How it was 20.06.1998 (1998)

The program theme is "The Last Flight of the Spy".

The opening title is "How It Was".

A fragment of the film "Dead Season".

The opening title is "How It Was".

The host says that the famous episode on the bridge from the film "Dead Season" has its own backstory that was not mentioned in the film at all, although its beginning at the time made a lot of noise - this happened on May 1, 1960, in the midst of the holiday.

Chronicle B/W chronicle: People listen to speakers at the podium, a May Day demonstration on Red Square, people wave their hands and take pictures at the demonstration, columns of people with flowers, banners, posters and banners, a poster with the image of Khrushchev, men wave their hats and applaud, a demonstration in the city of Sverdlovsk, girls with flowers walk in a column, a banner of the UZTM plant, a child on his father's shoulders, children march.

The opening title is "How It Was".

The host invites Gennady Sergeyevich Legasov, a man who arrived at the Sverdlovsk command post on assignment from the Soviet government literally right after the American intelligence officer Francis Powers was shot down, to the studio.

Gennady Legasov says that Powers was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile, and he is an anti-aircraft missile specialist.

Gennady Legasov says that Powers was directly shot down by the division commander located near Sverdlovsk, for someone Major Voronov, the division is located twenty-five kilometers from Sverdlovsk to the southeast.

Video: Mikhail Romanovich Voronov says that there were two targets on the screen, they were flying a parallel course at a distance of 20 km, he reported that there were targets in squares, the commander said that in such and such a square there was his plane, and the target, which is subject to destruction, was in another.

Mikhail Romanovich Voronov says that he gave the command to launch the missile, the first missile was launched, the second and third did not launch, there was a technical failure.

The information "the target used interference" was received, these were fragments from the downed plane.

Legasov Gennady says that at the same time from the airfield "Koltsovo" near Sverdlovsk in pursuit of Powers' plane, a pair of MIG-19s were raised, the leader captain Ayvazyan, the wingman senior lieutenant Safronov.

The presenter introduces in the studio Ayvazyan Boris Grayrovich - Soviet fighter pilot of the USSR Air Force, a participant in the pursuit of Powers' plane.

Ayvazyan Boris Grayrovich says that after setting the course he saw an explosion above him, about which he immediately reported that he saw an explosion, five separated shiny dots, these were apparently fragments of the plane.

Ayvazyan Boris talks about Safronov Sergey Ivanovich, senior lieutenant, squadron adjutant of the same, who died 40 minutes into the flight from Soviet air defense fire during an operation to destroy a U-2 spy plane, his plane crashed in the airfield area.

Ayvazyan Boris Grayrovich says they were taken as a target, since the full information about the plane being shot down did not reach the center, then all means were thrown into shooting them down.

Ayvazyan Boris Grayrovich says that he received the command to descend and performed a maneuver meters from the ground, communication with Safronov Sergey was lost.

Legasov Gennady says that Ayvazyan Boris's plane was flying without the "own plane" transponder turned on for the ground radars, and Safronov's plane was sending "own plane" signals and was visible.

The planes of Boris Ayvazyan and Sergey Safronov were tracked by radars and when they entered the air defense zone near Sverdlovsk, the radar broke down and did not receive signals from the planes, three missiles were launched at Safronov's plane.

As a result of the incoordination of the actions of various services, Safronov's plane, flying at an altitude of 11,000, was hit by a missile from the S-75 anti-aircraft missile system.

Safronov jumped out with a parachute, but landed already dead.

The presenter suggests watching a fragment of the chronicle of May 1960. B/W Chronicle: the wreckage of the U-2 plane in the field, Soviet missilemen, Major Voronov, Captain Shvydko, Senior Lieutenant Feidglum, Lieutenant Bukin, Junior Sergeant Shuster.

Intro "How It Was".

Legasov Gennady Sergeyevich says that the fragments of the missile's warhead did not affect Powers, his plane began to fall apart, Powers jumped out with a parachute and landed on a field.

The host suggests listening to the memories of the residents of the village of Kosulino, who were the first to see the spy.

Chuzhakin Leonid says that he was driving a car and saw a parachutist in the sky.

Vasilyev Mikhail says that they helped Powers get up and led him to the car, sat him in the front seat as a guest, drove him to the village, and in the course of the conversation found out that he was an American.

Chuzhakin Leonid says that he received a call from Kirilenko Andrey, a member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee, at the state farm, that there was an American spy in the area.

Vasilyev Mikhail says how they communicated with Powers and subsequently handed him over to the authorities and lists the contents of the spy's pockets, including wads of Soviet money.

The host introduces Sergei Ivanovich Bozhkov to the studio, an employee of the KGB special department in 1960. Sergei Ivanovich Bozhkov says that he personally searched Francis Harry Powers, confiscated a pistol, Soviet money, a plate with coins minted during the tsarist era, material with information about Powers's identity, a pin and a needle.

Sergei Ivanovich Bozhkov talks about Powers's delivery to Moscow to the KGB building on Lubyanka and his report to Nikolai Fedorovich Chistyakov.

The host invites Nikolai Fedorovich Chistyakov to the studio, the head of the KGB Investigative Department under the USSR Council of Ministers.

Nikolai Fedorovich Chistyakov talks about the physical and moral condition of Francis Harry Powers and the involvement of Soviet investigators.

Nikolai Fedorovich Chistyakov talks about Francis Harry Powers's behavior during interrogations and his untruthful answers.

Chistyakov Nikolai Fyodorovich talks about the first reaction of Khrushchev Nikita Sergeyevich, who said that Powers should be hanged.

Chistyakov Nikolai Fyodorovich says that Powers was not touched even by a finger, no physical or psychological measures were used.

The host invites Lekarev Stanislav Valerievich, an expert on the Powers case, associate professor of the FSB Academy, to the studio.

Lekarev Stanislav Valerievich talks about the pin needle found on Powers, which was a self-destruct tool, and the conduct of an examination of the poison.

The host suggests watching a fragment of the newsreel "Our Land" 1960. B/W video: pistols of different models lie on the table, a document with the US flag and text, a photograph of Francis Harry Powers, a container with a poisoned pin, a device, a compass and a map of the area, people at an exhibition of exhibits of equipment of spies caught in the USSR, a poster Soviet warrior.

Chistyakov Nikolai Fedorovich speaks about the exhibition of exhibits of equipment of spies caught in the USSR. Chistyakov Nikolai Fedorovich speaks about the speech of Khrushchev Nikita at the exhibition of exhibits of equipment of spies caught in the USSR. Photo of Khrushchev Nikita.

The host speaks about the meeting of the heads of the USSR, USA, England and France in Paris on May 16, 1960, at which Khrushchev Nikita met with US President Eisenhower Dwight.

Sukhodrev Viktor Mikhailovich - translator of Nikita Khrushchev speaks about the official visit of Khrushchev Nikita to the USA and Khrushchev's mood at the meeting of Khrushchev Nikita with US President Eisenhower Dwight in Paris.

Sukhodrev Viktor Mikhailovich speaks about the speech of Khrushchev Nikita at the US residence in Paris and Khrushchev's demands to the USA. Viktor Mikhailovich Sukhodrev talks about the speech of the US President Eisenhower David in Paris and his refusal to conduct reconnaissance flights over the territory of the USSR. Viktor Mikhailovich Sukhodrev talks about the press conference of Nikita Khrushchev in Paris.

Intro "How it was".

Color chronicle: the press conference of Nikita Khrushchev in Paris, the audience applauds, journalists in the press center in front of the TVs, the audience applauds.

Viktor Mikhailovich Sukhodrev talks about the press conference of Nikita Khrushchev in Paris and the power outage in the conference hall and Khrushchev's reaction to the power outage.

The host talks about the open trial of Powers in the Columned Hall of the House of Unions.

B/W chronicle: Cars on the streets of Moscow, the building of the House of Unions in Moscow, people stand up from their seats in the hall, Powers in the dock, the chairman of the court speaks, people listen to the speaker, a view of the hall from a high point, the judge reads out the verdict to Powers.

The son of Powers Francis speaks, talks about his father, his sister, shows photographs, talks about the book written by Powers and the film.

The son of Powers Francis speaks, talks about his father's stories about the USSR and his father's death.

Ayvazyan Boris Grayrovich - Soviet fighter pilot of the USSR Air Force speaks about his career after the events of 1960 and the adoption of his son Safronov Sergei Ivanovich, a pilot shot down in 1960. The host says that on February 10, 1962 in Berlin on the Glienicke Bridge Powers, Powers Francis Gary were exchanged for Soviet intelligence officer Rudolf Abel.

The host says goodbye to the audience.