FBI report, Seattle, NORJAK investigation for period 7/23/73-11/23/73
Document date 29 November 1973
Also filed separately as sections:
- FBI Seattle public appeal circular re area involved and what to look for in NORJAK search
- FBI letterhead notice to hunters: area involved and what to look for
- FBI Seattle public appeal notice: area involved and what to look for
- FBI public circular to hunters and campers describing NORJAK area and what to look for
- Seattle report on NORJAK dated 11/29/73 with cover pages and details
- FD-204 report page, DETAILS, NORJAK investigation, Seattle
- FBI Seattle form letter to public re search area, what to look for and reward in the skyjacking
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Id: Cooper-Part-33:050-056
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-33:050-056 Document: FBI report, Seattle, NORJAK investigation for period 7/23/73-11/23/73 Id: Cooper-Part-33:050-056 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-33%3A050-056 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 33 pp. 50–56 (DB Cooper-12150–12156), Report, dated 29 Nov 1973 — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-33%3A050-056
FD-263 (Rev. 1-7-72) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
REPORTING OFFICE: SEATTLE OFFICE OF ORIGIN: SEATTLE DATE: 11/29/73 INVESTIGATIVE PERIOD: 7/23/73 - 11/23/73
TITLE OF CASE: UNSUB; aka, Dan Cooper; Northwest Airlines Flight #305 Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington 11/24/71
REPORT MADE BY: SA [REDACTED] b6 b7C TYPED BY: plw
CHARACTER OF CASE: CAA - HIJACKING; EXTORTION
[Handwritten signature: Sub GG]
REFERENCE: Seattle report of SA [REDACTED] dated 5/30/73. b6 b7C
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ADMINISTRATIVE
A code name for this case has been given by the Bureau as "NORJAK" and will be used in all communications.
The purpose of this report is to advise the Bureau of the pertinent investigation that has occurred since referenced report. Therefore, no copy has been designated for the United States Attorney's Office at Seattle.
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A COVER PAGE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS CLAIMED: [X] NONE CONVIC. | FUG. | FINES | SAVINGS | RECOVERIES | ACQUIT-TALS
CASE HAS BEEN: PENDING OVER ONE YEAR: [XX] YES [ ] NO PENDING PROSECUTION OVER SIX MONTHS: [ ] YES [X] NO
APPROVED: SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE DO NOT WRITE IN SPACES BELOW
COPIES MADE: 8 - Bureau (164-2111) 3 - Seattle (164-81)
Searched [handwritten] Serialized [handwritten] Ind. xed [handwritten] Filed [handwritten] 10/1-81 - 5070
Dissemination Record of Attached Report Agency Request Recd. Date Fwd. How Fwd. By
Notations
DB Cooper-12150
COVER PAGE
SE 164-81
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There are currently 677 suspects, 574 of whom have been processed and eliminated. New suspects are being developed and systematic elimination of these suspects continues. [handwritten interlineation: TABL: Replies PROC 25/VG] Some of the investigation reported herein has not been fully completed. All logical leads and investigation will be expeditiously conducted and subsequently reported; however, leads are not being set out in this report but rather are being set out by separate communications.
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[guess: TABL:] [guess: Replies] PROC [guess: 25/VG]
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B* COVER PAGE
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DB Cooper-12151
FD-204 (Rev. 3-3-59)
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
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Copy to:
Report of: SA [REDACTED] Office: Seattle b6 Date: 11/29/73 b7C
Field Office File #: 164-81 Bureau File #: 164-2111
Title: UNSUB, aka, Dan Cooper; Northwest Airlines Flight #305 [guess: 305] Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington 11/24/71
Character: CRIME ABOARD AIRCRAFT - HIJACKING; EXTORTION
Synopsis: Investigation has begun to determine if Unsub made a trial run prior to NORJAK to test his skyjack plans. Information concerning this matter is being made available to hunters and campers by the Washington State Game Wardens. All the appropriate pay phone booth records are being check to possibly determine if Unsub made a call on 11/24/71 after parachuting. File review continues at Seattle. ARMED & DANGEROUS.
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-P-
DETAILS:
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This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1970 O - 406-840
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DB Cooper 12152
164-81
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Unsub may have made a trial run prior to NORJAK to perfect his skyjack plan, therefore, leads were set out on 7/23/73 to determine the feasibility of obtaining passenger lists for all Northwest Orient Airline flights from Portland to Seattle during the period 11/10/71 to 11/23/71. If passenger lists of flights from Portland to Seattle for above described period can be obtained, then names on this list would be com- pared to NORJAK indices and other lists currently on file at Seattle, in order to possibly identify Unsub.
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Prior to the 1973 hunting season which began in October in the Pacific Northwest, information was disseminated concerning this matter to all Washington State Game Wardens responsible for the area to which Unsub parachuted. The Game Wardens are currently making this information available to all hunters they encounter in this area. As of 11/23/73, no positive results have been obtained. The information being made available to the hunters is as follows:
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DB Cooper-12153
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
In Reply, Please Refer to File No.
Seattle, Washington October 1, 1973
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Dear Sir:
On November 24, 1971, a man parachuted into the be- low described area with $200,000 in $20 bills. If, while camping or hunting, you should discover any evidence con- cerning this skyjacking please contact the nearest FBI Office.
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AREA INVOLVED
Bound on the west by US 5, bound on the south by the Columbia River, bound on the north by the Kalama River, and bound on the east by the Skamania - Clark County Line.
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WHAT TO LOOK FOR
1) The remains of a man, possibly dead for two years.
2) The remnants of a parachute, harness or parachute shroud lines.
3) 10,000 $20 bills wrapped in a parachute canopy, all serial numbers are known and can be identified.
4) Deteriorated raincoat or overcoat.
5) Small briefcase or attache case.
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REWARD
$25,000.00 total or 15% of any lesser portion of the ransom money that is returned has been offered by Northwest Orient Airlines.
If any information concerning this matter is discovered, it should be reported to the FBI Office at Seattle, Washington, area code 206, telephone MA. 2-0460 collect, or to the nearest FBI Office, which can be found by checking the front of your telephone directory.
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Very truly yours,
J. E. Milnes J. E. MILNES Special Agent in Charge
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3 DB Cooper-12154
SE 164-81
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On the premise that Unsub parachuted successfully into the previously calculated area of Southwest Washington, it is speculated he would have buried the ransom money and his parachute and then hiked to the nearest road or highway. From there, he would most probably have walked to the nearest phone to call a friend or relative for the purpose of being picked up.
Since all the homes in the drop area were checked and no strangers were reported in the area on 11/24-25/71, all the pay phones surrounding the calculated drop area within reasonable walking distance (ie 15 miles) were checked for long distance phone calls; (long distance is the only type of call which records can be obtained). A list was compiled of the numbers called from the pay phones on 11/24/71 and 11/25/71.
The records are not time correlated, however, based on the fact that the weather was cold and rainy during this period and the skyjacker jumped at approximately 8:11 PM on 11/24/71, more significance can be placed on calls made during the end of the day on 11/24/71 or during the beginning of the day on 11/25/71.
The names of all subscribers called during the above-mentioned time period were checked against NORJAK indices with negative results.
The Seattle file review currently in progress at Seattle continues. The purpose of this review is to determine if any new information of lead value can be developed. This review consists of an intensive serial by serial, subject by subject analyzation.
This file review, which commenced 8/3/72, has accomplished the following:
1. An intensive investigation has been conducted of the Boeing personnel involved in the 727 air stairs test with negative results.
2. A new color sketch has been made and disseminated. The purpose of the change to color was to shown Unsub's age and complexion more accurately.
3. Information concerning this matter has been made available to hunters during the 1972 and 1973 hunting seasons. All results to date have been negative, however, the remains of JAMES ANNIS, a hunter lost just prior to NORJAK, were found in the drop area as a direct result of this publicity.
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DB Cooper-12155
SE 164-81
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4. A reward of 15% of any ransom money returned or $25,000.00 total reward has been obtained through contact with of Northwest Orient Airlines.
5. Feasibility of conducting an aerial surveillance of the NORJAK flight pattern to locate any articles discarded by Unsub prior to jumping was investigated. This type search was determined not to be feasible.
6. A more accurate method of plotting of radar data of the NORJAK flight using a computer was utilized and a new search area was plotted. This new search area was searched with negative results.
7. A review was conducted of the magazine and news- paper articles written just prior to NORJAK in an attempt to develop information concerning how Unsub conceived his hijack plan. It was learned that approximately 12 days prior to NORJAK, the first skyjacking involving a parachute was attempted. Since this skyjacking was given a great deal of publicity at that time, it is felt Unsub may have used this event to help him formulate his skyjacking plans.
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b6 b7C
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5*
DB Cooper-12156