Gary Powers Jr. will discuss how Virginia played a central role during the Cold War. With doomsday planning operations underway for WWIII, the location of the Pentagon and CIA established Virginia as an epicenter of decision-making. As Virginia military bases readied for a potential surprise attack by the Soviet Union, local research facilities played a paramount role in the space race. The shoot-down of U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers created a superpower crisis of epic proportions. Session type: Forum · Interests: History — Skyfarer is not affiliated with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) or EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. This session is listed for informational purposes from the official AirVenture 2026 schedule. Times and locations can change during the event — verify on the official session page: https://events.rdmobile.com/Sessions/Details/3527273