Book Talk & Signing – Spy Pilot, with Francis Gary Power, Jr.

The Gettysburg Heritage Center welcomes author Francis Gary Powers Jr. on May 22 at 7 p.m. for a special presentation and book talk exploring one of the most compelling espionage stories of the Cold War era.

Held at the Gettysburg Heritage Center, 297 Steinwehr Avenue in Gettysburg, PA, the evening focuses on Powers’ book Spy Pilot, which details the true story of his father, CIA U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers Sr., whose 1960 capture by the Soviet Union became an international Cold War flashpoint. Drawing from newly available information, Powers examines the covert intelligence program behind the U-2 missions while separating historical fact from decades of misinformation.

The story later inspired Steven Spielberg’s film Bridge of Spies, centered on the dramatic prisoner exchange involving Powers Sr. and Soviet spy Rudolf Abel.

In addition to his work as an author and historian, Powers serves as Founder and Chairman Emeritus of The Cold War Museum in Virginia and continues advising national preservation efforts focused on Cold War history.

This Gettysburg event offers history enthusiasts a rare opportunity to hear firsthand insight into one of America’s most famous intelligence operations.

For those interested in Cold War espionage and intelligence history, Mountain Spies Tours offers an immersive guided journey through the Catoctin and South Mountain region, exploring the hidden landscapes, covert operations, and real-life intelligence stories that shaped American national security from World War II through the Cold War.