 francis gary powers (august 17, 1929&nbsp;â august 1, 1977) was an american pilot whose central intelligence agency u-2 spy plane was shot down while flying a reconnaissance mission over soviet union airspace, causing the 1960 u-2 incident. == early life == powers was born in jenkins, kentucky, to oliver and ida powers. he grew up in pound, virginia, just across the state border. graduating from milligan college in tennessee, in 1950, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the united states air force. after completing his training, powers was assigned to the 468th strategic fighter squadron at turner air force base, georgia, as an f-84 thunderjet pilot. according to his son, he did not fly combat missions during the korean war, because he was recruited by the cia for his outstanding record in single engine jet aircraft. by 1960, powers was already a veteran of many covert aerial reconnaissance missions. thumb|left|187px|a soviet photograph of powers while he was in their custody thumb|left|187px|wooden u-2 model - one of two used by powers when he testified to the senate committee. the wings and tail are detached to demonstrate the aircraft's breakup upon impact. == the u-2 incident ==  powers was discharged from the air force in 1956 with the rank of captain. he then join
1929_births 1977_deaths American_people_convicted_of_spying_for_the_United_States American_people_imprisoned_abroad American_people_imprisoned_in_the_Soviet_Union American_prisoners_of_war American_spies_against_the_Soviet_Union Burials_at_Arlington_National_Cemetery Films_about_shot-down_aviators Milligan_College_alumni People_from_Jenkins,_Kentucky People_from_Pound,_Virginia People_of_the_Central_Intelligence_Agency Recipients_of_the_Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States) Recipients_of_the_Intelligence_Star Recipients_of_the_Silver_Star Shot-down_aviators United_States_Air_Force_officers Victims_of_helicopter_accidents_or_incidents_in_the_United_States