SAC Seattle to SAC Albany re artist's conception and summary of Flight 305 hijacking with description and leads
Document date 30 November 1971
Also filed at: Part 53 pp. 429–432
Copies may differ in what was redacted.
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Id: Cooper-Part-08:017-020
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-08:017-020 Document: Memo SAC Seattle to SAC Albany re artist's conception and summary of Flight 305 hijacking with description and leads Id: Cooper-Part-08:017-020 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-08%3A017-020 What is wrong (title, date, type, which pages belong together, copies)? What does the scan show?
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FBI 164-81, Vault Part 8 pp. 17–20 (DB Cooper-16), Memo, dated 30 Nov 1971 — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-08%3A017-020
OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 MAY 1962 EDITION GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.6 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum
TO : SAC, ALBANY DATE: November 30, 1971
FROM : SAC, SEATTLE (164-81)(-P-)
SUBJECT: UNKNOWN SUBJECT, aka Dan Cooper; NORTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT #305, PORTLAND TO SEATTLE, 11/24/71 CAA - HIJACKING; EXTORTION OO: SEATTLE BUfile 164-2111
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Enclosed for each office is one artist's conception of the captioned subject. The Bureau is preparing a circular for field-wide circularization concerning captioned case and will include an artist's conception of the hijacker. The Bureau has been asked to prepare a sketch showing the unknown subject without glasses. Additional distribution will be made from time to time to parachute clubs, flight instruction schools and airports, etc., in an effort to identify the unknown subject which undoubtedly will result in various field divisions receiving calls on this case.
For the assistance of all offices in conducting investigation and to evaluate complaints from citizens, the following information is furnished:
The unknown subject boarded captioned flight at Portland, Oregon, using the name DAN COOPER. As the plane was taxiing toward the runway, Stewardess [REDACTED b6/b7c] occupied the seat reserved for the stewardesses on the right side of the plane and behind the last row of passenger seats. The unknown subject, who occupied the center seat in the last row of three seats, turned and handed her an envelope which she did not open for a few minutes until he glanced at her several times. She then opened the envelope and read the enclosed note which said: "Miss - I have a bomb here and I would like you to sit by me." At this point Stewardess [text cut off, continues on next page]
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2 - All Offices (Encl 1 [guess: each]) 3 - Seattle (164-81) CEF:klb
[HANDWRITTEN/STAMP: 164-9/-7 (partially illegible)] SEARCHED INDEXED SERIALIZED FILED DEC 2 1971
[REDACTED block b6/b7c at right margin]
Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan DB Cooper-16
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[REDACTED b6/b7C] came toward the rear of the plane and [REDACTED b6/b7C] handed [REDACTED] the note. [REDACTED] then called the pilot on the intercom.
Stewardess [REDACTED b6/b7C] then sat next to the hijacker who opened a black attache case and showed her what he said was a bomb. She described the contents of the attache case as a bundle of red sticks, which she believed was dynamite. The bundle consisted of six or eight red colored sticks approximately six to eight inches long with no writing on the outside. The hijacker was holding in his hand a wire which lead to the bundle of sticks and indicated that he could detonate the bomb by touching the wire to a contact. Also in the attache case was a cylindrical shaped battery about eight inches long.
At first the hijacker asked for $200,000 and two parachutes.
After [REDACTED b6/b7C] left her stewardess seat and gave the note to [REDACTED b6/b7C] sat beside the hijacker who, after showing the contents of the attache case, told her to, "Take this down." From her purse she obtained a pen and note pad and he dictated the following message:
"I want $200,000 by 5:00 PM in cash. Put it in a knapsack. I want two back parachutes and two front parachutes. When we land, I want a fuel truck ready to refuel. No funny stuff, or I'll do the job."
At the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in answer to his demands, the hijacker was provided with the four parachutes and $200,000 in 20 dollar bills in a canvas bank bag. When the plane landed at Seattle at 5:45 PM (PDT) he instructed Stewardess [REDACTED b6/b7C] to go after the money which she did. He opened the bag; inspected the money and then told them that the passengers as well as the two other stewardesses could leave the plane. They did deplane. The remaining crew members were the three male members of the flight crew as well as Stewardess [REDACTED b6/b7C]
[REDACTED b6/b7C] then made several trips out of the plane to obtain the parachutes which she brought to the subject.
The hijacker instructed that he be flown to Mexico City and also told the pilot that he wanted the plane flown at not more than 10,000 feet with the flaps at 15 degrees, the landing gear down and the rear steps of the plane also down. The plane involved was a Boeing 727, a Tri-jet with stairs at the rear which lowered for passengers. The hijacker finally
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agreed to having the steps raised and a flight plan was arranged from Seattle to Portland and down south to Red Bluff, California and then to Reno, Nevada for refueling.
The plane departed Sea-Tac with the three crew members in the cabin and [REDACTED] in the rear with the hijacker. Within minutes after take off at 7:36 PM, the hijacker had the stewardess show him how to lower the steps and he then ordered her to go to the first class section which she did, and she then continued on to the cabin.
At 8:05 PM the captain was in touch with the hijacker by the intercom. This was the last communication he had with the hijacker. Just prior to this communication, the captain had a signal indicating that the stairs had been lowered. At 8:12 PM, the captain experienced "oscillation" in the plane and thought perhaps the hijacker had departed the plane.
Air Force fighter planes were escorting the craft but because the 727 was flying at 170 knots, the fighter jets were too fast. Further, the weather was overcast and visibility extremely low.
When the plane arrived at Reno, the hijacker was gone and two of the parachutes were still in the airplane. The attache case also was not in the plane and has not been found.
Extensive search of the southwestern part of Washington State, which was indicated by the 8:12 PM oscillation, has been conducted but with negative results to date.
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Subject is described as follows:
Race: White Sex: Male Age: Mid 40s Height: 5'10" to 6' Weight: 170 to 180 lbs. Build: Average to well built Complexion: Olive, Latin appearance, medium smooth
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Hair: Dark brown or black, normal style, parted on left, combed back, Sideburns, low ear level Eyes: Possibly brown. During latter part of flight, put on dark wrap-around sun- glasses with dark rims Voice: Low, spoke intelligently; no particular accent, possibly from Midwest section of the United States Characteristic: Heavy smoker of Raleigh filter tip cigarettes Wearing Apparel: Black or brown suit; white shirt; narrow black tie; black rain-type overcoat or dark top coat; dark briefcase or attache case; carried paper bag 4"x12"x14"; brown shoes
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Leads should be set forth by telephone or teletype and, to facilitate handling at Seattle, each incoming communication should be sub-captioned with the name of the suspect.
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THIS INDIVIDUAL IS BEING SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXTORTION OF $200,000 FROM NORTHWEST AIRLINES BY THREATENING THE CREW OF THE AIRLINE WITH A PACKAGE WHICH HE STATED CONTAINED A BOMB. HE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS.