SA to SAC Seattle re Secret Witness smoke jumper theory, with attached tip letter
This copy: Part 17 pp. 51–54Also filed at Part 17 pp. 47–50 (primary) · Part 104 pp. 151–154
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SA to SAC Seattle re Secret Witness smoke jumper theory (file copy), with attached tip letter
Document date 15 December 1971
Another copy of this document is the primary, most legible copy: Part 17 pp. 47–50.
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Id: Cooper-Part-17:051-054
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-17:051-054 Document: Memo SA to SAC Seattle re Secret Witness smoke jumper theory (file copy), with attached tip letter Id: Cooper-Part-17:051-054 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-17%3A051-054 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 17 pp. 51–54 (DB Cooper-4877, DB Cooper-4880), Memo, dated 15 Dec 1971, serial SE 164-81-1427 (as read from the transcript) — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-17%3A051-054
OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 MAY 1962 EDITION GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.6 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum
TO : SAC, SEATTLE (164-81) DATE: 12/15/71
FROM : SA [REDACTED]
SUBJECT: NORJAK
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Attached is information furnished by [REDACTED] [REDACTED] the SEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER which information was received by him under the POST INTELLIGENCER Secret Witness Program.
JSD:klb
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164-81- 1427 SEARCHED _____ INDEXED _____ SERIALIZED ___ A __ FILED __ A __ DEC 1 6 1971 FBI — SEATTLE
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Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan
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DB Cooper-4877
Your hijacker - A "smoke jumper" probably, whose I.D. might be in the personnel files of District 6, U.S.D. Ag, Portland. A person probably who had done some jumping, fits the general description, and was seen in company of a person who claimed to have piloted a 727 on several missions to drop "personnel and supplies" and who had jumped from a 727 "in training we all jumped. It was a hell of a thrill," who could have inadvertently or deliberately given the technical information. He, the pilot, would have to have been an employe of the C.I.A. or one of its private companies. To have known "smoke jumpers" he might also have flown for the USDA during fire season.
When I first saw the sketch of the hijacker, my reaction was "I have seen that man." Then I said aloud, "impossible." But on later recall, I believe yes - it fits the pattern.
Flight 45, Northwest 727, Monday, September 13. "The Pilot" got on at Miles City. Stewardess put a "Seattle" pin on the back of the seat. He did not occupy the seat after Missoula, and the stewardess removed the pin after Sand Point.
At either Missoula or Sand Point, four persons got on with this "pilot," who caused quite a commotion by their identical dress.
The man directly behind me objected violently, and asked "what the hell's going on." And that is when I am sure I looked into a face similar to the one in the sketch, as he replied -
(more)
"knock it off. We each purchased one seat - and that's all you bought." One of the others murmured a word which I thought might be "paratroopers" but probably was "smoke jumpers." The man apologized.
The voice was about two to three notes below normal. Even and pleasant. And even the words, "knock it off" had no rasp or harshness.
The costumes were totally black. Leather or shiny plastic. The coats hung from shoulders to knees, straight without any form fit. The caps were a half-kepi. Instead of a bill the right edge was twisted into an upright piece in the middle of the forehead. All wore the type glasses in the sketch. At the hinge, the earpiece was wide, but of a lacy pattern. No part of the eye visible.
Two of them sat in the back seat left. The "pilot" said to the others to come up front, and he would "arrange" so they could sit together, and talk. So I got a height comparison. The pilot about 5' 10". The next one 6' 1" or 6' 2" and slim, slim. The third man 5' 11" or 6', and broader.
Questions---
1. Is there a military specialty center, or hospital at Sand Point - for either survival training, jumping or recuperation?
(more)
2. I am told there is no Dept. of Ag. smoke jumpers camp at Sand Point, but [redacted]ere are at least four in [redacted]ntana and Idaho, all of whose personnel records are at Portland.
3. I think I recall an article on Smoke Jumpers, where it described the outlandish costumes some units adopted.
4. If the C.I.A. or its companies used a 727 for personnel drops why keep it classified information? If they have, the Chinese intelligence would certainly have known it by now. How many pilots or jumpers have returned to private life?
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DB Cooper-4880
Serials: SE 164-81, SE 164-81-1427