(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000400060020-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: July 28, 1960
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 1999/AT II & -
28 July 1960
.,EMI TER DINED
1. This memorandum is for information =Q-
2. The LONDM NEWS CNNONICLZ's Washington representative, Joanna
L vrencee, telephoned today to ask if CIA would cunt on the story which
appeared in the LMON A) ICAN of this morning which claim U-2 Pilot Powers
was not shot down but was forced to land due to his own "piloting error."
The London vapor said Powers had already been put through a mock trial as a
rehearsal for the one scheduled to start on 17 August. It claimed that Powers
radioed to another U-2 thich was flying behind him that he was losing altitude
and it states American officials believe he glided into a perfect belly landing.
it also claim that the top ceiling of the U-2 is 11.0,000 feet. We had no comment.
3. A copy' of the UPI's report of the LONDON AMERICAN story is attached.
STANUff J. CN N
tach. Assistant to the Director
c: DDCI yr/attach.
Approved For Release 1999/09/17 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400060020-6
 ed Pre-5 International July 28, 1960
Approved For Release 1999/09/17 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400060020-6
UPI-92
(U-2)
CPYRGHT
NDON--THE LONDON AMERICAN, A WEEKLY PUBLICATION AIMED AT
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN. REPORTED TODAY THAT U-2 PILOT FRANCIS GARY Pt)W"S
WAS NOT SHOT DOWN Of THE RUSSIANS BUT WAS FORCED TO LAND DUB TO HIS
PILOTING ERRt)R.
IT GAVE NO SOURCE FOR ITS INFORMATION OTHER TRAM THAT IT RAH
GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT THE POWERS TRIAL FOR WEEKS FROM
DIPLOMATIC SOURCES.
THE NEWSPAPER SAID POWERS HAD BEEN PUT THROUGH A "MOCK" TRIAL TO
REHEARSE HIM FOR THE REAL ONE. SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN MOSCOW AUG. 17.
` hl LONOON AMERICAN DENIED THE SOVIET CLAIM THAT THE U-2 WAS
:fOT DOWN IN RUSSIA MAY I BY ROCKET FIRE AND SAID:
'LOWERS' UNDOING WAS NOT SOVIET TECHNOLOGICAL SKILL BUT HIS )WN
HUMAN ERROR. HE SWERVED T(H) RAP IDLY... AT 90.000 FEET... IN CHANGING
ECTION AND 'FLAMED OUT* HIS JET ENGINE.
" THE YOUNG PILOT FROM ALBANY, GA ... RADIOED THE BAD NEWS TO A 'S'ECOND
1-2 FOLLOWING BEHIND HIM. POWERS REPORTED THAT HE WAS LOSING
!.TITUDE TO SECURE THE OXYGEN NECESSARY TO 2E-IGNITE HIS ENGZsE. nIs
.AST WORD WAS THAT HE HAD REDUCED TO 40.000 FEET. AFTER THAT THERE wt!
LLENICE--UNTIL KHRUSHCHEV BROKE THE NEWS OF HIS CAPTURE...
,:P?JWERS COULD HAVE BEEN SHOT DOWN AFTER LOSING HEIGHT RU? AMERICAN
`FICIALS DOUBT IT. THEIR VIEW IS THAT HE GLIDED INTO A PERFECT BELLY
G,"
THE NEWSPAPER ALSO SAID IT HAD LEARNED THAT THE ACTUAL CEILING OF
fit U-2 WAS 110.000 FEET--4Q, OOO MORE FRET THAN
u r"1~o?rn ....,.,......,.
Approved For Release 1999/09/17 CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400060020-6
 Approved For Release 1999/09/17 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400060020-6
-92 (CON*T)
CPYRGHT
THE AGGOUNT SAID THE SOVIETS WERE CORRECT If ASSERTING THAT POWERS
AILED TO CARRY OUT "SUICIDE" ORDERS FROM THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
"PRESUMABLY." THE NEWSPAPER SAID. "HE IGNORED C.I.A. ORDERS FOR THE
104N-TO-EARTH REASON THAT HE PREFERRED TO LIVE--AND QUICKLY DECIDED THAT
BEST HOPE OF DOING SO WAS TO COOPERATE WITH HIS CAPTORS.
"THIS EXPLAINS WHY THE RUSSIANS ARE ABLE TO MOUNT THE BIGGEST SHOW
RIAL IN SOVIET BISTORT.-AND THE WORLDS GREATEST SPY TRIAL-?.MITHII
OUR MONTHS Of. Pt)WERS? CAPTURE-"
THE LONDON AMERICAN SAID POWERS COOPERATION AT THE TRIAL WILL EXTEND
O TELLING THE COURT "EVERYTHING HE KNOWS--AND A GREAT DEAL MORE."
[T SAID "MUCH OF POWERS* EVIDENCE WILL BE BLUFF AND CONJECTURE" AND
IT WILL INCLUDE ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT OF "SUCH AMERICAN ALLIES AS NORWAY,
TURKEY AND PAKISTAN."
7128--962O6PED
Approved For Release 1999/09/17 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400060020-6