Interview of source re Richard M. Worden and hijack plan discussions, Burley, Idaho

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

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Sub 469

8/7/72 Date of transcription ___

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[REDACTED] residence [REDACTED] Burley, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] b6, b7C, b7D [REDACTED] never discussed the matter with anyone nor did he reduce the matter to writing.

On [REDACTED] he entered the U.S. Army at Seattle, Washington, and was assigned to [REDACTED] He was stationed at several bases throughout the Southern United States during his first year in the service, one of which was Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he received training as a [REDACTED] [REDACTED]

During the latter part of [REDACTED] he was assigned to Okinawa with the [REDACTED] Also assigned to this same organization was RICHARD M. WORDEN, who was from Illion, New York, and believed to have lived on Kent Boulevard in Illion. WORDEN apparently entered the service in New York State prior to [REDACTED] and he had also gone through training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and was a Demolition Specialist MOS 121.13.

WORDEN and [REDACTED] became close friends and were together on Okinawa for approximately six months or until WORDEN went to Vietnam. After approximately one year WORDEN returned from Vietnam and was again stationed at Okinawa up to the time [REDACTED] left in [REDACTED] He is believed to have signed up for another hitch in the service after returning from Vietnam.

[REDACTED] estimated he was around WORDEN approximately one year and recalled WORDEN related to him how WORDEN and two buddies, about one year prior to WORDEN entering the service, stole a safe in or near Illion, New York, that contained $90,000.00. Further, the method they used in removing the safe from the building was so unique that it took the police one week to deter- mine how it had been done. The safe was removed from the premises and blown open as one of WORDEN's buddies was experienced in the

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164-81-3687 BF #264-[guess: 25][REDACTED] 469 Interviewed on 7/26/72 at Burley, Idaho SEARCHED __ S. INDEXED __ SERIALIZED __ ARE FILED __ SA GEORGE E. LEE and by SA JACK S. NEWELL/imw:GEL Date dictated AUG 25 1972 FBI - SEATTLE

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.

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[REDACTED] one of those two [illegible] [REDACTED] b6 [REDACTED] a service station in Ilion, New York, and WORDEN b7C also had worked in a service station prior to entering the b7D service.

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WORDEN told [REDACTED] that the money from the safe burglary was buried; however, he did not indicate where, but presumably some place near Ilion, New York.

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WORDEN also told [REDACTED] that he and his two buddies b6 stole many motors from Cadillacs on the street and had the b7C system worked out to where they could remove a motor in from b7D three to five minutes. At times they would sit back and watch the owner attempt to start his car. Many of the motors were not sold, but dumped some place just as a prank.

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[REDACTED] stated he first mentioned the hijacking to WORDEN after WORDEN asked [REDACTED] to give him a problem to figure out.

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They then discussed the hijacking plan that [REDACTED] b6 had thought of earlier and whether or not it would work. b7C Their original plan was to obtain a flight that would have b7D very few people on it. Also gas would be used to knock out the passengers and crew with one or more of the hijackers capable of taking over the controls of the airplane. [REDACTED] suggested the northwestern United States, pointing out there were numerous open places where a jump could be made with no problems. Their jump would be made at night from a height of 10,000 feet. Further, they talked of asking for a $200,000.00 ransom; however, they never discussed how it would be gotten aboard the aircraft, such as landing at an auxiliary field after radioing ahead. They discussed furnishing their own parachutes instead of having them provided with the ransom. The plan also called for the jump to be made without the crew of the aircraft knowing when it took place. An accomplice on the ground with a vehicle was discussed as part of the plan. No other aircraft was mentioned in their plan. The fewer people involved as participants of the hijacking the better.

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[REDACTED] said no cities in the northwest were mentioned b6 and no specific landing area was selected. Also, they never b7C b7D

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discussed any particular airline as their victim. He estimated they discussed the hijacking about four different times of periods of thirty minutes or less.

One of their problems was to determine in advance that a plane on a particular flight would not have very many people on board. Further, after additional consideration they realized that the only jet aircraft in use at that time had side doors and a jump from a side door would be too dangerous. In view of this, they "bagged" the idea and did not feel it could be carried out safely.

[REDACTED] said that WORDEN was the only person he has ever discussed the hijacking plan with and never with any of his other military buddies.

[REDACTED] insisted that this is as far as he went with this plan; however, he feels WORDEN has the nerve and is shrewd enough to plan and carry out a hijacking. Definitely WORDEN had not told [REDACTED] he intended to carry through on the plan; however, he could have decided after the 727 came into existence.

[REDACTED] said he has not seen or heard from WORDEN in any manner whatsoever since he, [REDACTED] left Okinawa in early [REDACTED] and thereafter received his discharge at Oakland, California, [REDACTED] He added that WORDEN was in Okinawa when he left; however, he presumed he later came to Oakland and was dis- charged if he did not sign up for another hitch. Further, [REDACTED] held the rank of [REDACTED] at the time he received his dis- charge and WORDEN Spec-5 when [REDACTED] left Okinawa.

[REDACTED] furnished his own Army serial number as [REDACTED] and description as follows:

Date of Birth [REDACTED] Height 6' Weight 190# Hair Brown Eyes Brown Marital Status Single Education 2½ years (1 year University of Idaho, 1½ years Idaho State)

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b6 b7C b7D

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Employment He has worked for the UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD, Pocatello, Idaho, for one and one-half years as a [REDACTED]. He has been b6 employed by SPENCER'S b7C OFFICE SUPPLY, 1340 [guess: Overland] b7D Avenue, Burley, Idaho, [guess: for] the past six months as [REDACTED]

Parents [REDACTED] Heyburn, Idaho [REDACTED]

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[REDACTED] denied any criminal background and insisted he b6 [REDACTED]'s never been [REDACTED] b7C b7D

He pointed out that he was reluctant to come forward with the above information, inasmuch as he will have this action on his mind the rest of his life if WORDEN is responsible for the hijacking and is located and convicted. He also added that he owes a great many bills and desires to return to college to obtain his degree.

Further, if the information that he has furnished is pertinent and leads to the solution of this crime and there are any rewards he definitely is interested in receiving them.

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[REDACTED] described WORDEN as follows: b6 b7C Race White b7D Sex Male Age 29-31 Height 5'9" - 5'10" Build Slender Hair Brown

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Eyes — Brown, no glasses Marital Status Single Army Serial # 12562191

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