Who Is Francis Gary Powers? Age, Biography and Wiki
Francis Gary Powers was born on August 17, 1929, in Jenkins, Kentucky, USA. He was a notable American pilot and is best remembered for his role during the Cold War as a U-2 spy plane pilot. Powers's flight over the Soviet Union in May 1960 led to his capture and a highly publicized trial, which resonated throughout America and the globe. Tragically, his life was cut short when he died in a helicopter crash in 1977. As of 2025, Powers would have been 96 years old, leaving behind a mixed legacy of espionage and international diplomacy.
| Occupation | Pilot |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 17, 1929 |
| Age | 47 Years |
| Birth Place | Jenkins, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 1 August, 1977 |
| Died Place | N/A |
Popularity
Francis Gary Powers's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Francis Gary Powers was known to be of average height for his era, standing at approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall (178 cm). His weight fluctuated throughout his life due to the physical demands of his career, but he was generally around 160 pounds (73 kg). His athletic build was an asset during his training as a pilot. Unfortunately, specific measurements like chest size, waist size, and shoe size were not widely documented.
As Powers flew near Kosulino in the Ural Region, three S-75 Dvinas were launched at his U-2, with the first one hitting the aircraft.
"What was left of the plane began spinning, only upside down, the nose pointing upward toward the sky, the tail down toward the ground." According to his book Operation Overflight, Powers delayed activating the camera's self-destruct mechanism until he made sure he could exit the cockpit before the charges detonated.
When g-forces unexpectedly threw him from the spinning aircraft, he could no longer reach the destruct switches.
While descending under his parachute, Powers had time to scatter his escape map, and rid himself of part of his suicide device, a silver dollar coin suspended around his neck containing a poison-laced injection pin, though he kept the poison pin.
"Yet I was still hopeful of escape." He hit the ground hard, was immediately captured, and taken to Lubyanka Prison in Moscow. Powers did note seeing a second chute after landing on the ground, "some distance away and very high, a lone red and white parachute".
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Francis Gary Powers was married to Barbara Gale, whom he wed in 1956. The couple had two children together, a son named Francis Gary Powers Jr. and a daughter named. Their family life was affected by the intense media scrutiny and stress due to Powers's capture and subsequent release. Barbara played an essential role in supporting him during his trials, and they remained together until his untimely death.
Following admission by the White House that Powers had been captured alive, American media depicted Powers as an all-American pilot hero, who never smoked or touched alcohol. In fact, Powers smoked and drank socially.
The CIA urged that his wife Barbara be given sedatives before speaking to the press and gave her talking points that she repeated to the press to portray her as a devoted wife.
Her broken leg, according to the CIA disinformation, was the result of a water-skiing accident, when in fact it happened after she had had too much to drink and was dancing with another man.
Net Worth and Salary
In terms of financials, Francis Gary Powers's estimated net worth at the time of his death in 1977 was around $1.5 million, taking into account his military career and various business ventures later in life. While specific figures from 2025 reflect inflation and historical appreciation, it is expected that his legacy continues to draw interest from historians and enthusiasts alike, contributing to his enduring financial relevance through documentaries and books based on his life.
On August 19, 1960, Powers was convicted of espionage, "a grave crime covered by Article 2 of the Soviet Union's law 'On Criminality Responsibility for State Crimes. His sentence consisted of 10 years' confinement, three of which were to be in a prison, with the remainder in a labor camp.
The US Embassy "News Bulletin" stated, according to Powers, "as far as the government was concerned, I had acted in accordance with the instructions given [to] me and would receive my full salary while imprisoned".
Career, Business and Investments
Powers initially joined the United States Air Force before transitioning to work with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). His most notable career moment in the U-2 program became a pivotal moment in Cold War history. After his release from Soviet captivity in 1962, he worked in various roles, including as a test pilot and later as a news helicopter pilot in Los Angeles, where he utilized his skills to inform and educate the public about aviation. His contributions included collaboration on memoirs and documentaries regarding the U-2 incident.
During World War II, the Powers family briefly moved to Detroit, where Oliver had taken a job at a defense plant, before returning to Grundy, Virginia, where Powers finished high school. Powers then entered Milligan College as a pre-med student, but switched majors to biology and chemistry in his third year.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1950. Powers married Barbara Gay Moore in Newnan, Georgia, on April 2, 1955.
Social Network
Although Francis Gary Powers did not have social media accounts in the traditional sense, his story is now shared across numerous platforms. His legacy persists through dedicated fan pages and historical accounts on networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. His family, particularly his son, has engaged in preserving his legacy by sharing insights and stories, utilizing modern social networks to educate younger generations about the complexities of Cold War history.
Education
Francis Gary Powers graduated from high school in 1947 and went on to attend the University of Southern California, where he earned a degree in aeronautical engineering. His education laid the groundwork for his later success as a pilot and contributed to his ability to navigate the challenges he faced during his illustrious yet turbulent career.
After returning to the US, he worked at Lockheed as a test pilot for the U-2, and later as a helicopter pilot for Los Angeles news station KNBC. He died in 1977, when the KNBC helicopter he was flying crashed.
