Operation Overflight; The U-2 spy pilot tells his story for the first time
by Powers, Francis Gary, with Gentry, Curt
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- first
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN 10
- 0030830451
- ISBN 13
- 9780030830457
- Seller
-
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Item Price
£14.13£10.60
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
New York: Tower Publications, Inc, 1970. Presumed First Paperback Edition, First printing. Mass market paperback. Good. 379 [5] pages. Cover has wear and soiling. Stamp on first page. Francis Gary Powers (August 17, 1929 - August 1, 1977)-often referred to as simply Gary Powers-was an American pilot whose Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) U-2 spy plane was shot down while flying a reconnaissance mission in Soviet Union airspace, causing the 1960 U-2 incident. He later worked as a helicopter pilot for KNBC and died in a 1977 helicopter crash. Powers 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, 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 the Soviet Union. U-2 missions systematically photographed military installations and other important sites. Derived from a Kirkus review: On May 1, 1960, Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Russia in a U-2 surveillance-equipped aircraft, captured and served up by Khrushchev in some elaborate summitry complete with trial, sentencing and imprisonment. Powers still smarts from what he considers to be a scapegoat's burden. What apparently rankled others was that Powers turned up alive and did not "self-destruct" and that he confessed his sins at the trial. "Confession" was the primary defense in the Soviet court system, and Powers faced possible execution. Powers recalls the events from his capture through his release and interrogation at home, where he was a political untouchable, with considerable bitterness. He has a good deal to say about messes in high Washington places. These revelations, skillfully transmuted by Mr. Gentry, are a moving study, with some pathos, of an earnest, unsophisticated, honest and wounded man who had been expected to perform as something more than human.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Ground Zero Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 77203
- Title
- Operation Overflight; The U-2 spy pilot tells his story for the first time
- Author
- Powers, Francis Gary, with Gentry, Curt
- Format/Binding
- Mass market paperback
- Book Condition
- Used - Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- Presumed First Paperback Edition, First printing
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0030830451
- ISBN 13
- 9780030830457
- Publisher
- Tower Publications, Inc
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 1970
- Keywords
- Espionage, Intelligence, Spying, Aerial Photography, Soviet Union, Russia, Cold War, U-2 Spyplane, CIA
Terms of Sale
Ground Zero Books
Books are offered subject to prior sale. Satisfaction guaranteed. If you notify us within 7 days that you are not satisfied with your purchase, we will refund your purchase price when you return the item in the condition in which it was sold.
About the Seller
Ground Zero Books
Biblio member since 2005
Silver Spring, Maryland
About Ground Zero Books
Founded and operated by trained historians, Ground Zero Books, Ltd., has for over 30 years served scholars, collectors, universities, and all who are interested in military and political history.
Much of our diverse stock is not yet listed on line. If you can't locate the book or other item that you want, please contact us. We may well have it in stock. We welcome your want lists, and encourage you to send them to us.
Much of our diverse stock is not yet listed on line. If you can't locate the book or other item that you want, please contact us. We may well have it in stock. We welcome your want lists, and encourage you to send them to us.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Mass Market
- Mass market paperback books, or MMPBs, are printed for large audiences cheaply. This means that they are smaller, usually 4...