Changing History Willy-Nilly

Fast and Loose

Some years ago I read an article claiming  that the U-2 was not shot down from an altitude of 70,000 feet - by a Russian SAM.  This of course was at odds with the story that Soviets used SAM technology we didn't know they possessed.  This article claimed that, most probably, his engines shut down, and he was brought down only after descending to denser air at a lower altitude. I read it and moved on. A few days ago the Hitler Channels ran a documentary about the Cold War.  One that, out of the blue, included that very Gary Powers-U2 scenario. The Soviets had Powers tracked from the moment he entered their air space, but had no way of shooting him down from 70,000 feet.  Powers suffered a flame-out.  He descended to 60,000 feet, then 50,000, until finally getting a restart at 30,000 feet.  Bam. He was nailed by a Russian SAM. So much for the stories that turncoats, like Lee Harvey Oswald, or John Walker, had given the Soviets information that allowed the shoot-down.  What's nagging me is how this new "history" is being released.  Willy-nilly.  No explanation for why they, the government, allowed the public to believe that the Russkies had more advanced technology than they actually did (wink-wink). Nope, just drop that turd on the bridle path, and canter off. Very untidy, that.