Interview re allegation that John D. Cooper, Sr. is the hijacker

FD-302 (REV. 3-10-82)

- 1 -

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription 2/7/92

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[REDACTED] [handwritten text, partially illegible: [guess: 1/30 - 7- In 93/41 , /0 0/4]] date of birth [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Golconda, Illinois, telephone [REDACTED] advised he also receives mail at [REDACTED] Mt. Vernon, Illinois, [REDACTED] was advised as to the identity of the interviewing Agent and the nature of the interview, and provided the following information:

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[REDACTED] advised that although he uses [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Golconda, Illinois, and telephone [REDACTED] that he is rarely at that address. [REDACTED] is currently residing in Mt. Vernon and currently has no telephone at his current address. [REDACTED] stated that if anyone needs to get a hold of him again, it would be easiest to send a letter to his [REDACTED] in Mt. Vernon, and he would get back to them as soon as possible.

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[REDACTED] contacted the FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI), Carbondale, Illinois, on January 28, 1992, and requested an Agent meet with him as soon as possible. [REDACTED] met with Agents to discuss the possible identity of D.B. COOPER who hijacked an airplane in the early 70's. [REDACTED] stated that he believed [REDACTED] JOHN D. COOPER, SR., date of birth January 7, 1928, was the person who hijacked the airplane and identified himself as D.B. COOPER. Although [REDACTED] does not have any solid physical evidence linking [REDACTED] to the hijacking, [REDACTED] did state that [REDACTED] admitted to him that he had hijacked that airplane. [REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] was a member of the 101st Army Airborne Unit and was also a Green Beret. [REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] served in Vietnam and also was an Airborne instructor. In addition, [REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] was a snow ski instructor as well as a winter survival instructor. After COOPER, SR. retired from the military in 1966, he purchased a ranch near Ten Sleep, Wyoming, and continued to live there until he moved to Canada somewhere in the area of 1974 or 1975. [REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] is still living in Canada and owns a 1,100 acre of cattle farm in Canada. The value of this farm, according to [REDACTED] is approximately to $800,000 to $900,000.

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Investigation on 1/30/92 at Mt. Vernon, IL File # 164A-81-9102

SA [REDACTED] & by SA [REDACTED] GHC/bbs Date dictated 1/31/92

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. DB COOPER-48420

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SEARCHED......INDEXED...b6 SERIALIZED......[illegible] -b7C FEB 1 4 1992

FD-302a (Rev. 11-15-83)

164A-31

Continuation [REDACTED] f [REDACTED] , On 1/30/92 , Page 2

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[REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] who would have been COOPER, SR.'s father, visited COOPER, SR. around the time that the plane had been hijacked. At this time, COOPER, SR. was not at his residence and no one seemed to know what happened to him. After a few weeks, COOPER, SR. returned to his home but refused to answer his door even to his father. [REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] related to him that COOPER, SR. had been seen inside of his house sitting in a rocking chair with a rifle in his lap. [REDACTED] stated that this is very peculiar due to the fact that [REDACTED] never locked his doors and had no reason not to talk to his father.

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Although [REDACTED] has not spent a great deal of time with [REDACTED] he visits him often and on one such visit, [REDACTED] had told [REDACTED] that he had been questioned by the FBI with regards to the hijacking. [REDACTED] proceeded to ask [REDACTED] why the FBI would be questioning him about this hijacking. [REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] at this time confided in him and stated that he had been the one who hijacked the airplane. The time period when COOPER, SR. confided in [REDACTED] was either 1984 or 1985. [REDACTED] has no idea why [REDACTED] would use the initials D.B. [REDACTED] advised that [REDACTED] was named WAYNE BURGESS and his [REDACTED] was AILEEN COLLINS.

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[REDACTED] provided the following information with regards to [REDACTED]

Place of Birth: Hot Springs, South Dakota Height: 5'7" - 5'8" Build: Stocky (Pot belly) Weight: 180 pounds Eyes: Green Hair: Thinning Tattoos: On both forearms, but faded Miscellaneous: Blind in one eye.

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[REDACTED] advised that [REDACTED] owns several guns, but he does not believe he uses them very often. [REDACTED] also feels that [REDACTED] may have assisted him in the hijacking. [REDACTED] name was [REDACTED] however, [REDACTED] does not know what [REDACTED] was. [REDACTED] further advised that [REDACTED] is

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DB COOPER-48421

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FD-302a (Rev.11-15-83)

164A-31

Continuation [REDACTED], On 1/30/92, Page 3

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still currently a U.S. citizen and draws a military retirement as well as social security. [REDACTED] also visits the United States occasionally, but due to the fact that [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] are not on speaking terms, he is unaware of when [REDACTED] will be visiting the United States. [REDACTED] provided an address for [REDACTED] which is General Delivery, Progress, B.C., V0C2E0, telephone #604-843-7660.

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[REDACTED] stated that his reasons for coming forward at this time are personal and he would prefer not to release them at this time. [REDACTED] stated that if anyone could pull off such a hijacking, it would be [REDACTED] also stated that other members of [REDACTED] suspect [REDACTED] of being the hijacker, but no one in [REDACTED] has solid evidence. [REDACTED] concluded by saying that if he learns anything further with regards to [REDACTED] he would contact the FBI as soon as possible.

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DB COOPER-48422

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b6 b7C