SAC El Paso to SAC Albuquerque re parachutist suspect with special forces background

12/17/71

[redacted] AIRTEL [illegible handwritten]

TO: SAC, ALBUQUERQUE FROM: SAC, EL PASO (164-52) w/ [guess: Transmittal] - Las Cruces, New [guess: Mexico] SUBJECT: NORJAK

OO: SE

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[redacted] El Paso, b6 Texas, residence telephone [redacted] business phone [redacted] b7C furnished the following information telephonically to SA VINCENT J. ASCHERI of the EP Office on 12/16/71.

[redacted] Las Cruces, New Mexico, located at [redacted] b6 [redacted] In this capacity during 1967 or 1968, he was associated b7C to a degree with an individual who he stated was capable of perpetrating the hijacking violation involved in this case. [redacted] did not recall the name of this individual, but his suspicions are based on the following circumstances:

About five or six weeks ago [redacted] b6 were eating at la Posta Restaurant in Mesilla, New Mexico, which b7C is directly south of Las Cruces. While in the restaurant he noticed the suspect referred to above sitting at a table with another individual described as a white male, hippie type. Both were looking at the map and when they observed [redacted] and apparently when suspect recognized [redacted] he immediately moved to a table far removed to the other side of the restaurant.

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2-Albuquerque [crossed out: 2-Seattle] 2-El Paso

VJA:mt (6) 161-81-1471 b6 [illegible initials] b7C

DB Cooper-4960

EP 164-52

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The suspect was further described as a very odd individual, who was possibly living outside his means, and was a parachute jumper having jumped both in special forces and as a hobby on weekends.

[REDACTED] has known this individual for several years but he does not recall his name. Information concerning his identity can no doubt be obtained from the [REDACTED] Las Cruces, where the suspect himself was a commander of a detachment at that location in 1967 or 1968. Another commander at the same location at the same time was a [REDACTED] who presently is believed to be a [REDACTED] at Las Cruces.

[REDACTED] also, it is believed, could identify the suspect. [REDACTED] believes that the suspect resides in Las Cruces and may himself be connected with New Mexico State University in Las Cruces at the present time. Suspect was in military service in the Korean War and possibly in World War II. He is described as:

Race White Sex Male Nationality American Age 35-40 Weight 160 Height 5' 10"

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[REDACTED] had not seen the suspect since 1968, with the exception of the above encounter in the restaurant at La Posta in Mesilla, described above.

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LEADS

ALBUQUERQUE

AT LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO:

Will interview appropriate [REDACTED] Las Cruces, to ascertain the identity of the commander who operated one of the detachments out of this address in 1967-68. According to [REDACTED] there were two commanders at this location, one being [REDACTED] and the other being the suspect in this case.

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DB Cooper-4961

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2

EP 164-52

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Will attempt to locate and interview [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Las Cruces, for any information pertaining to the suspect of possible assistance to this investigation.

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AT ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO:

If identity of suspect ascertained, will obtain photograph of this individual for submission to witnesses who observed the actual hijacker for identification or elimination purposes.

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CONSIDER UNKNOWN SUBJECT DANGEROUS.

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3

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DB Cooper-4962

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b6 b7C