SENATE GIVES PILOT POWERS A CLEAN SLATE, HOW ABOUT YOU?

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000400080138-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 1999
• Sequence Number: 138
• Publication Date: March 9, 1962
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2000/08/03 : CIAARDP75-086
25X1A
M~ 9 1962
AE QUESTION BOX
Senate Gives Pilot Powers
Francis Gary Powers ap-
peared before a Senate grilling
in Washington this week, after
having earlier met in closed scs
'ion with the. CIA.
The result: the CIA told Con
gress t]re,U-2 spy pilot half-
"lived up10, the berms of his
employment_ and jyustriactions.'
:end gave him a an 'bill of
health.
'Me Senate, hearing. Powers
tell how a strange orange col-
ored explosion had wrecked his
plane deep inside Russia, and
hearing of his trial and captiv-
ity, also exonerated the pilot
from any blame..
The Herald Courier's state edi-
tor. Curwood Garrett, yester-
day interviewed persons in Or-
ton. Va., found;;,, that a wel-
come for Gary es is being
planned (date nt;yt set), and
got a lively, favorable response
to his exoneration.
Pack in Bristol, reporter Ron
Miller queried Bristolians on the
an~e question.
The question:
what do you think of Gary
Tern,~rc of Pound, Va.?
eqn Slate, How
About You?
B. E. BALL, mayor of Norton:
"I never doubted Mr, Powers'
]a,valty. We are all as happy as
can be that lie has been exen
crated from all blame by the
investigation. . . He did what
he was supposed to do. but he
is not in the hero class like John
(henn and others."
CHARLIE AANIL;LS, president,
Wise County Chamber of q4?4;
tnerec: "If he had been flying
under military conditions, he
would have been the most dec.
orated maa in this section of
the country. We are hoping to
have an offici?el welcome ill ev`
cry town in Wise County when
he returns."
PRFS ATKINS. Norton newsp
reason tp'''feel that he hadn't
dow hi properly. I feel that
he was working wibbin bouiids.
A welcome when he returns will
be appropriate."
Approved For Release 2000/08/03 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400080138-4
 Approved For Release 2000/08/03 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400080138-4
GAYNEI, BOYD, seamstress,
Route 5, Bristol Virginia: "I
think Mc. Powers did the very
best lie could have for his coun-
try. He showed me and many
others a lot of courage. You
know it took a brave man to fly
that plane in the first place."
ROBERT F. -PAMM, order
clerk, 619 Vance Street: ?I think
that Powers did the only logical
thing-at least the only logical
thing u n d e r those circum-
stances. He really shows that he
is a true American and a very
courageous person."
ELLA LOUISE ROWE. student,
King College: "I suppose he
wasn't really hue to.his coun-
try. Also, I dtari't uhdarsta icy
how the U2 plane was downed
because he was flying at such
high altitude. He must have
been scared, but I suppose a lot
of propie would have been."
DORIS B ON HA M, secretary 7,
1103 Highland Avcnue: "I thirk
Powers did everything he couirl
to ielp his country. When }n
was testifying last week, lie tvr:~
trying to tell people that i:
wasn't really as bad in i4ussi: i
as many thii k... 1 can't figure
wily. they're going to give hire
};wk pav...
Approved For Release 2000/08/03 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400080138-4