Interview of suspect at Alabama International Speedway, Talladega (BH 164-35)

FD-302 (REV. 11-27-70)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription 8/12/75 Sub Q

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[REDACTED] also known as [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Decatur, Georgia, was located for interview at the Alabama International Speedway, Talladega, Alabama. At the outset [REDACTED] was advised of the identity of the interviewing Agent and told that the proposed interview concerned statements attributed to [REDACTED] concerning [REDACTED] knowledge of the hijacking of the Northwest Airlines Flight No. 305 at Portland, Oregon, on November 24, 1971.

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[REDACTED] stated that he was at the Alabama International Speedway at this time for the purpose of [REDACTED] [REDACTED] appeared extremely nervous and after hearing the details of those statements attributed to [REDACTED] while he was in Mansfield, Ohio, [REDACTED] volunteered that he would just tell [REDACTED]

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[REDACTED] explained that he recalled sharing a room in Mansfield, Ohio, with an Akron, Ohio police officer, whose name [REDACTED] was unable to recall. [REDACTED] further explained that he was in Mansfield, Ohio, the races held there during the latter part of May or first of June of 1975, and at the race track had met this individual. During conversation this individual mentioned that he was unable to locate a motel room and [REDACTED] had voluntarily offered to share his room.

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Following that day's race, [REDACTED] went out for a few drinks and upon returning to [REDACTED] room [REDACTED] found this police officer watching television. [REDACTED] stated that a discussion insued between he and this individual concerning several topics, two of which [REDACTED]

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164-81-1652

Interviewed on 8/9/75 at Talladega, Alabama

by SA [REDACTED] mes Date dictated 8/12/75

SEARCHED _____ INDEXED _____ SERIALIZED [REDACTED] FILED [REDACTED] AUG 28 1975 FBI — SEATTLE

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. DB Cooper-13774

2

BH 164-35

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[REDACTED] stated that he was unable to recall exactly what had triggered the conversation [REDACTED] unless it had been something on the television.

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[REDACTED] related that while he recalled talking about how the individual involved in the hijacking of the airplane would have needed a background in parachuting and aeronautical engineering [REDACTED] emphatically denied that he ever mentioned the name [REDACTED] stated that he did serve in the special forces with a (First Name Unknown) [REDACTED] was not particularly close with this individual and had not had any contact with this [REDACTED] since having been released from service. [REDACTED] stated that also this was the first time he had ever heard the name of [REDACTED] stated that he did not know the name used by the individual hijacking airlines when he registered for the flight.

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Further [REDACTED] stated that he never said anything during this conversation at Mansfield, Ohio about anyone contacting him [REDACTED] to assist in any type of job. [REDACTED] stated he vaguely recalled that during the conversation [REDACTED] discussed with the party sharing his room several ideas [REDACTED] had for a novel and one of these ideas included the use of special forces in the overthrow of a country. [REDACTED] admitted that during this conversation he might have stated that a special forces trained man could have committed the sky jacking and probably bragged about the fast training which includes parachute training that special forces troups receive in the U. S. Army.

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[REDACTED] again emphatically denied having ever been contacted by anyone by the name [REDACTED] since [REDACTED] had been released from the service and stated that he has no reason to suspect [REDACTED] or anyone else in this hijacking of the Northwest Airlines plane. [REDACTED] stated that he was at a loss to understand why this individual with whom he shared a room at Mansfield, Ohio, would have attributed these statements to him.

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DB Cooper-13775

3

BH 164-35

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[REDACTED] who [REDACTED] stated and was observed to [REDACTED] that he had been the victim of a spectator accident on [REDACTED] while working at the Savannah, Georgia International Speedway. This accident resulted in

[REDACTED]

[REDACTED] stated that he was 100% certain that the date of [REDACTED] and that he was almost positive the year of [REDACTED] If not, [REDACTED] stated that it would be no problem whatsoever to verify his whereabouts' on November 24, 1971, through business records he maintains at his residence in Decatur, Georgia.

[REDACTED] voluntarily suggested that he be permitted to take a lie detector test to verify his above statements and stated he would gladly do so if it was deemed necessary.

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The following detailed descriptive data was obtained through observation and interview:

Name [REDACTED] Alias Race White Sex Male Date of birth [REDACTED] Place of birth [REDACTED] Height 6'2" Weight 190 pounds Hair Brown, kinky, curly, worn moderately long Eyes Brown and wearing thick lensed glasses Address [REDACTED] Decatur, Georgia Georgia Driver's License [REDACTED]

4 BH 164-35

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Military Service Claims to have served from [REDACTED] through [REDACTED] in the U.S. Army under Service No. [REDACTED] and further claims to have been trained as Special Forces including training in parachuting

Marital Status [REDACTED] Decatur, Georgia

Veteran Administra- tion No. [REDACTED] b6 Occupation [REDACTED] b7C

[REDACTED] Atlanta, Georgia

Pilots License No. [REDACTED]

Arrest record [REDACTED]

Education Claims to have completed 12th grade Relatives Claims that he does not know the current whereabouts

Banking affiliation [REDACTED] voluntarily provided information that he has [REDACTED] from the National Bank of Georgia

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DB Cooper-13777

5 BH 164-35

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[REDACTED - b6/b7C] with the C & S Home Mortgage Company of Atlanta, Georgia. Prior employments Claims to have worked for the Plantation Pipe Line Company, Port Neches, Texas, for approximately 8 months on release from the military; then claims to have returned to Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked with Southern Bell Telephone Company [REDACTED - b6/b7C] then worked for Olivetti Underwood Type- writer Company of Atlanta, Georgia [REDACTED - b6/b7C] claims to have then [REDACTED - b6/b7C]

has been employed ever since.

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Personal observations of [REDACTED] disclosed that [REDACTED - b6/b7C] did not smoke, walked with [REDACTED] and wore uncommonly thick lens glasses and a full facial beard. [REDACTED] was well mannered and conversant in several areas of conversation as he conversed with this Agent.

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DB Cooper-13778

6

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BH 164-35

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At the conclusion, [REDACTED] volunteered that he would have a certain amount of respect or admiration for any individual who could pull off a sky jacking of this type as "no one really got hurt" and the man responsible managed to elude apprehension. Also during the interview the published ransom figure was mentioned wherein [REDACTED] replied that he was sure the ransom amount was a figure much higher but that the true amount would not be admitted to or made available for publication. [REDACTED] made an oral observation that he was sure the ransom figure was closer to one half a million dollars.

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b6 b7c

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DB Cooper-13779