Francis Gary Powers, a native of Burdine, became central to the “U-2 Incident,” which brought United States activities into world view. With other pilots directed by the CIA, he flew U-2s, high altitude jet gliders, over Russia to photograph missile and industrial sites and nuclear tests. On May 1, 1960, when his plane was disabled 1300 mi. over Russia, Powers parachuted to safety. Taken prisoner, he said his compass had malfunctioned on a weather flight, but after film was found intact in the wreckage, the Russians put him on trial for espionage. Sentenced to ten years imprisonment, he was released in 1962 in exchange for a Soviet spy, later decorated by the CIA, and died in a civilian helicopter crash.