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53-454: The museum was founded in 1996 by Francis Gary Powers Jr. (son of CIA U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers ) and John C. Welch to preserve Cold War history, honor Cold War veterans, and provide continuing education about the Cold War. The Cold War Museum has a multimillion-dollar collection of artifacts on display, on loan, or in storage. Museum holdings include but are not limited to artifacts from

106-464: A MiG-19 jet fighter which was sent to intercept the U-2 but could not reach a high enough altitude. Its pilot, Sergei Safronov , ejected but died of his injuries. Another Soviet aircraft, a newly manufactured Su-9 on a transit flight, also attempted to intercept Powers' U-2. The unarmed Su-9 was directed to ram the U-2 but missed because of the large differences in speed. As Powers flew near Kosulino in

159-404: A pseudonym of "Collins". At the same time, he repeatedly stated the maximum altitude for the U-2 was 68,000 feet (21 km), lower than its actual flight ceiling. The incident set back talks between Khrushchev and Eisenhower. Powers' interrogations ended on June 30, and his solitary confinement ended on July 9. On August 17, 1960, his trial began for espionage before the military division of

212-544: A chapter in the American Midwest based in Waukesha, Wisconsin ,. 38°44′35″N 77°40′35″W  /  38.7431°N 77.6765°W  / 38.7431; -77.6765 Francis Gary Powers Francis Gary Powers (August 17, 1929 – August 1, 1977) was an American pilot who served as a United States Air Force officer and a CIA employee. Powers is best known for his involvement in

265-629: A child, Dee, from her previous marriage. They were married on October 26, 1963. Their son Francis Gary Powers Jr. was born on June 5, 1965. The marriage proved to be a very happy one, and Sue worked hard to preserve her husband's legacy after his death. During a speech in March 1964, former CIA Director Allen Dulles said of Powers, "He performed his duty in a very dangerous mission and he performed it well, and I think I know more about that than some of his detractors and critics know, and I am glad to say that to him tonight." Powers worked for Lockheed as

318-475: A handwritten note: "You did a good job for your country." Powers sued his wife for divorce on August 14, 1962, claiming she cursed and abused him for no reason. Powers stated that the reasons for the divorce included her infidelity and alcoholism, adding that she constantly threw tantrums and overdosed on pills shortly after his return. He started a relationship with Claudia Edwards "Sue" Downey, whom he had met while working briefly at CIA Headquarters. Downey had

371-509: A joint USAF/CIA operation. In 2000, on the 40th anniversary of the U-2 Incident, his family was presented with his posthumously awarded Prisoner of War Medal , Distinguished Flying Cross , and National Defense Service Medal . In addition, CIA Director George Tenet authorized Powers to posthumously receive the CIA's coveted Director's Medal for extreme fidelity and extraordinary courage in

424-474: A large collection of Soviet and East German flags, banners, regalia, uniforms, and equipment. The museum has also acquired a yellow East German Trabant automobile currently in storage, the mailbox used by Aldrich Ames to contact his Soviet handlers , and a Stasi Prison Door from the infamous Hohenschönhausen Prison facility in East Berlin. The Mailbox and Stasi prison door are currently on loan to

477-579: A result reach a state of desperation causing him to reveal to the Soviets whatever secrets he had not already revealed. Thus, Barbara unwittingly may have aided the cause of the approval of the prisoner exchange involving her husband and William Fisher. Angleton and others at the CIA still opposed the exchange but President John F. Kennedy approved it. On February 10, 1962, Powers was exchanged, along with U.S. student Frederic Pryor , for Soviet KGB Colonel Rudolf Abel . Due to political differences between

530-411: A test pilot from 1962 to 1970, though the CIA paid his salary. In 1970, he wrote the book Operation Overflight with co-author Curt Gentry . Lockheed fired him, because "the book's publication had ruffled some feathers at Langley ." Powers then became a traffic reporting airplane pilot for Los Angeles radio station KGIL . After that he became a helicopter news reporter for KNBC television. Powers

583-669: Is a 695-acre former United States Army communications base. The museum opened on November 11, 2011. The museum is open on weekends and midweek by appointment. The Cold War Museum is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization . The museum is working with the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. and the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum near Omaha, Nebraska to temporarily display some of its artifacts. The Cold War Museum has

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636-633: The 1960 U-2 incident , when he was shot down while flying a secret CIA spying mission over the Soviet Union . Powers survived, but was captured and sentenced to 10 years in a Soviet prison for espionage . He served 21 months of his sentence before being released in a prisoner swap in 1962. After returning to the US, he worked at Lockheed as a test pilot for the U-2 , and later as a helicopter pilot for Los Angeles news station KNBC . He died in 1977 , when

689-681: The Cold War Museum in 1996. Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution , it was essentially a traveling exhibit until it found a permanent home in 2011 on a former Army communications base outside Washington, D.C. , in Warrenton, Virginia . American Hungarian Federation Amerikai Magyar Szó is a United States Hungarian language independent weekly newspaper published in New York City . The paper

742-924: The Embassy of the Czech Republic to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Prague Spring and with the British Berlin Airlift Association to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift . On October 27, 2012, Cold War Conversations-IV took place to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis . Dr. Sergei Khrushchev, the son of Nikita Khrushchev, USAF U-2 pilot Buddy Brown, and photographic interpreter Dino Brugioni were part of

795-813: The FBI in the Hollow Nickel Case and tried and jailed for espionage. First, Angleton believed that Powers might have deliberately defected to the Soviet side. CIA documents released in 2010 indicate that U.S. officials did not believe Powers' account of the incident at the time, because it was contradicted by a classified National Security Agency (NSA) report which alleged that the U-2 had descended from 65,000 to 34,000 feet (20 to 10 km) before changing course and disappearing from radar. The NSA report remains classified as of 2022. In any event, Angleton suspected that Powers had already revealed all he knew to

848-430: The International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. Vint Hill Farm Station and its listening post history during World War II and the Cold War is highlighted as a museum exhibit. The museum has developed various educational programs and activities to help educate future generation about the Cold War. Museum speakers have visited numerous grade schools, high schools, colleges, and universities in order to teach students about

901-519: The Sepulveda Dam recreational area in Encino, California , several miles short of its intended landing site at Burbank Airport . The National Transportation Safety Board report attributed the probable cause of the crash to pilot error. According to Powers' son, an aviation mechanic had repaired a faulty fuel gauge without informing Powers, who subsequently misread it. It is surmised that, at

954-573: The Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic at the time, Pryor was turned over to American authorities at Checkpoint Charlie , before the exchange of Powers for Abel was allowed to proceed on the Glienicke Bridge . Powers credited his father with the swap idea. When released, Powers' total time in captivity was 1 year, 9 months, and 10 days. Powers initially received a cold reception on his return home. He

1007-613: The Soviet Union . U-2 missions systematically photographed military installations and other important sites. The primary mission of the U-2s was to overfly the Soviet Union. Soviet intelligence had been aware of encroaching U-2 flights at least since 1958 if not earlier but lacked effective countermeasures until 1960. On May 1, 1960, Powers' U-2A, 56-6693 , departed from a military airbase in Peshawar , Pakistan , with support from

1060-486: The Supreme Court of the Soviet Union . Lieutenant General Borisoglebsky, Major General Vorobyev, and Major General Zakharov presided. Roman Rudenko acted as prosecutor in his capacity of Procurator General of the Soviet Union . Mikhail I. Grinev served as Powers' defense counsel. In attendance were his parents and sister, and his wife Barbara and her mother. His father brought along his attorney Carl McAfee, while

1113-864: The 1948–1949 Berlin Airlift , the 1960 U-2 incident , a 5,000-square-foot (460 m) display on the Cuban Missile Crisis that includes a Soviet SA-2 missile and material from the USS Liberty Incident , USS Pueblo Incident , Corona spy satellites , and the Space Race . They boast the largest collection of Civil Defence items in the United States, having saved and salvaged the former Civil Defense headquarters for Washington, DC. The museum has displays on signals intelligence ( SIGINT ), image intelligence (IMINT), and

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1166-577: The Air Force, after which a statement was issued by CIA director John McCone that "Mr. Powers lived up to the terms of his employment and instructions in connection with his mission and in his obligations as an American." On March 6, 1962, he appeared before a Senate Armed Services Select Committee hearing chaired by Senator Richard Russell Jr. which included Senators Prescott Bush , Leverett Saltonstall , Robert Byrd , Margaret Chase Smith , John Stennis , Strom Thurmond , and Barry Goldwater . During

1219-412: The CIA provided two additional attorneys. On August 19, 1960, Powers was convicted of espionage, "a grave crime covered by Article 2 of the Soviet Union's law 'On Criminality Responsibility for State Crimes ' ". His sentence consisted of 10 years' confinement, three of which were to be in a prison, with the remainder in a labor camp . The US Embassy "News Bulletin" stated, according to Powers, "as far as

1272-599: The CIA's Intelligence Star in 1972 after his return from the Soviet Union. Powers was originally scheduled to receive it in 1963 along with other pilots involved in the CIA's U-2 program, but the award was postponed for political reasons. In 1970, Powers published his first—and only—book review, on a work about aerial reconnaissance, Unarmed and Unafraid by Glenn Infield, in the monthly magazine Business & Commercial Aviation . "The subject has great interest to me," he said, in submitting his review. In 1998, newly declassified information revealed that Powers' mission had been

1325-790: The Cold War. The museum has been the backdrop for numerous programs aired on the History Channel , the Discovery Channel , A&E Television Networks , the Learning Channel , C-SPAN , and numerous public access stations. The mobile exhibit on the U-2 Incident , on loan from Francis Gary Powers, Jr., is currently displayed at the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum near Omaha, Nebraska. The exhibit has been displayed at many museums across

1378-671: The Hungarian Technology Center, the Cold War Museum, and the South County Secondary School cohosted the program. Sponsors included EnviroSolutions, Inc., K. Hovnanian Homes , Marriott Fairfax at Fair Oaks, Northern Virginia Community College , Verizon , and Vulcan Materials Company . On October 2, 2007, Cold War Conversations-II took place to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 1957 launch of Sputnik . Dr. Sergei Khrushchev,

1431-520: The KNBC helicopter he was flying crashed. Powers was born August 17, 1929, in Jenkins, Kentucky , the son of Oliver Winfield Powers (1904–1970), a coal miner , and his wife Ida Melinda Powers ( née  Ford ; 1905–1991). His family eventually moved to Pound, Virginia , just across the state border. He was the second-born and only male of six children. His family lived in a mining town, and because of

1484-405: The Soviets and therefore reasoned that Powers was worthless to the U.S. On the other hand, according to Angleton, William Fisher had revealed little to the CIA, refusing to disclose even his real name, and for this reason, William Fisher was still of potential value. However, Barbara Powers, Gary Powers' wife, was allegedly often drinking and having affairs. On June 22, 1961, she was pulled over by

1537-612: The Soviets. In the wake of his apology, American media often depicted Powers as a coward and even as a symptom of the decay of America's "moral character." Powers tried to limit the information he shared with the KGB to that which could be determined from the remains of his plane's wreckage. He was hampered by information appearing in the western press. A KGB major stated "there's no reason for you to withhold information. We'll find it out anyway. Your Press will give it to us." However, he limited his divulging of CIA contacts to one individual, with

1590-476: The U.S. Air Station at Badaber ( Peshawar Air Station ). This was to be the first attempt "to fly all the way across the Soviet Union ... but it was considered worth the gamble. The planned route would take us deeper into Russia than we had ever gone, while traversing important targets never before photographed." Powers was shot down by an S-75 Dvina (SA-2 "Guideline") surface-to-air missile over Sverdlovsk . A total of 14 Dvinas were launched, one of which hit

1643-402: The United States and internationally. The traveling exhibit helps to promote The Cold War Museum. In collaboration with Francis Gary Powers, Jr., The Cold War Museum may be one of the stops on the original Spy Tour of Washington, DC. Since its earliest days, Washington, DC has been the scene of international intrigue, espionage, and intelligence activity, as the U.S. government has tried to learn

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1696-459: The Ural Region, three S-75 Dvinas were launched at his U-2, with the first one hitting the aircraft. "What was left of the plane began spinning, only upside down, the nose pointing upward toward the sky, the tail down toward the ground." According to his book Operation Overflight , Powers delayed activating the camera's self-destruct mechanism until he made sure he could exit the cockpit before

1749-665: The assistance of The Cold War Museum, drafted legislation for the creation of a "Cold War Memorial" that will honor all the men and women who were part of Cold War events and activities. The museum signed a lease on December 1, 2009, with the Vint Hill Economic Development Authority for the use of a two-story building and a secure storage facility at Vint Hill Farms Station , Virginia , in Fauquier County , 30 miles (48 km) from Washington Dulles International Airport . Vint Hill Farms

1802-431: The charges detonated. When g -forces unexpectedly threw him from the spinning aircraft, he could no longer reach the destruct switches. While descending under his parachute, Powers had time to scatter his escape map, and rid himself of part of his suicide device, a silver dollar coin suspended around his neck containing a poison-laced injection pin, though he kept the poison pin. "Yet I was still hopeful of escape." He hit

1855-620: The distinguished panel that discussed this important Cold War historical event. The first panel was recorded and is available on YouTube. George Mason University , the Cold War International History project , and The Cold War Museum were event sponsors. Periodically, The Cold War Museum hosts an online Cold War Conversation lecture series for authors and related experts. The Cold War Times is an online publication produced for Cold War veterans, students, and other interested parties. In 1997, Congressman Tom Davis , with

1908-553: The government was concerned, I had acted in accordance with the instructions given me and would receive my full salary while imprisoned". He was held in Vladimir Central Prison , about 150 miles (240 km) east of Moscow, in building number 2 from September 9, 1960, until February 8, 1962. His cellmate was Zigurds Krūmiņš, a Latvian political prisoner. Powers kept a diary and a journal while confined. Additionally, he learned carpet weaving from his cellmate to pass

1961-504: The ground hard, was immediately captured, and taken to Lubyanka Prison in Moscow . Powers did note a second chute after landing on the ground, "some distance away and very high, a lone red and white parachute". When the U.S. government learned of Powers' disappearance over the Soviet Union, they lied that a "weather plane" had strayed off course after its pilot had "difficulties with his oxygen equipment". What CIA officials did not realize

2014-651: The hardships associated with living in such a town, his father wanted Powers to become a physician. He hoped his son would achieve the higher earnings of such a profession and felt that this would involve less hardship than any job in his hometown. After graduating with a bachelor's degree from Milligan College in Tennessee in June 1950, Powers enlisted in the United States Air Force in October. He

2067-444: The hearing, Senator Saltonstall stated, "I commend you as a courageous, fine young American citizen who lived up to your instructions and who did the best you could under very difficult circumstances." Senator Bush declared, "I am satisfied he has conducted himself in exemplary fashion and in accordance with the highest traditions of service to one's country, and I congratulate him upon his conduct in captivity." Senator Goldwater sent him

2120-506: The last moment, he noticed children playing in the area and directed the helicopter elsewhere to avoid landing on them. He might have landed safely if not for the last-second deviation, which compromised his autorotative descent. Powers was survived by his wife, children (Claudia Dee and Francis Gary Powers Jr.), and five sisters. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery as an Air Force veteran. Powers received

2173-621: The line of duty. On June 15, 2012, Powers was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal for "demonstrating 'exceptional loyalty' while enduring harsh interrogation in the Lubyanka Prison in Moscow for almost two years." Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz presented the decoration to Powers' grandchildren, Trey Powers, 9, and Lindsey Berry, 29, in a Pentagon ceremony. Powers' son, Francis Gary Powers Jr., founded

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2226-573: The past 200 years. Guests are required to walk between some sites. More info online at www.SpyTour.com. On October 14, 2006, the museum hosted an international conference to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian and Polish Crises. Dr. Sergei Khrushchev , the son of Nikita Khrushchev , and David Eisenhower , grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower participated with VIPs from Hungary and Poland and well renowned scholars. The Hungarian and Polish Embassies, American Hungarian Federation , Fairfax County Economic Development Authority ,

2279-414: The plans of other countries while keeping its own plans secret. Key players in this non-ending drama include personalities as diverse as Rose Greenhow , Herbert Yardley , Major General "Wild Bill" Donovan , Aldrich Ames , and Robert Hanssen . The educational bus tour visits many of the locations in and around Washington, DC that have been associated with intelligence and counterintelligence activities for

2332-540: The police after driving erratically and was caught driving under the influence . To avoid bad publicity for the wife of the well-known CIA operative, doctors tasked by the CIA to keep Barbara out of the limelight arranged to have her committed to a psychiatric ward in Augusta, Georgia , under strict supervision. She was eventually released to the care of her mother. However, the CIA feared that Gary Powers languishing in Soviet prison might learn of Barbara's plight and as

2385-458: The press and gave her talking points that she repeated to the press to portray her as a devoted wife. Her broken leg, according to the CIA disinformation, was the result of a water-skiing accident, when in fact it happened after she had had too much to drink and was dancing with another man. In the course of his trial for espionage in the Soviet Union, Powers confessed to the charges against him and apologized for violating Soviet airspace to spy on

2438-520: The son of Nikita Khrushchev and author of Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev 1953–1964 and Paul Dickson , author of Sputnik—Shock of the Century discussed this important Cold War historical event. Dialog between the two and Q&A from the audience followed their presentations. The Marriott Washington Dulles Airport Hotel, Northern Virginia Community College – Loudoun Campus, NASA , and The Cold War Museum were event sponsors. The museum worked with

2491-591: The time. He could send and receive a limited number of letters to and from his family. The prison now contains a small museum with an exhibit on Powers, who allegedly developed a good rapport with Soviet prisoners there. Some pieces of the plane and Powers' uniform are on display at the Monino Airbase museum near Moscow . The CIA, in particular chief of CIA Counterintelligence James Jesus Angleton , opposed exchanging Powers for Soviet KGB Colonel William Fisher , known as "Rudolf Abel", who had been caught by

2544-524: Was commissioned as a second lieutenant in December 1952 after completing his advanced training with USAF Pilot Training Class 52-H at Williams Air Force Base , Arizona . Powers was then assigned to the 468th Strategic Fighter Squadron at Turner Air Force Base , Georgia , as a Republic F-84 Thunderjet pilot. Powers married Barbara Gay Moore in Newnan, Georgia, on April 2, 1955. In January 1956 he

2597-484: Was criticized for not activating his aircraft's self-destruct charge to destroy the camera, photographic film, and related classified parts. He was also criticized for not using a CIA-issued "suicide pill" to kill himself (a coin with shellfish toxin embedded in its grooves, revealed during CIA testimony to the Church Committee in 1975). He was debriefed extensively by the CIA, Lockheed Corporation , and

2650-426: Was discharged from the Air Force in 1956 with the rank of captain . He then joined the CIA's U-2 program at the civilian grade of GS-12. U-2 pilots flew espionage missions at altitudes of 70,000 feet (21 km), supposedly above the reach of Soviet air defenses. The U-2 was equipped with a state-of-the-art camera designed to take high-resolution photos from the stratosphere over hostile countries, including

2703-547: Was piloting a helicopter for Los Angeles TV station KNBC Channel 4 over the San Fernando Valley on August 1, 1977, when the aircraft crashed, killing him and his cameraman George Spears. They had been recording video following brush fires in Santa Barbara County in the KNBC helicopter and were heading back when the crash occurred. His Bell 206 JetRanger helicopter ran out of fuel and crashed at

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2756-536: Was recruited by the CIA. In May 1956 he began U-2 training at Watertown Strip , Nevada. His training was complete by August 1956 and his unit, the Second Weather Observational Squadron (Provisional) or Detachment 10-10, was deployed to Incirlik Air Base , Turkey . By 1960, Powers was already a veteran of many covert aerial reconnaissance missions. Family members believed that he was a NASA weather reconnaissance pilot. Powers

2809-720: Was that the plane crashed almost fully intact and that the Soviets had recovered its pilot and much of the plane's equipment, including its new top-secret high-altitude camera. Powers was interrogated extensively by the KGB for months before he made a confession and a public apology for his part in espionage . Following admission by the White House that Powers had been captured alive, American media depicted Powers as an all-American pilot hero, who never smoked or touched alcohol. In fact, Powers smoked and drank socially. The CIA urged that his wife Barbara be given sedatives before speaking to

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