Evening star., 1960-08-17

whether it had identification
marks" said Mr.. Rudenko.
Powers testified that he was
nervous and scared" during
his fight.
What were you scared OFF"
asked Rudenko.
Just the idea of being over
the Soviet Union" the Ameri-
can replied and laughter swept
the court.
Powers also insisted he knew
nothing about the special
equipment on the U-2, some of
which was displayed in a case
on the stage.
I've never seen any of this
equipment" he said. II don't
know what it looks like except
for what I have seen here"
Powers said that "at desig-
mated places on the map, l
turned on the designated
equipment"
He admitted that he had
made certain visual observa-
tions, including an airfield not
marked on United States
charts. and when the prosecu-
tor asked him what the pur-
pose was, Powers replied:
We'll, I was told to indicate
anything that didn't appear on
the chart. 1t is more or less a
habit with pilots to indicate
objects not appearing on the
map"
Powers testified that he had
bad weather most of the time
he was over the Soviet Union
with a heavy cloud cover be-
low him.
Queried on Landing Plans
He said he started the flight
at $1,000 feet but climbed to
$4,000 as his fuel burned out.
The prosecutor questioned him
at length on plans for landing
in Sweden or Finland but the
pilot insisted that he could not
remember the names of any
airports in those countries that
he could have used.
/ Asked what instructions ne
had if he could not make the
flight direct to Bodoe. in Nor
way. where the Russians say he
was to land, he answered that
various airports were listed for
him as reserve fields.
Il have no idea OF the names
Of them" Powers said. 1T was
indicated that in case of emer-
gency any airfield outside the
Soviet Union would be better
than any airfield inside it."
The prosecutor returned to
the question Of the flights aim
and asked. This was an in
trusion with spy aims?"
Il suppose so, yes" Powers
replied.
He denied he knew which
United States agency operated
the U-2 plane. He said it was
"a high altitude plane, very
high altitude, used for recon-
naissance and research"
Told Flights Were Safe
Il don't know whether it is
military or not" he said. But
he agreed that a military Of
ficer, Col. Shelton. headed the
outfit which few the planes.
The rest of the group were
civilians, he insisted.
What did Col. Shelton tell
you about flying over the Soviet
Union?" Rudenko asked.
He said it was absolutely
safe to fly over the Soviet
Union" Powers replied.
Asked why he carried a pistol
on the May l flight, he said
for hunting"
@. And the 205 cartridges?"
A. Il don't think that the
pistol and cartridges had any
thing to do with the assign
ment," Powers declared.
@. who gave you the poison
needle?" Rudenko continued.
A. 1T was given to me dur
ing the briefing at Peshawar."
@. For what purpose?"
A. I'm case I was captured,
tortured and couldn't stand the
torture and would rather be
dead. 1t was more or less up
to me whether to use the pin"
They wanted you to blow up
the plane, kill yourself and wipe
out all trace?" Rudenko con-
tinued.
NO" said Powers.
@. You were told torture
would be used in the Soviet
Union?"
A. Il don't remember being
told but I expected it,"
@. Were you tortured?"
A. No"
@. How were you treated?"
A. Il have been treated very
nice"
@. You were shown the
wreckage of the plane on dis
play in Gorky Park?"
A. Il was"
! @. 1T was the same one you
! flew?"
A. Yes" ,-~