Interview of Eugene Leroy Watson, Phoenix

FD-302 (REV. 11-27-70)

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SW[illegible] 7 [illegible] Date of Transcription 4-23-74

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1

EUGENE LEROY WATSON, 2615 Airlane, was advised of the identity of Special Agent [REDACTED], and of the purpose of the interview which was to secure information concerning his general background and whereabouts on or about November 24, 1971, in conjunction with a current investigation involving the hijacking of a Northwest Airlines flight out of Portland, Oregon, on November 24, 1971. He then furnished the following information:

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WATSON stated he is presently residing at the Scottsdale Roadrunner Trailer Park located at 1149 North 92nd Street, Scottsdale, Arizona. He advised that his mailing address is 2615 Airlane, Phoenix, Arizona.

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WATSON stated that he is the owner of the Phoenix Aviation Company located at the Airlane address which consists of a Piper Cub dealership which includes charters, construction, rentals, leases, sales, and the maintenance and repair of aircraft. He advised that he also has a financial interest in a recreational railroad located in Chama, New Mexico. He advised that he normally spends his summers during the recreational season in Chama. He stated that he had in the recent past owned an interest in the Coherent Radiation Company in Palo Alto, California. He has since disposed of his interest in that firm but is in the near future planning on going with the Diax Company which is located in Sunnyvale, California.

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WATSON furnished the following description and background information:

Race White Sex Male Height 6'1" Weight 185 lbs. Hair Brown (graying) Eyes Blue Born December 31, 1927, Sacramento, California Social Security Account Number 570-30-3218

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Interviewed on 4-18-74 & 4-19-74 Phoenix, Arizona

by: SA [REDACTED] /dpm Date dictated 4-19-74

[Stamps: SEARCHED INDEXED] [Serial: Phoenix 164-4[illegible]] FBI SEATTLE [Handwritten notations: 16Y-81-60[illegible], Sub-87]

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

DB COOPER-45299

PX 164-100 REL:dpm 2

Marital Status [REDACTED b6/b7C]

[REDACTED b6/b7C]

Education High school graduate, San Francisco, California; three years at University of San Francisco (did not receive a degree)

Military Service 1945-1946, Naval V-5 Program (college training program) for naval aviation; 1952-1955, in Army as radar officer

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WATSON stated that he had received no parachuting experience during his military training in either the Navy or Army. He began flying in March, 1970, in Phoenix, Arizona. He has a private flying license which enables him to fly single and multi engine land (SMEL).

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WATSON stated that he lived in the Seattle, Washington, area when he was eight years old for one year. He advised that the only other time he had returned to that part of the country was recently when he returned to Garfield, Washington, for the purpose of buying bridge timber for his recreational railroad in Chama, New Mexico.

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WATSON advised that it was his belief that he spent Thanksgiving, 1971. [REDACTED b6/b7C] Jerome, Arizona, [REDACTED b6/b7C] currently lives in Jerome but works a great deal of the time in California. WATSON advised that [REDACTED b6/b7C] could be contacted through telephone number [REDACTED b6/b7C].

WATSON stated that he believes that [REDACTED b6/b7C] may have had Thanksgiving dinner with them in Jerome that year. However, he stated that the [REDACTED b6/b7C] may have moved to the State of Alaska by this time.

PX 164-100 REL:dpm 3

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WATSON advised that he smokes Larks cigarettes, is // not now nor has ever been an alcoholic, does not subscribe to a safe deposit box and does not have any arrest record other than having received traffic tickets in the past.

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WATSON stated that he would be more cooperative in this matter and would review his canceled checks and credit card receipts to verify his whereabouts on or about November 24, 1971. He stated that he would also make arrangements to secure a current color photograph of himself for the FBI.

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On April 19, 1974, WATSON telephonically contacted the Phoenix office of the FBI and furnished the following information

He stated that a review of his pilot's log reflected that on November 24, 1971, he flew to Santa Ana, California, alone for the purpose of contacting [REDACTED b6/b7c] of Newport Skyways located at the Orange County Airport. After conducting his business with [REDACTED], WATSON flew back to Phoenix later that evening.

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WATSON advised that his pilot's log also indicated that on November 25, 1971, he [REDACTED b6/b7c] flew to the residence of his father, HENRY L. WATSON, in Yucca Valley, California, which is located near Palm Springs, California. He stated that he [REDACTED] then had Thanksgiving dinner with his father [REDACTED] who presently resides in Whittier, California. [REDACTED block].

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DB COOPER-45301