"ON THE GLIENICKE BRIDGE IN BERLIN"

FRANCIS GARY POWERS EXCHANGED IN BERLIN

West Berlin (JFK+50) On February 10, 1962, U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers* was exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel** and U.S. student Frederic L. Pryor.  The exchange took place on the Glienicke Bridge here in Berlin.

Powers' U-2 was shot down over Soviet air space on May 1, 1960.  He successfully parachuted to the ground safely, but was then captured.  At the time of the exchange, Powers was serving a ten year sentence for espionage.

The exchange came partly as a result of the desire on the part of President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev for better relations between the United States and the Soviet Union.

*Francis Gary Powers (1929-1977) was born in Jenkins, KY & earned a B.S. at Tennessee's Milligan College.  FGP enlisted in the USAF where he was recruited by the CIA.  By the time of his capture by the Soviets, FGP had flown many covert missions. 

**Rudolf Abel [William August Fisher] (1903-1971) was born in Newcastle, U.K. & became a Soviet intelligence officer.  RA was arrested on charges of conspiracy in 1957 & sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. 

 

 

Barbara & Francis Gary Powers

Rome, Georgia

AP Photo (1962) 

EXCHANGE ON THE BRIDGE OF SPIES

FRANCIS GARY POWERS & FREDERIC PRYOR EXCHANGED FOR RUDOLF  ABEL

Berlin (JFK+50) Fifty-six years ago, February 10, 1962, the United States and Soviet Union exchanged prisoners convicted of espionage.  The exchange took place on the Glienicke Bridge here in Berlin known as "the bridge of spies."

American U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers* along with American student Frederic Pryor were exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Ivanovich Abel.**

The Glienicke Bridge, which spans the Havel River & connects the cities of Potsdam & Berlin, has been described as one of the few places where the USSR & US could make prisoner exchanges without involving third parties.

*Francis Gary Powers (1929-1977) born in Jenkins, Kentucky, was a graduate of Milligan College.  He was commissioned in the USAF as a 2nd Lt. & recruited by the CIA.  FGP, who was shot down by a Soviet MiG on May 1, 1960, was convicted of espionage & sentenced to 10 years in prison.

**Rudolf Ivanovich Abel (1903-1971), born in the UK to ethnic Germans from Russia, served in the Red Army & the KGB.  RIA arrived in the US in Nov 1948 where he would pose as an artist & photographer.   He was arrested in June 1957 by the FBI, found guilty of espionage & sentenced to 45 years in prison.

The Glienicke Bridge

Spanning the Havel River

Photo by Lienhard Schulz (2005)

                

                         

U2 PILOT RELEASED

U2 PILOT CAPTURED BY RUSSIANS RELEASED 52 YEARS AGO TODAY

Berlin (JFK+50) In one of the most dramatic scenes of the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States exchanged prisoners convicted of espionage on the Glienicke Bridge here in Berlin 52 years ago today, February 10, 1962.

American U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers* along with American student Frederic Pryor were exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Ivanovich Abel.**

                    The Glienicke Bridge
              Spanning the Havel River
      Photo by Lienhard Schulz (2005)

The Glienicke Bridge, which spans the Havel River and connects the cities of Potsdam and Berlin, has been described as one of the few places where the USSR and US could make prisoner exchanges without involving third parties.

The bridge, which was to be the scene of more exchanges in 1964, 1985 and 1986, came to be known as "The Bridge of Spies."

*Francis Gary Powers (1929-1977) born in Jenkins, Kentucky, was a graduate of Milligan College.  He was commissioned in the USAF as a 2nd Lt. and recruited by the CIA.

Powers, who was shot down by a Soviet MiG on May 1, 1960, was convicted of espionage & sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Kelly Johnson and Gary Powers

**Rudolf Ivanovich Abel (1903-1971), born in the UK to ethnic Germans from Russia, served in the Red Army and the KGB.  

Abel arrived in the US in Nov 1948 where he would pose as an artist and photographer.   He was arrested in June 1957 by the FBI, found guilty of espionage and sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Rudolf Ivanovich Abel

1990 USSR Stamp

"Soviet Spies"

COLD WAR DRAMA ON "THE BRIDGE OF SPIES"

February 10, 2013

COLD WAR DRAMA ON "THE BRIDGE OF SPIES" 

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) In a dramatic scene of the Cold War, the Soviet Union & United States exchanged prisoners convicted of espionage on the Glienicke Bridge 51 years ago today, February 10, 1962.

American U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers* along with American student Frederic Pryor were exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Ivanovich Abel.**

                    The Glienicke Bridge
              Spanning the Havel River
      Photo by Lienhard Schulz (2005)

The Glienicke Bridge, which spans the Havel River & connects the cities of Potsdam & Berlin, has been described as one of the few places where the USSR & US could make prisoner exchanges without involving third parties.

The bridge, which was to be the scene of more exchanges in 1964, 1985 & 1986, came to be known as "The Bridge of Spies."

*Francis Gary Powers (1929-1977) born in Jenkins, Kentucky, was a graduate of Milligan College.  He was commissioned in the USAF as a 2nd Lt. & recruited by the CIA.

Powers, who was shot down by a Soviet MiG on May 1, 1960, was convicted of espionage & sentenced to 10 years in prison.

                Kelly Johnson & Gary Powers

**Rudolf Ivanovich Abel (1903-1971), born in the UK to ethnic Germans from Russia, served in the Red Army & the KGB.  

Abel arrived in the US in Nov 1948 where he would pose as an artist & photographer.   He was arrested in June 1957 by the FBI, found guilty of espionage & sentenced to 45 years in prison.

                         Rudolf Ivanovich Abel
                            1990 USSR Stamp
                               "Soviet Spies"