SAC New Orleans to SAC Seattle re source identifying Edwards from Cooper composite sketch

FD-36 (Rev. 2-14-74)

F B I

Date: July 14, 1976

Transmit the following in _______________ (Type in plaintext or code)

Via AIRTEL _______________ (Precedence)

TO: SAC, SEATTLE (164-81)

FROM: SAC, NEW ORLEANS (164-136) - P -

NORJAK OO: Seattle Bufile: 164-2111

[handwritten, upper right, partially illegible: "Sub-833"] [handwritten, near FROM line, partially illegible: "Subj: [guess: Jerry] S. [guess: Edwards]"]

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On 7/13/76, [REDACTED], Alexandria, Louisiana, telephone [REDACTED] who advised he is employed at Pineville-Kraft, Pineville, Louisiana, telephone 318/445-8241, furnished the following information to SA JOHN A. PFEIFER:

In 1971, when the artist conception was published of the unknown subject using the name D. B. COOPER in captioned sky-jacking, he had been struck by a strong resem- blance the subject had with a classmate of his at Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1951. He identified this fellow officer as JERRY S. EDWARDS, a white male, age 46-49 years, who, according to notes he has on the officer candidate class, lived in 1951 at Post Office Box 45, North Fairfield, Ohio. He knows that EDWARDS definitely graduated with the class in 1951, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U. S. Army, and may have attended paratrooper school following graduation. [REDACTED] did attend paratrooper school at that time, but has no notes or independent personal recollection that EDWARDS also attended paratrooper school. He was not a close friend of EDWARDS and had no other word, that he can recall, about his later activities. He has no notes showing EDWARDS' serial number or other identifying information.

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(2) - Seattle 2 - Cincinnati 2 - WFO 2 - New Orleans JAP/mjb (8)

[handwritten, above distribution list, partially illegible: "RETURN AFTER SERIALIZING PLS"] [handwritten number, right of stamp box: 164-81-7048] [handwritten, right margin near stamp: "Sub-833"]

[stamp box:] SEARCHED ___ INDEXED ___ SERIALIZED ___ FILED ___ JUL 17 1976

Approved: _______________ Sent _______ M Per _______ Special Agent in Charge

GPO : 1975 O - 590-992

DB COOPER-55190

NO 164-136 JAP/mjb

He dismissed the idea of EDWARDS possibly being D. B. COOPER, but in the last few days, he happened to take out his personal records, again found the artist conception, and took the time to compare the artist conception with the 1951 photograph he has of EDWARDS. His opinion is that there is a "remarkable resemblance" between the two even though he is aware his photograph was taken about twenty years before the event in captioned case.

He is aware of one other member of his officer candidate class, and this man is Colonel [REDACTED], U. S. Army. According to [REDACTED] who lives at [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Alexandria, [REDACTED] plans to retire from the Army in the very near future and settle in the Shreveport, Louisiana, area.

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LEADS:

SEATTLE

AT SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. Advise New Orleans if the 1951 photograph of EDWARDS is desired at this time as well as any further efforts to locate and interview Colonel [REDACTED].

CINCINNATI [handwriting, illegible]

AT FAIRFIELD, OHIO. Attempt to further identify EDWARDS, determine his location, and a more recent photograph for display to witnesses. If possible, attempt to eliminate him as a suspect. If this cannot be done, his social security number and date of birth should be ascertained so that he can be located through current rolls of the Army or from personnel records maintained at St. Louis.

WFO [handwriting: ALEXANDRIA]

AT WASHINGTON, D.C. Through U. S. Army sources, attempt to identify EDWARDS and determine if he is currently on active duty, where he is located, and obtain a recent photograph of him for display to witnesses.

NEW ORLEANS

AT ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA. Will obtain photograph of EDWARDS from [REDACTED] and direct copies of same to those offices prescribed by Seattle.

ARMED AND DANGEROUS

2* DB COOPER-55191