight is a wonderful addition to any bookshelf.

- Phillip Visnansky
- June 14, 2013
- The Privateers - Clementine's Nest

[Previous TCL Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

U.S. Concedes Flight Over Soviet, Defends Search For Intelligence; Russians Hold Downed Pilot As Spy
So read the headline of the May 8, 1960 edition of the New York Times.
Operation Overflight: A Memoir of the U-2 Incident by Francis Gary Powers is an invaluable first-hand account of one of the most controversial episodes of the entire Cold War. It chronicles Powers’ stranger than fiction experiences in the US Air Force, as a CIA contracted U-2 pilot, and in the Soviet prison where he was sent after his conviction by a Soviet court for espionage.
On May 1, 1960 Francis Gary Powers’ U-2 spy plane was shot down by a Soviet SA-2 Guideline surface-to-air missile. Powers was overflying the Soviet Union in the CIA operated spy craft at an altitude of nearly 80,000 feet while on a flight that would have taken him from Pakistan to Norway. His mission was planned to have been the last overflight of the Soviet Union made by any American U-2. Powers’ flight, as was customary, was personally approved by President Dwight Eisenhower.
Lockheed aviation’s famed “Skunk Works” design group created the U-2, part sub-sonic jet aircraft, part glider, specifically to soar high above existing Soviet air defenses and snap photographs of high value targets such as nuclear test and research facilities, air force installations, and rocket bases. Until the first U-2 flights in 1956, US intelligence estimates of Soviet capabilities, offensive and defensive, had been based largely on educated guesses made from within the US intelligence community. The photographic evidence provided by the U-2’s cameras provided the first hard evidence for analysts, and was invaluable in an era before spy satellites. For about four years, from 1956- mid 1960, the CIA was able to carry out the flights without incident.
Soviet radio traffic and defensive posturing confirmed early on in the U-2 program that the Soviets could detect the U-2 flights. They were simply unable to stop them despite their best efforts. Soviet surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles couldn’t fly high enough to reach the U-2s. Red Air Force MiG interceptors were incapable of reaching the U-2s at altitude before their engines flamed out in the thin air nearly 15 miles above the earth. Communist anti-aircraft artillery lacked the range and the accuracy to bring down a U-2. And, rather than admit to the world that they were incapable of stopping the flights, the Soviet leadership endured them until finally they were able to destroy Power’s U-2 in May of 1960.
Powers survived the shoot down and the 80,000 foot trip back to earth in good order. He was captured by Soviet farmers soon after landing. He was turned over to the Soviet Army and in August of 1960 he stood trial for espionage. Powers was convicted by a Soviet court and sent to prison to serve a sentence of 10 years.
Powers’ book is a must read for anyone interested in US-Soviet relations, the Cold War, and the geo-political climate of the 1950s and 1960s.

Teton County Library Call No: BIO POWERS F
Review by: Kevin Chatham

[AdultNonFiction Teton County Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teton County Library Call No: BIO POWERS F
Kevin's rating: 5 stars

U.S. Concedes Flight Over Soviet, Defends Search For Intelligence; Russians Hold Downed Pilot As Spy
So read the headline of the May 8, 1960 edition of the New York Times.
Operation Overflight: A Memoir of the U-2 Incident by Francis Gary Powers is an invaluable first-hand account of one of the most controversial episodes of the entire Cold War. It chronicles Powers’ stranger than fiction experiences in the US Air Force, as a CIA contracted U-2 pilot, and in the Soviet prison where he was sent after his conviction by a Soviet court for espionage.
On May 1, 1960 Francis Gary Powers’ U-2 spy plane was shot down by a Soviet SA-2 Guideline surface-to-air missile. Powers was overflying the Soviet Union in the CIA operated spy craft at an altitude of nearly 80,000 feet while on a flight that would have taken him from Pakistan to Norway. His mission was planned to have been the last overflight of the Soviet Union made by any American U-2. Powers’ flight, as was customary, was personally approved by President Dwight Eisenhower.
Lockheed aviation’s famed “Skunk Works” design group created the U-2, part sub-sonic jet aircraft, part glider, specifically to soar high above existing Soviet air defenses and snap photographs of high value targets such as nuclear test and research facilities, air force installations, and rocket bases. Until the first U-2 flights in 1956, US intelligence estimates of Soviet capabilities, offensive and defensive, had been based largely on educated guesses made from within the US intelligence community. The photographic evidence provided by the U-2’s cameras provided the first hard evidence for analysts, and was invaluable in an era before spy satellites. For about four years, from 1956- mid 1960, the CIA was able to carry out the flights without incident.
Soviet radio traffic and defensive posturing confirmed early on in the U-2 program that the Soviets could detect the U-2 flights. They were simply unable to stop them despite their best efforts. Soviet surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles couldn’t fly high enough to reach the U-2s. Red Air Force MiG interceptors were incapable of reaching the U-2s at altitude before their engines flamed out in the thin air nearly 15 miles above the earth. Communist anti-aircraft artillery lacked the range and the accuracy to bring down a U-2. And, rather than admit to the world that they were incapable of stopping the flights, the Soviet leadership endured them until finally they were able to destroy Power’s U-2 in May of 1960.
Powers survived the shoot down and the 80,000 foot trip back to earth in good order. He was captured by Soviet farmers soon after landing. He was turned over to the Soviet Army and in August of 1960 he stood trial for espionage. Powers was convicted by a Soviet court and sent to prison to serve a sentence of 10 years.
Powers’ book is a must read for anyone interested in US-Soviet relations, the Cold War, and the geo-political climate of the 1950s and 1960s.

[Gale Jake · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very interested in reading this book..as a pilot and years ago in 1959 as a Navy enlisted plane captain I went with our planes, S2F anti submarine aircraft to the Atsugi Japan base where U 2 s were operating. I didn't see any. It we knew they were there. The U 2 incident happened just 4 months before I finished my Navy enlistment and entered college. I remember wel the press that focused on the capture of Pilot Francis Gary Powers. At the time he was protaid as a submissive captured pilot who appeared to be ashamed of his mission and capture. I never understood why he wasn't a military here ala John McCain.

The book started out well, the background was developed to support the story. Then I was a bit frustrated that he glossed over the aircraft s features and the actual flying experience. The connection. Began to be lost. The May 1st mission where he was shot down and captured again glossed over the details. The imprisonment story went on way too long

The last 1/4 of the book was political grandstanding. Central of,the COA' the president, the government, the press and the citizens in general.. His very critical opinions (brief with several years of hindsight) blamed everyone for incompetent.

Ego and claims of direct high level connections were unrealistic. As an example, at

The initial chapters read fairly well, then the writing downgraded as the book went along, becoming clumsy. What should have been an exciting story of a major cold was incident became the Lockheed Skunkworks the book read as if Powers was nearly the only important person in the company and that he had a direct and important connection with its. Hied Kely Johnson. Ego a pounded and reached a crescendo toward the end.

This could have been an excenllent story, but it's clumsy writing, manifested ego, lack of details on th flight, flying and aircraft and the " I know. Enter " attitude greatly diminished the book.

It was worth reading, but quite disappointing. I'll need to read several accounts of the incident to get a better grasp on the story. It certainly was not, as Powers claimed, not an event that changed the world or that May 1 1959 a day that changed forever the world as we know it". More later... X

[Matt Goins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was Lee Harvey Oswald involved behind the scenes that led up to the U-2 incident???
I didn't know much about pilot Francis Gary Powers before reading this book other than the basic facts that he piloted a U-2 spy plane and that he was involved in a prisoner exchange made popular lately by the movie "Bridge of Spies". Because of my ignorance of the history of the U-2 program and the overflights over Russia back in the late 1950's, I was unaware of the controversy of opinions over Francis Gary Powers. Reading this story I detected a defensiveness as Powers related what happened that fateful May 1, 1960 and the subsequent time spent as a prisoner in Russia. Now that I have heard the "whole story" and the apparent disinformation that the American public received about what happened over Russia, I understand why the public was divided. I'm thankful for Powers' service for the USA, and it's unfortunate that he wasn't properly recognized in life.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could have easily been a James Bond novel, except of course, that it's all real. It's a no nonsense account of how Powers was approached, and eventually accepted, his job as a civilian CIA pilot. And later how he began over flying Russia (illegally) for intelligence gathering. He covers every aspect, from pre-flight, to his shoot down, capture, "trial", and imprisonment in clear, concise detail. What I also enjoyed was that he didn't hold anything back. He was a real man, with real problems, and after you're done with the book, you have a pretty good idea about his character, and the events he endured. Without giving to much more away, I'll say that it's a worth while read for enthusiasts of aviation, spy novels, or the cold war. I enjoyed it.

[KennyO · Rating 3 out of 5]

The downing of Powers' U-2 in 1960 was headline news for a long time. It made us nervous and scared, it triggered the cancellation of an important U.S.-Soviet summit meeting and it made headline news out of a highly classified reconnaissance program. It also made President Eisenhower look foolish for denying the overflight of Soviet territory by U.S. aircraft. Here is the story from Powers showing what didn't make the evening news. He was made a scapegoat and his military career went directly into the dump. I hope that one day soon someone will do the requisite research to publish a comprehensive version of the "U-2 incident." Meanwhile, here's Powers' firsthand story.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is essentially a book in three parts. It starts with the back story to the U2 programme from a pilot's perspective and will appeal to the aviation enthusiast and those who love spy intrigue. Powers then goes into depth about capture, trial and imprisonment and this is admirably described, especially the mental stresses that accompany such an experience. Finally Powers delivers a heartfelt polemic on the rationale behind the overflights of Russia, the lack of contingency planning for a failed flight and the blame apportionment games that saw Powers himself put up as the media pariah for a number of years. Recommended.

[Vojtech · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book has a couple of major sections, but for me it boiled down to three. The first one is mainly about Powerses' training, the U2 and flying it. I liked that part a lot. Follows the part about Russian prison. Also quite interesting. The last one about what happened after Powers came back to the US is the most disappointing one. To me it felt a lot like whining about who and how did him wrong, especially the part where he deals with the CIA. Not dignified at all. Overall, a good book for anyone interested in flying, spies and cold war.

[Dan Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generic Plot Spoilers: I loved the first third of the book (about the plane, flying, etc.), liked the second third (life in prison), and was only mildly interested in the last third (life after release). The last third seemed to just be him trying to clear his name from everything bad that anyone said about him after the incident which was kind of lame to me.

[Chris Morrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story, outlining an event that most folk know happened from the perspective of the flier in question. Interesting details about the event, the aftermath (personally and professionally) and the national politics surrounding the events.

I enjoyed this book.

[Emily Sorrells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, but since it was written as a memoir of sorts, it of course leads one to have doubts to some validity. He seems like he was a great man, however, and I enjoyed the afterward by the son. Would have really liked to learn more about the coin and why it was given to him though. . .

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read something about him in an article, so I said I'll check out this book. I was thinking I would just skim through it, look at the pictures, etc. But I ended up reading it from cover to cover, and found it fascinating!

[Angus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good not to heavy nonfiction read that helps to make you understand in some ways how the cold war was really fought. This includes something of a modern day scheme behind what america said and what they did.

[Shinay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francis Gary Powers flew a U-2 plane over Russia taking photographs of buildings etc that looked suspicious.
His plane was brought down by a Russian rocket.
The U.S. - “It was a weather balloon.”
Russia - “no, we have parts of the plane and the crew member.”

[Jdevero]

An interesting look into a small window of the Cold War through the eyes of a U2 spy plane pilot who found himself caught in the middle of global war politics.

[Rima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

I enjoyed this book. I'm sorry it took me so long to read it. If u are interested in the U2, I recommend this book