U-2: CIA’s First Cold War Spy Plane

In late 1954, President Eisenhower approved a top-secret project to build a reconnaissance airplane that could fly undetected and collect imagery on the status and disposition of Soviet military forces. The aircraft was designed by Clarence “Kelly“ Johnson and built at Lockheed Corporation’s “Skunk Works“ in just 18 months. Designated Utility-2 (U-2), it first flew over Moscow on July 4, 1956. To learn more about the CIA, visit the CIA Museum at