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Well 44 years ago today he walked across a bridge and into West Berlin in exchange for Rudolph Abel!

I feel sorry for him.

His life was ruined due to a couple of disgusting commies.


A.

I would disagree Andrew, his service dishonoured him and shunned him. The only finally honoured him 13 years after his death by awarding him the medals he rightly earned in the service of his country.

Gary Powers, the U2 pilot?

He was supposed to take that cianide tablet when he got shot down.  Got shot down, he chose to not commit suicide, he was the subject of a show trial that embarrassed Eisenhower.  That was a career ruining incident just as a captain of a navy ship running the ship aground during peacetime.

That was a career ruining incident

I would imagine that taking his cynaide capsule would have been just as much of a career ruining event as not taking it was (if not more).

How would the suicide of the pilot have destroyed the evidence of the aircraft, which the Soviets proudly displayed?

dcunning30, you are pretty much on the mark in other posts but you are way off here.

The U-2 was thought to be beyond the range of Soviet AA missiles.  You can't blame the pilot for that.

How would the suicide of the pilot have destroyed the evidence of the aircraft, which the Soviets proudly displayed?

What I have read is that the biggest critism of Powers was that he failed to destory certain things before he ejected.  He did not arm the charge on the aircraft that destroys the camaras, film, and certain classified items.  Thats what the problem was.

Maybe he didn't have time - the aircraft being "unhittable" in the first place.

Give me a choice between my life and any other option and I'll take my life almost every time.

Ok ok maybe my comment was a little harsh. I'm sorry, but one question, why did the US Gvt shun him after? I mean, wouldnt they milk him for what (although somewhat limited) intelligence he would have gathered while in captivity? What did he do after his repatriation to the US?



A.

Andrew I dont know what some people  have told you, but you dont gain any information in captivity thats worth being grilled over.

[quote]Andrew I dont know what some people

[quote]
Craigs probably right.

[quote]How would the suicide of the pilot have destroyed the evidence of the aircraft, which the Soviets proudly displayed?

dcunning30, you are pretty much on the mark in other posts but you are way off here.

The U-2 was thought to be beyond the range of Soviet AA missiles.

[quote]
What I have read is that the biggest critism of Powers was that he failed to destory certain things before he ejected.

[quote]Gary Powers, the U2 pilot?

He was supposed to take that cianide tablet when he got shot down.