9h 18min, may 1, 1960 y - U-2 Reconnaissance Plane
Description:
A US U-2 spy plane was shot down while in Soviet airspace. The aircraft, flown byvCIA pilot Francis Gary Powers was performing a recon mission when it was hit by a SAM missile and crashed. Powers parachuted safely and was captured. Initially the US government tried to cover up the plane's purpose and mission, but was forced to admit its true nature when the Soviet government came forward with the captured pilot and remains of the plane including spying technology that had and photos of military bases in the Soviet Union taken by the aircraft.
Added to timeline:
6 Events in the Cold War
Date:
