U-2 PILOT AWARD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000400060007-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: October 3, 1960
• Content Type: NSPR

OCT 3 1960
AVIATION WEEK
Approved For Release 1999/09/17 : CIA-
STATINTL
L E I7 ERiS
group or aircraft company that made a sig- _ paid twice the sa.y would
nificant contribution in the field of aerial sia?
Francis G. :rowers Award be given each well, and that ?m itself is su
year to an individual, flight group, research To them I say this: Gentle jie
gerous but nec~,ssary reconnaissance missions fruition.
in this age of siuvival. Some cynics. will say that Francis Powers
With this idea in mind I suggest that a and other U-2 pilots were id extremely
oofarFree men. Let,; it 3j~q be known that sve "-
e willing to take the chances and shoulder
the responsibility' for action rrecessan' to
preserve this'Th edom. When we, as` free
individuals, begin to show our indiginanon
and begin taking strong individual and group
stands in matters of international affairs,
you may Q&,4 cured that the Kremlin wile,
re-cs luate..our,,uational psychology. Thin ;
attitude will change from one of "let's
keep pushing" to one of "do we dare push
further?"
to be an Am 4'p, The Francis'?C. Powers-.Award made otr,,
I bN1icve it is time for the American atn_ai:ntfit`b'Sjrs"and publicized through oti
people to take a little democratic action and news` acdi will show that'we Americans do
show Mr. Khrushchev and the world whit respect individual efforts, that we do stand
Americans really think of men like Francis behind the dangerous but necessary action
G. Powers. requjTd to preserve ourselves and the world
Bpc fuse of diplomacy, world politics and from cat& gph;c, surprises` attack and that
other dHkcs'd tact, our government has we shall not ,forget I r mcis Powers. :;
not be -'&ble to take a truly stroni"stand I have-mad presented an'!dca. Perhaps'`
for Fr 9M Powers during his trial. "That some of the readers of Avr y i WrEK who
does ill "dean-'that os people canngfshow are lA a pos~44p, to organise and act n'ilL.
their gf bide -for the men flying the"dan- pick up the.-ball and cmy the idea td"A
crete terms.
First, however, allow me to clear the air.
I am ppot now, nor have I ever been, em-
ployec~'by the aircraft industry. I hay%rncver
been attached to any of the flying services
during, my military service, I do admit to
being interested, ,aviation and very thankful
U-2 Pilot Award
I think it is time for someone to step out
and say what many Americans are thii'king
Reasons for the institution of such an RB-57Ds and U-2 aircraft. Al! of us do.
award are manifold. First and foremost, ,}" I humbly thank them.
in my Francis mind at Powers leisastim, is r let isone us d in not Sov foreitt Res' that .Aon~r. Zn ; ;;?;, ,,,,;r,,
'..` a rntanticab c~l'l Il~nstration Historian
'
sia aq w b for a . 1 , long time. A` Elgin Ill.
- Powers and This-'fellow PiloT in- B-47Es,
able plaques wotfld be adequate.
cut reward;
0- ;VA
you werem,
over Rus:. Y
3econwgt;Jcr sae tsusstans and me vv nrio
know there are Americans who belies- in
standing firm for the rights aW_privil::,t c
Approved For Release 1999/09/17 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400060007-1