A brief history of the u2 spy plane program lyon air museum. But in the war on isis, its all spy planes on deckand those plans for retirement have been put on hold. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, powers only hope is new york. The usaf called its u2 operators air weather squadrons, while. According to a previously excised comment in the cia history, pococks book, dragon lady, is by far the most accurate unclassified account of the u2. A popular theory about the origins of the name of irish rock band u2 is that the name is taken from the u 2 spy plane. Whats more surprising is that these pilots were flying a u2 spy plane, an. In 1958, well aware that the u2 could not continue to overfly the soviet union with impunity, and in the absence of any guarantee that satellite reconnaissance programs would be successful, president eisenhower approved cia plans to build a successor to the u2 one that would fly higher and several times faster than the u2. Officials and former employees have previously acknowledged in passing. Pilot error to blame for crash of u2 trainer in september. U2 planes are still flying high, after being introduced nearly six decades ago. On 1 may 1960, a united states u 2 spy plane was shot down by the soviet air defence forces while performing photographic aerial reconnaissance deep into soviet territory. Aug 01, 2017 the air force uses teslas to chase the u 2 spy plane.
U2 u2 spy plane military technology cold war history russia americas u2 spy plane. Whats more surprising is that these pilots were flying a u2 spy plane, an iconic aircraft first built in 1955. Sep 20, 2016 investigators have found a parachute near the scene of the crash. Watch a video of our flight above 70,000 feet to explore why americas oldest working. The thrilling story of a 1942 duel in the stratosphere between germany s highflying spy plane and a specially modified spitfire in the hands of a daredevil prince. U2, singleseat, highaltitude jet flown by the united states for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance. A high speed taxi test saw it rolling down the runway at 70 knots at which point its sailplane wing generated enough lift and it took off into the air unexpectedly. Forum on u2 spy plane experimental aircraft association.
The singleseat aircraft, flown by pilot francis gary powers, was hit by an s75 dvina sa2 guideline surfacetoair missile and crashed near sverdlovsk todays yekaterinburg. The history of the u 2 spy plane 1989 and more recently fifty years of the u 2 2005. The late 1940s and 1950s were trying times for america. The u2 spy plane is still flying combat missions 60 years. Aug 15, 20 british author chris pocock has been writing about u 2 history for years, beginning with dragon lady. U2 spy plane keeps on soaring photos the pentagon, smitten with the global hawk drone, had been ready to ground the u2 fleet for good. On 1 may 1960, a united states u2 spy plane was shot down by the soviet air defence forces while performing photographic aerial reconnaissance deep into soviet territory. But the cia was less concerned with convention and funded the program, which more than met the requirements for overflight of the ussr.
The image snapped from 70,000 feet by a u2 reconnaissance aircraft proved. This u2 flew the first operational mission over the ussr on 4. For over 50 years, the u2 ultrahigh altitude reconnaissance aircraft has been a mainstay of the us air force. Jul 08, 2010 the sad fate of a spy plane in 1962 the soviets swapped a u. This piece explores the real history of the aircraft and its role and depiction in the film. The u2 is a jetpowered reconnaissance aircraft specially designed to fly at high altitudes i. Air force had hoped to retire the iconic u2, first flown in 1955. While the flying branch ultimately backed development of lockheeds iconic u2, the service initially pushed hard for another. United kingdombased defense authority chris pocock, author of 50 years of the u 2, a standard reference book on the reconnaissance aircraft, will recount the history of the spy plane today at 2. Perhaps the most famous spy plane ever built, the u2, also known as the dragon lady, has been in service since 1956. An air force spy plane evaded tracking by the russian military by flying into swedish airspace without permission, a u. In 1960, gary powers was shot down in a cia u 2a over the soviet union by a surfacetoair missile sam. The groom lake facility was also used for development of the u2 spy planes successors, including the lockheed a12 oxcart and the d21 tagboard.
You will need to download and install the free adobe acrobat reader to view. The socalled chase cars monitor the airplane on the ground and assist the pilot during. The u2 spy planes were commonly used by the united states during the cold war in reconnaissance missions around the globe. This publication is available as a free download at. Camera, aerial, hycon 73b national air and space museum. This relict of the cold war is still in operation after more than fifty years since its first flight in 1955. In the interwar years britain and germany conducted covert reconnaissance. With tom hanks, kristie macosko krieger, francis gary powers jr. According to documents released last year, the first four dragon lady planes destined to launch spy missions over soviet union were deployed to raf. On 20 june 1956, a u2 flew over poland and east germany, with more. Adds condition of pilots the wreckage of a u2 spy plane that crashed.
Air force gave cnn rare access to u2 crews flying out of a secret location in the middle east. Jun 07, 2018 the u 2 spy plane has been in service for more than 60 years and still flies missions in iraq and afghanistan. U2 spy plane operated by the us air force for spying missions. File photo the u2 provides continuous day or night, highaltitude, allweather, standoff surveillance of an area in direct support of u. In january 2016, the bbc magazine produced photographs from the time and an interview with powerss son. Air force pilot whose u2 spy plane was shot down over the soviet union in 1960in exchange for rudolf abel, a convicted soviet kgb spy held under the custody of the united states, whom he. Wsjs michael phillips got a rare opportunity to fly to the edge of space and explore. File photo an air force u2 dragon lady flies a training mission.
The award to lockheed for the u2 and its subsequent design and development is a fascinating story in itself, in part because the usaf rejected the u2 in favor of more conventional designs. Dec 15, 2011 whether its aiding nato troops in afghanistan, providing surveillance over north korea or examining japans hurricane ravaged coast, the high altitude u 2 keeps flying despite initial plans to. In ugly mood over u2 incident, 19600516 1960 is available for free download at the internet archive. U 2 u 2 spy plane military technology world cold war russia no plane has made more history than the u 2 and it never fired a shot. The u 2 is a jetpowered reconnaissance aircraft specially designed to fly at high altitudes i. The rq4 block 30s capabilities were planned to match the u2s by fy 2016. No plane has made more history than the u2 and it never. The u2, made famous by the downing of francis gary powers in his u2 spy plane over russia in may of 1960, was the uss premiere high altitude, single seat spy plane. The crash comes just over 20 years after a u2 spy plane crashed in oroville. Charles maultsby piloted a u2 spy plane from eielson air force base to the. The u2 spy plane has been in service for more than 60 years and still flies missions in iraq and afghanistan. Eisenhower handled the secret u2 program started in 1956 to spy on the soviet union and. Apr 19, 2000 the award to lockheed for the u 2 and its subsequent design and development is a fascinating story in itself, in part because the usaf rejected the u 2 in favor of more conventional designs.
United kingdombased defense authority chris pocock, author of 50 years of the u2, a standard reference book on the reconnaissance aircraft, will recount the history of the spy plane today at 2. The planes first flight accidentally occurred at groom lake test site area 51 on 1 august 1955. British author chris pocock has been writing about u2 history for years, beginning with dragon lady. Lockheed u2 spy plane the lockheed u2 spy plane was an ultra light gliderlike plane designed by the lockheed skunk works for the u. The lockheed u2, nicknamed dragon lady, is an american single jet engine, ultrahigh altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the united states air force usaf and previously flown by the central intelligence agency cia. Eisenhower and khrushchev were scheduled to join the leaders of france and great britain at a summit in paris on. Area 51 revealed in cia spy plane documents abc news. Lockheed corporation originally proposed it in 1953, it was approved in 1954, and its first test flight was in 1955. Whether its aiding nato troops in afghanistan, providing surveillance over north korea or examining japans hurricane ravaged coast, the high altitude u2 keeps flying despite initial plans to.
The lockheed u2, nicknamed dragon lady, is an american singlejet engine, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated. Set during the cold war, the film tells the story of lawyer james b. U2 spy plane life as a u2 spy plane pilot pictures. Designed for high flight the u2 is at home at an altitude of more than 70,000 feet. Lessons from eisenhowers secret u2 spy missions the. It provides continuous day and night, highaltitude 70,000 ft plus, allweather surveillance of an area in direct support of u. Mai 1975 sturzte eine u2 in deutschland nahe winterberg ab. During the cold war, the hycon 73b installed in the lockheed u2 reconnaissance aircraft, was an essential intelligencegathering tool of the united states. The u 2 program, a secret government spy plane, was first developed in the 1950s. It was used during the late 1950s to overfly the soviet union, china, the middle east, and cuba. The sad fate of a spy plane in 1962 the soviets swapped a u. The original u2a first took flight in august of 1955 and later provided key intelligence on the soviet military. The u2 spy plane incident occurred at a crucial juncture in u.
Donovan, who is entrusted with negotiating the release of francis gary powersa u. When an offcourse u2 spy plane out of alaska nearly triggered war. A prototype flew in 1955, and the last plane in the series was built in 1989. The air force uses teslas to chase the u2 spy plane. Download our app sign up for newsletters get the newspaper. A popular theory about the origins of the name of irish rock band u2 is that the name is taken from the u2 spy plane. The crash comes just over 20 years after a u 2 spy plane crashed in oroville. This is a single jet engine plane and can fly ultrahigh. Lockheed u2 take off and landing, united states air force. Nov 18, 2015 cia developed the highly secret a12 oxcart above right as the u2 spy planes successor, intended to meet the nations need for a very fast, very highflying reconnaissance aircraft that could avoid soviet air defenses. According to a previously excised comment in the cia history, pococks book, dragon lady, is by far the most accurate unclassified account of the u 2. This statement is especially true, when it comes to the u2 spy plane, a.
The lockheed u2 also known as the dragon lady is a high altitude recon aircraft that was built in 1957 to gather a range of information while cruising at undetectable high altitudes. Donovan boards a plane to berlin, hoping to win the young mans freedom through a prisoner exchange. The singleseat aircraft, flown by pilot francis gary powers, was hit by an s75 dvina sa 2 guideline surfacetoair missile and crashed near sverdlovsk todays yekaterinburg. The u2 spy plane when the u2 first flew in 1955, it was an accident. Just a year later, germanys invasion of the soviet union dramatically altered. U2 u2 spy plane military technology world cold war russia no plane has made more history than the u.
It provides day and night, highaltitude 70,000 feet. The u2 spy plane still flies missions over iraq and afghanistan after more than 60 years in service. U2 spy plane as the sun begins to set, a u2s dragon lady aircraft assigned to the 9th reconnaissance wing climbs to altitude after launching from beale air force base, calif. The u2 program, a secret government spy plane, was first developed in the 1950s. Howard carey took off from lindsey air force base in wiesbaden, germany.
It was flown during the cold war over the soviet union, china, vietnam, and cuba. The lockheed u2 and the sr71 blackbird top secret spy planes. Cia developed the highly secret a12 oxcart above right as the u2 spy planes successor, intended to meet the nations need for a very fast, very highflying reconnaissance aircraft that could avoid soviet air defenses. Singleseat, singleengine, highaltitude reconnaissance aircraft, used by cia, nasa, and usaf. Perhaps the most famous spy plane ever built, the u 2, also known as the dragon lady, has been in service since 1956. Donovan boards a plane to berlin, hoping to win the young. The story of the first u2 spy missions over soviet union. Sep 23, 2015 file photo an air force u2 dragon lady flies a training mission. Before the u2 spy plane, there was the x16 war is boring. U2s around the world in the cold war national museum of. When the lockheed u2 first took to the air in 1955, it was a fragile, hardtomaneuver beast good for one thingsnapping photos from more than 70,000 feet overhead.
The groom lake facility was also used for development of the u 2 spy plane s successors, including the lockheed a12 oxcart and the d21 tagboard. The history of the u2 spy plane 1989 and more recently fifty years of the u2 2005. Jun 08, 2018 the u2 spy plane still flies missions over iraq and afghanistan after more than 60 years in service. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, powers only hope is new york lawyer james donovan, recruited by a cia operative to negotiate his release. Raiders of the lost ark nazi flying wing the germanbuilt flying wing aircraft was.
Investigators have found a parachute near the scene of the crash. According to a previously excised comment in the cia history, pococks book, dragon lady, is by far the most accurate unclassified account of the u2 program. Spy planes the americans used to spy on russia, and it provide feet is the height u2 planes flew at which made them hard to s us pilot francis gary powers sets off in his u2 plane from pak. United states air force lockheed u 2 take off from beale air force base, california, united states, and landing at raf fairford, gloucestershire, england, before taking off again. On may 1, 1960, an american u2 spy plane was shot down over the soviet union just weeks before a peace summit. U2 plan thumbnail u 2 dragon lady, female dragon, u 2 spy plane. Its mission was to photography soviet military installations. Dec 11, 2011 the u 2 spy plane when the u 2 first flew in 1955, it was an accident. The u2 was one of the cold wars most infamous aircraft, a plane designed to fly over unfriendly territory too high for enemy fighters or missiles, and take pictures of unparalleled detail. U 2, singleseat, highaltitude jet flown by the united states for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The emerging cold war escalated the risk of a confrontation between the united states and the soviet union involving use of atomic weapons, including hydrogen bombs. The lockheed u 2, nicknamed dragon lady, is an american single jet engine, ultrahigh altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the united states air force usaf and previously flown by the central intelligence agency cia. On 1 may 1960, a united states u2 spy plane was shot down by the soviet air defence forces.
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