Imagine soaring high above the Earth, closer to the stars than most humans ever get. Gary Powers Jr. experienced just that when he took a U-2 flight on the 40th anniversary of his father’s infamous Cold War incident. From high up at 70,000 feet, the view included glimpses of Area 51 and the sprawling landscapes of California.
Gary Powers Jr. spent several days at the Beale base before his flight, where he underwent rigorous preparation. This involved pressurization exercises in a space suit, akin to scenes from a sci-fi movie, where a jar of water boiled in front of him. This was to demonstrate that without the suit, the same fate would befall his blood – a stark reminder of the risks involved. Once suited up, Gary found himself in the backseat of the iconic U-2 spy plane, ready for an adventure like no other.
The flight day dawned bright and beautiful. Powers was required to breathe pure oxygen for an hour, a process designed to purge nitrogen from his blood before the journey. However, things started off on a tense note when the cockpit radio failed, bringing a surge of nerves. Luckily, the issue was quickly resolved, and soon they were rocketing into the sky at a steep angle, feeling like being thrust into space itself.
As they climbed to their cruising altitude above 70,000 feet, the world below transformed. Powers could clearly see the curvature of the Earth, enveloped in a surreal quietness, with the deep black of space providing a stark backdrop. The U-2’s path took them over major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento, with Powers documenting the journey on a Kodak Instamatic camera.
There is a unique challenge in descending from such heights. Powers recounted how it felt as if the plane might tip over due to the steep angle of descent, a momentary thrill mixed with apprehension. The return to base, however, was smooth, aided by a chase car ready to guide the plane to a perfect landing amidst a crowd of waiting VIPs.
Reflecting on the day, Powers felt honored to have joined the select few who’ve taken such a flight, a rare privilege bestowed alongside recognition of his father’s service. His father, Francis Gary Powers, had endured his own extreme journey as a prisoner in the Soviet Union after his U-2 was downed. Gary Jr. recounted the elder Powers’ tales of KGB interrogations. Although he was spared physical abuse, psychological tactics like sleep deprivation tested his resilience.
Furthermore, Francis Gary Powers had witnessed firsthand the torment of false hopes and stalled exchanges during his time as a POW, a psychological rollercoaster. He had prepared for desperate measures, even considering diving off the Glienicker bridge during his eventual exchange, though fortunately, such drastic actions weren’t needed.
The legacy of Francis Gary Powers lies in his efforts to prepare future American pilots for potential captivity, a protocol that hadn’t existed before his ordeal. Though his time in Soviet hands was fraught with mental trials, he returned to contribute valuably to military training processes.
Gary Powers Jr.’s U-2 flight was not just a personal milestone; it was a homage to his father’s remarkable story of resilience. While he beheld the serenity of Earth’s vastness from above, he also carried with him the sobering memories of his dad’s trials during the tense days of the Cold War. This juxtaposition of peace and conflict offers profound insights into the human spirit’s endurance.
Source: Forbes
