Powers Tells Of Capture

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 8

Powers Tells Of Capture

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copi/rig lit) WASHINGTON, March 6. The American U-2 pilot, Francis Gary Powers, “sensed” the explosion before his highaltitude reconnaissance aeroplane plunged into a spin over the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960.

Mr Powers, who was making his first public appearance since he was released by the Russians in exchange for a Soviet spy, Rudolf Abel, on February 10. told the Senate Armed Services’ Committee in a low controlled voice, that he saw : an orange light in the sky, such as he had never seen before, immediately after the explosion. Mr Powers, who seemed relaxed and calm, gave his evidence before the open session of the committee two hours after the release of a Central Intelligence Agency report which gave him a clean bill of health regarding his activities while in the Soviet Union. Mr Powers told the Senators that soon after reaching the Russian city of Sverdlovsk, “I felt and heard this explosion.” "Slight Acceleration”

He said it was hard to recall exactly what occurred. “I can remember feeling, hearing and just sensing an explosion," he said ‘‘There was just a slight acceleration of the aircraft that was all I felt in the aircraft itself.”

As the aeroplane went into its final plunge, Mr Powers said, he had a terrible struggle to get himself free, the Associated Press said

“The G-force was very heavy,” he said. “The aeroplane was spinning very violently and I was thrown forward and up ” Finally, the air ' rush swept him out without his throwing the switches which would have touched off a charge to destroy the aircraft. He said: “When I hit the ground I fell down . . . a couple of men helped me to my feet. They helped me to remove my parachute harness. They took away the pistol and a knife I had.” Mr Powers said he was taken to a nearby village and searched. He was then taken to a city he thought was Sverdlovsk Story Failed

Mr Powers said: “I tried to invent a story that I didn’t know where I was but they brought out the packages in my survival kit including maps of the Soviet Union. Russian roubles, and several other items, indicating the nature of the mission. “It was then that I decided to follow the instructions I had received earlier and I told them I was a member of the Central Intelligence Agency, It was quite obvious they knew it anvway ”

Mr Powers said he was then flown to Moscow After a medical examination, he said, he was given 'an injection and taken to a cell.

At first the interrogations were long some lasting between 10 and 12 hours—and quite frequent. Later, the periods between the questioning lengthened. Na Threata Mr Powers said that no threats were made during the questioning, “but they

did not let me forget that the crime was punishable by death.” He said: “My main sorrow was that my mission failed and I was sorry I was there and causing a lot of adverse publicity to the United States.”

Later, Mr Powers said quietly: “One thing I remembered all the time —that is I am an American: American and proud of it.” His remark was applauded.