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2010-05-02 -Lurid Crime Tales-

CIA documents show US never believed Gary Powers was shot down

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Posted by Uncle Phester 2010-05-02 09:53|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 As a kid back in the Cretaceous Era, I read a book on spies and spying that claimed someone had replaced some screws in Power's altimeter with magnetic ones and he was flying at a lower altitude than he thought and was in range of Soviet SAMs. Good story even if it is not true. Sorry I don't have a reference.

Posted by SteveS 2010-05-02 12:06|| 2010-05-02 12:06|| Front Page Top

#2 Owing to the resolution of cameras at that time, he could have simply altered his flight plan and descended to a lower altitude in order to provide better photo imagery. An act which some might consider heroic. Seldom keen on the military however, painting Powers with the brush of a potential traitor is more in line with CIA and NSA "behind the green door" conspiratorial logic.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-05-02 12:19|| 2010-05-02 12:19|| Front Page Top

#3 The story I heard was that the U2 is essentially a powered glider. When Powers tried to light up the engines after a glide, they wouldn't start. As a result, he ended up in range of the missiles.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2010-05-02 14:50|| 2010-05-02 14:50|| Front Page Top

#4 Besoeker: If I remember correctly, the U2 flights at the time were owned by CIA, though the personnel were military.

FBI's investigation into the U2 was and is one of the FBI's most closely guarded secrets. Hoover kept the file in his secret stash. The Soviets certainly would have made efforts to penetrate the program and it's quite possible that the penetration took the form of Powers. The only person in the West who really knew the answer to that question was killed in a helicopter accident in the '70's.

I learned quite a bit about the case reading Wedge by Mark Riebling, which I highly recommend to all Rantburgers, or anyone interested in the topic of intelligence and counterintelligence.

Posted by Pstanley 2010-05-02 17:34|| 2010-05-02 17:34|| Front Page Top

#5 Occam's razor would suggest that it was a mechanical failure. According to the specs on the U2, at maximum altitude, it had to fly at maximum speed, and its stall speed was only 10 knots less than maximum speed. It was a very unforgiving aircraft.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-05-02 18:30|| 2010-05-02 18:30|| Front Page Top

#6 It was a very unforgiving aircraft.

I believe is still IS a very unforgiving aircraft.

Posted by Glenmore 2010-05-02 19:13|| 2010-05-02 19:13|| Front Page Top

#7 Anonymoose---that part of the flight performance envelope is known as "Coffin Corner." Too fast above maximum speed you get mach buffet. Too slow you get a stall. It is a NARROW band.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2010-05-02 23:39|| 2010-05-02 23:39|| Front Page Top

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