The U2 -crisis Flashcards
When did the U2 - crisis occur ??
On May 1st 1960
What did the Soviets do on the 1st May 1960 ?
Shot down an American U2 spy plane over the USSR and captured the pilot.
What was the pilots name ??
Gary Powers
What was the U2 plane and who was it developed by ?
It was developed by the CIA for the purpose of spying , having powerful cameras and radio receivers to detect soviet long-range bomber bases and missile sites .
What did the Americans claim the U2 spy plane was and what it was doing over the USSR ??
They claimed the pilot strayed into the USSR air space whilst on a flight to study weather patterns .
What did Khrushchev demand of the Americans ?? (3)
Apologise for the U2 affair
Stop future spying flights
Punish those responsible
What did president Eisenhower do/not do and what were the effects ?? (3)
He refused to apologise but agreed to stop the spy planes flying over.
This caused Khrushchev to walk out of the Paris summit conference with the USA, Britain and France in May 1960.
Increased tensions between the two superpowers .
What was the Four Powers Summit aiming to achieve ?
It was supposed to achieve improved relations between the East and West by discussing arms limitation and the possible reunification of Germany.
What did the USSR do to prove the Americans were lying ??
They developed the film taken by Powers which showed him clearly spying on the USSR.
Why was the incident damaging to President Eisenhower ? (2)
The Soviets had scored a propaganda victory .
The Americans had been caught spying on the USSR and also lied about it .
How long was Gary Powers sentenced to prison for ??
10 years but was exchanged in 1962 for a soviet agent .
