U-2: The Plane That Nearly Started World War III

In this episode of History Ignited, we soar into the high-stakes world of Cold War espionage to uncover the story of the U-2 spy plane.

Designed to fly at altitudes once thought unreachable, the U-2 was the pinnacle of secret intelligence—until the world held its breath in 1960. We’ll break down:

• The engineering marvel behind the "Dragon Lady."
• The dramatic shoot-down of pilot Francis Gary Powers over Soviet territory.
• How a single plane nearly pushed two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war.

Join us as we explore the shadow war in the skies and the incident that changed international diplomacy forever.

Send us Fan Mail

About History Ignited:
History Ignited is the award-winning kids and family history podcast inspired by Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire. Each short episode explores the real stories behind the people, events, inventions, and cultural moments that shaped the world from the 1950s through the 1980s. Winner of the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.