U-2 Incident and Cold War Implications

The U-2 spy plane incident on May 1, 1960, involved Francis Gary Powers flying a U-2 plane into Soviet airspace, where he was shot down and captured. Initially, the US claimed it was a NASA weather research mission, but the Soviets produced evidence of espionage. Powers was tried and exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel. The incident strained US-Soviet relations, leading to the collapse of the Paris summit and increased Cold War tensions.

What was the primary mission of the U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers?

• To test new aviation technology

• To photograph Soviet military bases

• To deliver supplies to allies

• To conduct weather research

At what altitude was the U-2 spy plane designed to fly?

• 80,000 feet

• 60,000 feet

• 50,000 feet

• 70,000 feet

What caused Francis Gary Powers to lose control of his U-2 spy plane?

• Bad weather

• Pilot error

• A violent shudder

• Engine failure

How did the U.S. initially explain the loss of the U-2 plane?

• As a diplomatic mission

• As a civilian weather research mission

• As a commercial flight

• As a military training exercise

What evidence did the Soviet Union present to reveal the true purpose of the U-2 mission?

• Captured pilot and plane parts

• Intercepted radio communications

• Confessions from U.S. officials

• Satellite images

What was the outcome of Francis Gary Powers' trial in the Soviet Union?

• He was sentenced to three years of imprisonment and seven years of hard labor

• He was executed

• He was sentenced to life imprisonment

• He was acquitted

Which U.S. President was in office during the U-2 incident?

• John F. Kennedy

• Lyndon B. Johnson

• Dwight D. Eisenhower

• Richard Nixon

What was the impact of the U-2 incident on the Paris summit?

• It led to a new peace treaty

• It was not completed

• It was completed successfully

• It was postponed indefinitely

Who was exchanged for Francis Gary Powers in the prisoner swap?

• A Soviet scientist

• A Soviet diplomat

• Rudolf Abel, a Soviet officer

• A Soviet journalist

What was one of the broader implications of the U-2 incident during the Cold War?

• It had no significant impact

• It increased tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union

• It improved U.S.-Soviet relations

• It led to the end of the Cold War