On May 1^st 2015 a monument to Soviet anti-aircraft gunners, who shot down the Francis Powers’ Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft 55 years ago, was erected in Sverdlovsk Region, Lenta.ru reports with reference to the press-service of Central Military District.

«The monument was erected at the 56^th kilometer of Tyumen route, because military units of air defense forces, who shot down the American spy’s aircraft, were stationed there,» the press-service explained. He added that S-75 air defense system used to shoot down the Powers’ aircraft is depicted on the monument.

Servicemen from the 2^nd command of Russian air forces and air defense forces of the Central Military District took part in the opening ceremony. Commander of this military unit Viktor Sevostyanov said that his troops “continue traditions of the Soviet army in the area of air defense”. The good example is that our regiment stationed in Berezovski town performed perfectly at maneuvers held in Buryatia,» he noted.

U-2 aircraft piloted by Powers was shot down with a “surface-to-air” missile under Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg) on May 1^st 1960. The pilot, who worked for CIA and was taking pictures of military bases located in the Urals, managed to survive. He ejected and was captured after landing. The pilot was sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage. He was put into prison located in Vladimir (pretrial detention center No.1). In February 1962 Powers was exchanged for Soviet intelligence officer Rudolf Abel, captured in USA.