ASAC to SAC Seattle re media request for hijacking transcripts and photograph
This copy: Part 120 pp. 369–370Also filed at Part 39 pp. 97–99 (primary)
This copy’s own title
To SAC Seattle re declining to release hijacking tape transcripts and ransom serials
Document date 29 December 1976
Another copy of this document is the primary, most legible copy: Part 39 pp. 97–99.
Copies may differ in what was redacted.
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Id: Cooper-Part-120:369-370
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-120:369-370 Document: Memo to SAC Seattle re declining to release hijacking tape transcripts and ransom serials Id: Cooper-Part-120:369-370 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-120%3A369-370 What is wrong (title, date, type, which pages belong together, copies)? What does the scan show?
A person reads every report. Corrections are made by hand, to the data — titles, dates, names, which pages belong together — never to the scans, and they can take a while to appear.
FBI 164-81, Vault Part 120 pp. 369–370 (DB Cooper-55400–55401), Memo, dated 29 Dec 1976 — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-120%3A369-370
OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 JULY 1973 EDITION GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.6
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum
TO : SAC, SEATTLE (164-81) (P) DATE: 12/29/76
FROM : ASAC JOHN D. PRINGLE
SUBJECT: NORJAK
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Sue C [illegible cursive, possibly "Sms ?"]
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On 12/28/76, ASAC SEAN MC QUEENY, Portland Division, telephonically advised that the Bureau had authorized cooperation with the Allen Lansburg Productions in order that the firm could produce a 30 minute film based on captioned matter. MC QUEENY stated that the authorization included an interview of SA HIMMELSBACH who is the case agent in Portland, by the research crew as well as photograph him during the interview. MC QUEENY stated that they desired to get photographs of HIMMELSBACH at the Lake Merwin site and were proceeding to that area for these photographs and MC QUEENY was advising this office since the area is in the Seattle Division territory.
MC QUEENY advised that they would next be coming to Seattle to obtain additional information and one of the items they desired to see was the transcript made of the tapes between the control tower and the pilot at the time of the hijacking. MC QUEENY stated that the AUSA in Portland had refused to grant them permission to hear the actual tapes, but felt that they could be shown the transcripts of these tapes.
On 12/29/76, I was contacted by [REDACTED] Allen Lansburg Productions regarding this matter at which time he was advised that I had not received any approval from FBIHQ to furnish him with any information and [REDACTED] stated he would call back.
I then telephonically contacted FRANK ILLIG, External Affairs Division who advised that cooperation had been authorized to the extent that it would not interfere with the investigation or jeopardize any prosecution.
On 12/29/76, [REDACTED] appeared in the office at which time he advised he desired to review the transcripts of the tape of the conversation between the control tower and the pilot [REDACTED] and that he intended to use portions of these tapes in the
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JDP/tcs (3) [image: small illustration of an eagle/seal figure, lower-left corner] [illegible cursive signature, possibly "Flief" or "Fliet"] [handwritten, partially struck through: "(64-8)-9308" or similar] SEARCHED [illegible] SERIALIZED [illegible] DEC ? 1976 SAC [cursive signature, illegible]
Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan
5010-110 DB COOPER-55400
SE 164-81
program of the reenactment, with pictures being taken from the control tower at Sea-Tac airport. He stated that they would clearly state in the film that this was a reenactment and was not the actual tapes obtained at the time of the hijacking and would only use certain portions of the trans- cripts.
I told [REDACTED] that I felt that I could not let him see the transcripts inasmuch as they were transcribed not from the original tapes, but from tapes dubbed off the originals as the original would be used as evidence in court and some of the transcriptions were not clear and the transcripts were only being used for investigative purposes. I told him I felt that this could possibly jeopardize the case and prior to letting him see the transcripts would have to clear it with FBIHQ.
I then telephonically contacted DAVE DIVAN, Exter- nal Affairs, and told him of my reluctance to furnished these transcripts and the reason and he concurred.
[REDACTED] was then advised I would be unable to furnish him with this information or allow him to see the transcripts. He stated he understood the reasoning behind this.
[REDACTED] also requested that the names of the banks who furnished the $200,000 be furnished him so he could photograph the various branches and point out various banks in the Seattle area that had furnished funds for the ransom. I told him I would be unable to furnish him the names of the banks without the individual banks' concurrence and since I did not know their names it would necessitate a file review as the case agent was presently on annual leave out of the State of Washington. [REDACTED] made no further request regard- ing the names of the banks. He also advised that he would like to have a copy of a photograph which appeared in one of the reports which photograph was shown to him by the Portland Office. This photograph consisted of three different pictures of the rear door of a 727 open with a sled approximating the weight of D. B. COOPER being pushed out the door. I advised him I did not know if we had the negatives to this picture since this photograph was taken by another Government agency.
2
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DB COOPER-55401
Serials: SE 164-81