SA Reese H. Chipman to SAC Seattle re back pack parachutes furnished to hijacker and overnight calls

OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 MAY 1962 EDITION GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.6 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum

TO : SAC, SEATTLE DATE: November 25, 1971

FROM : SA REESE H. CHIPMAN MEMO / NO 1

SUBJECT: UNSUB: NORTHWEST FLIGHT 305, NOVEMBER TWENTY FOUR, 1971. CAA - HIJACKING ; EXTORTION.

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The following investigation was conducted by SA CHIPMAN to identify and obtain descriptive data concerning the two back pack chutes which were delivered to the hijacker:

At 12:25 AM contacted [REDACTED] Boeing Flight b6 Service at [REDACTED] (Business tel RO-2-2554). b7C He advised the two small chest packs were obtained at Issaquah, and were brought to the Air Freight Terminal by the WAshington State Patrol. [REDACTED] observed them when they were in the vehicle in which he transported all of the chutes and the money to Sea-Tac Airport.

He described the chest pack chutes as being in containers about 15 inches long, 8 inches wide and eight inches thick.

The two back pack chutes which he observed , but did not examine closely, appeared to be in ordinary military olive drab green containers, approximately two to three feet long, 15 to 18 inces wide. To the best of his knowledge they did not have emergency bleepers.

At 2:00AM contacted [REDACTED] b6 [REDACTED] who advised he had talked with one [REDACTED] Pacific b7C Aviation, Boeing Field, in oder to secure Chutes (RO-2-2554. [REDACTED] indicated the back pack chutes were obtained from [REDACTED] (PH) [REDACTED] Wn. Tel No [REDACTED]

At 2:50AM [REDACTED] advised the two back pack chutes were b6 [REDACTED] to deliver them b7C to Boeing Flight Service. [REDACTED] described the two back pack chutes as follows:

Number One: Civilian luxury type, tan soft Cotton material outside, 26 ft white canopy inside. Has a military chute inside of it. One or two burp sack in folds. Has foam pad cushion, and a frayed mark down the rib on the back, from rubbing on metal.

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164 -- (2) - CC-Seeb.D. one

C-o-n-t.

164-81-83 SEARCHED INDEXED SERIALIZED FILED NOV 2 5 1971 FBI - SEATTLE [signature]

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[partially legible circular routing stamp]

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Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan 5010-108 DB Cooper-1747

p-2

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Number two: Military back pack chute, standard military olive drab green on outside. 28 foot white canopy on inside, two burp sacks in back. Foam pad cushion.

Both packs had lead seals which had not been pulled. Seal embedded in lead, and may have confidential number, such as riggers number.

These packs were assembled [redacted] Tel [redacted] said [redacted] Sky Sports, at the small airfield just west of Issaquah, Tel EX-2-3050, and could furnish exact data concerning the two chutes, including any serial numbers.

[redacted] can positively identify both of the above mentioned back pack chutes. He expressed the opinion it would be very hazardous to jump form a 727 at night.

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At 2:20AM ASAC from Las Vegas called and advised they have had numerous inquiries from the press, and gave the anser that when the plane landed at Reno, no one other than the crew was found aboard, and that investigation is being conducted to identify and locate the hijacker. He said the plane will leave Reno at 9:00AM 11/25/71 to return luggage to Seattle

He said it was indicated to him from SAC in RENO, that a check should be made with respect to one [redacted]. [redacted] who may be a goood suspect, possibly the hijacker. He did not have the reasons why this individual might be suspect.

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At 2:25AM [redacted] Division 6, Bureau telephoned and advised he had just had a call from SAC CAMPBELL from Reno, Nev. CAMPBELL reportedly advised two bright orange chutes were missing from the plane; also no trace was found of the attache case or any wiring etc. The plane was dusted for latents. [redacted] said he would call Portland and advise them. The information that two bright orange chutes were missing from the plane is not clear, in view of the descriptive data we have on the four chutes.

SA CHIPMAN telephoned SA [redacted] duty Agent of Portland Office and furnished him descriptive data concerning the chutes.

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At 4:40AM, BBC, British Broadcasting Corp, London called for information. It was learned they already had about the same information as the press in USA. They were advised the same as ASAC Las Vegas indicated he was telling press. Also inquiries from NBC News, New York, and CBS News Chicago. They were only informed we had no further information to release at this time.

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SEARCHED _____ INDEXED _____ FILED _____ NOV 25 1971 FBI - SEATTLE

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DB Cooper-1748

P-3

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At 5:00AM [REDACTED] residing [REDACTED] Wn.. Tel [REDACTED] telephoned and advised that [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and is of the opinion that if an individual jumped out of a forward door, he would probably be sucked into the engines, and that if he jumped out a rear door, the back blast from the engines might kill him. He said the pilot should know immediately if one of the doors is opened by a warning light in the cockpit.

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Article in the Seattle PI, Page A2, contains Photo of [REDACTED] [REDACTED] in commenting about Passengers aboard the plane.

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Numerous attempts were made to telephonically contact [REDACTED] at his residence Tel [REDACTED] but no one answered.

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At 6:00 AM telephoned Sky Sports, Issaquah Airfield, EX 2-3050. and he advised CORRECT NAME IS [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and may show up today. He said [REDACTED] was [REDACTED] the Chest Chutes which were given to State Patrol to deliver.

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He was advised to have [REDACTED] immediately contact this office if and when he shows up today. He had no idea where [REDACTED] would be if not at home. He said he would advise [REDACTED]

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LEAD: Seattle EX 2-3050

Will interview [REDACTED] and obtain detailed descriptive data concerning the two back pack chutes, and any additiaonal data he may be able to furnish concerning the two front chest chutes.

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RHC (2)

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DB Cooper-1749

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b6 b7C