Charlotte insert (CE 164-101) re interviews concerning Raleigh Harden, serial 164-81-6503

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The following investigation was conducted by Special Agent CHARLES A. MC DOUGAL:

On February 4, 1975, ROBERT B. SPIVEY, President, Lea Lumber Company, Windsor, North Carolina, advised he is acquainted with RALEIGH HARDEN, the Manager of the Tri-County Airport, Hertford County, North Carolina. He further stated that he has recently completed flying lessons and that HARDEN was his instructor for these lessons. During the interview, SPIVEY furnished the following information concerning his knowledge of RALEIGH HARDEN:

SPIVEY was shown artist conception of the hijacker who used the name DAN COOPER. After studying these photographs, SPIVEY advised that these photographs do not bear much resemblance to RALEIGH HARDEN. SPIVEY advised that HARDEN is a small man, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs 135 pounds, in his mid-40's, and is a white male. He advised that HARDEN is a Caucasian and does not have Indian or Negro facial characteristics and is fair complected.

HARDEN does smoke, however, Mr. SPIVEY does not know which brand or what hand he smokes with. He believes that he does consume alcoholic beverages because of past references of same made during conversations. He knows that HARDEN was in the military service and a helicopter pilot and that he was in Vietnam and is currently retired from the military service. HARDEN operates the Tri-County Airport in Hertford County, North Carolina, and is an instructor for pilot training. He also has the dealership for Cessna Aircraft at this Tri-County Airport. In conversation with HARDEN, HARDEN has said several times that if it had not been for his military pension, he would not be able to make financial ends meet. To the knowledge of Mr. SPIVEY, HARDEN has not sold any planes as yet. He owns a farm or woodland in the area of the Tri-County Airport, and has mentioned building a home on it in the future. He knows that HARDEN has been married [redacted] with HARDEN.

b6 b7C

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Sub 684 Sub J [illegible squiggle]

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Sub 684 164-81-6503 SEARCHED _____ INDEXED _____ SERIALIZED [guess: 21] FILED [illegible] [illegible date stamp, possibly FEB 24 1975] [illegible] [initials/signature] DB COOPER-53540

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[redacted box covering portion of text preceding 'with HARDEN.']

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SPIVEY described HARDEN as: semi-humorous, engages in light conversation, and is friendly and has an outgoing personality. He advised that he does intersperse his conversation with curse words. His accent is somewhat regional leading SPIVEY to believe that he may originally be from this general area. HARDEN dresses casually, usually with a sweater or light windbreaker, slacks and a sports shirt. HARDEN is a flying enthusiast and this is the topic of most of his conversations. HARDEN's voice is medium pitched, and not low.

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Records of the Department of Motor Vehicles, North Carolina, as checked through the Police Information Network (PIN) System, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, reflect the following for RALEIGH LEE HARDEN:

Address Woodland, North Carolina North Carolina license Number 2369301 Sex Male Race White Date of Birth December 6, 1930 Date operator's license issued November 27, 1972 Date operator's license expires December 6, 1976

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On February 4, 1975, Miss GWEN HAWKS, Register of Deeds, Hertford County, Winton, North Carolina, advised that Military Discharge Record Book Number 4, contains a copy of military discharge, recorded in the book on October 10, 1973, for RALEIGH LEE HARDEN. His service number is W 908 047, his Social Security Number is 228-34-8632, and he was in the United States Army and held the rank of CW4. He retired from Fort Eustis, Virginia, after 21 years of service, honorable discharge, on February 28, 1970. His date of birth is shown as December 6, 1930, Woodland, North Carolina. His home of record at the time of entry into the military service was 2700 Grandy Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia. His specialty number and title were 100-B RW Pilot.

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DB COOPER-53541

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This record continues by recording decorations, medals, badges, etc., and is as follows:

Army Occupation Medal; National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Army Aviators Badge; Senior Army Aviators Badge; Army Commendation Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with three serivce stars; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Bronze Star Medal; Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters; Army Commendation with one oak leaf cluster.

This record further reflects his military education and training completed; United States Army Aviation School; 1955 - 22 weeks; Aircraft Helicopter Pilot Course, 1964 - 6 weeks; Sixth Wing Qualification Course, United States Army Transport School, 1967; Aviation Maintenance Course, 1967 - 2 weeks; Faculty Development Course, Fourth USA Instructor Pilot Training School, 1961 - 2 months; Instructor's Trainig Course, United States Aviation School, 1964; CV-2 Pilot Training Course.

His permanent address was shown as 307 Chestnut Street, Woodland, North Carolina.

On March 13, 1975, [REDACTED b6 b7C] Aulander, North Carolina, advised as follows:

[REDACTED] stated that he is acquainted with RALEIGH HARDEN, Manager and Pilot Instructor, Tri-County Airport, Hertford County, North Carolina. [REDACTED] advised he, himself, is retired from the Federal Aviation Administration, having spent most of his career in Alaska, and retired to the Hertford County area approximately three years ago. [REDACTED] to the Tri-County Airport. [REDACTED] was shown photographs of artist conception of the hijacker, which occurred on November 27, 1971, and who gave the name of DAN COOPER. Upon observing these artist conceptions, [REDACTED] advised that they do not look like RALEIGH HARDEN. [REDACTED] noted that HARDEN is a small man, being approximately 5 feet 6 inches or 5 feet 7 inches tall, small build and weighing approximately 130 - 140 pounds. His hair appears to have been brown but is turning gray and is receding at his forehead. [REDACTED]

DB COOPER-53542

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advised that he has had a number of conversations with HARDEN over the past three years. During this time he has learned that HARDEN has purchased a farm and wooded area near the airport and that this is mortgaged land. He also has the Cessna Airplane concession at the airport as well as pilot instructors training. [redacted] believes that HARDEN has been having some financial difficulty as he has frequently commented that he is able to get along on his military retirement pay. [redacted] advised that HARDEN's voice is a medium pitched voice and that he has apparently a regional accent. He intersperses curse words during his conversations. [redacted] advised that HARDEN's appearance does not indicate any Latin or Indian characteristics.