U2 Crisis

Question 1

Summary of the U2 Crisis

Answer 1

Gary Powers was an American pilot in the U2 plane. The CIA(Central intelligence agency) decided to launch the plane. The U2’s mission was to fly at high altitudes and carry out reconnaissance(military observations) and carry out espionage(spying).
The USA hoped to find out what the USSRs industrial and military capabilities were by using the U2 mission. The U2 was special because it was able to fly over 70,000 feet for over 3 thousand miles. The USSR only had 30 missiles(which wasn’t a lot). The American pilots were given a silver coin containing cyanide to drink if they were caught by the USSR. The USA hated Gary powers because he failed to destruct the U2 pane and he didn’t drink the cyanide and he confessed to being guilty when the USSR caught him.

Question 2

How did the U2 crisis worsen tensions between the USA and the USSR in the Cold War ?

Answer 2

• The USSR had proof of the USA spying

- The USSR withdrew from peace agreements with other nations

Question 3

What does CIA stand for ?

Answer 3

Central Intelligence Agency

Question 4

What did the USA hope to find out by using the U2 planes ?

Answer 4

The USSRs industrial and military capabilities

Question 5

What was special about the U2 planes ?

Answer 5

They were able to fly over 70,000 feet off the ground for over 3 thousand miles.