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Francis Gary Powers (1929–1977) was the American pilot of a secret U-2 spy plane that was apparently shot down while flying over the Soviet Union, causing a Cold War crisis between the superpowers in 1960.  An exchange of prisoners obtained Powers' release back to the United States.   

Francis Gary Powers (1929–1977) was the American pilot of a secret U-2 spy plane that was apparently shot down while flying over the Soviet Union, causing a Cold War crisis between the superpowers in 1960.  An exchange of prisoners obtained Powers' release back to the United States.   

Powers was criticized for failing to activate to destroy the camera, its film, and classified parts prior to capture.  The circumstances surrounding his crash and survival were also questioned, because a U-2 plane was supposed to fly at very high altitudes that are difficult to shoot down.  However, a congressional investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing, and a few years after his death in a helicopter accident in 1977 he was awarded medals of honor.

Powers was criticized for failing to destroy his camera, its film, and classified parts and for failing to use his plane's secret nuclear self-destruct device prior to capture.  The circumstances surrounding his crash and survival were also questioned, because a U-2 plane was supposed to fly at very high altitudes that are difficult to shoot down.  However, a congressional investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing, and a few years after his death in a helicopter accident in 1977 he was awarded 17 medals of honor.