Francis Gary Powers left the Air Force in 1956 when he was recruited by the C.I.A. for the ultra-secret U-2 program, and what shot down over the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960. He was tried by the Soviets and convicted of espionage and sentenced to 10 years in prison. In 1962 he was released in an exchange that freed Soviet spy Rudolf Abel. After his death in 1977 his records were corrected by the U.S. Air Force to show his continuous military service throughout his tenure with the C.I.A., and he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Prisoner of War Medal. In 2012 he was posthumously awarded a Silver Star for his actions as a Prisoner of War.
Sponsored by:
Francis
Gary
Powers
POW (Cold War)
August 17, 1929
–
August 1, 1977
Born:
Jenkins
,
Kentucky
Home:
Pound
,
Kentucky
Buried:
Arlington
,
Virginia
Cemetery:
Arlington National Cemetery
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Department of the Air Force, Special Order GB-124 (November 24, 1986)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Francis Gary Powers, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a U-2 Pilot assigned to Turkey on 1 May 1960. Flying under extremely hazardous conditions, Captain Powers was able to penetrate denied territory providing support to the joint United States Air Force Agency U-2 Program. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Powers reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainDivision:
Prisoner of War (Soviet Union)Action Date:
May 1, 1960 – February 10, 1962
Captain Francis Gary Powers, United States Air Force, was captured by the Soviets after his U-2 Spy Plane was shot down on 1 May 1960 and was held until his release on 10 February 1962.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainDivision:
Prisoner of War (Soviet Union)Action Date:
May 1, 1960 – February 10, 1962
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain Francis Gary Powers, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States from 1 May 1960 to 10 February 1962. During this period, while assigned to the Joint United States Air Force, Central Intelligence Agency, U-2 Reconnaissance Squadron, Detachment 10-10, Captain Powers was held captive in solitary confinement in the infamous Lubyanka Prison, Moscow, in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, after his U-2 aircraft had been shot down by a Soviet surface to air missile over enemy territory. For almost 107 days, Captain Powers was interrogated, harassed, and endured unmentionable hardships on a continuous basis by numerous top Soviet Secret Police interrogating teams. Although greatly weakened physically by the lack of food, denial of sleep and the mental rigors of constant interrogation, Captain Powers steadfastly refused all attempts to give sensitive defense information or be exploited for propaganda purposes, resisting all Soviet efforts through cajolery, trickery, and threats of death to obtain the confessions they sought as part of the pretrial investigation. Captain Powers was subjected to an international trial and was sentenced to an additional 542 days of captivity in Vladimir Prison before finally being released to United States control. As a result of his indomitable spirit, exceptional loyalty, and continuous heroic actions, Russian intelligence gained no vital information from him. For his sustained courage in an exceptionally hostile environment, Captain Powers was publicly recognized by the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Senate Armed Services Committee. By his gallantry and devotion to duty in the dedication of his service to his country, Captain Powers has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.