Pittsburgh to Director and field offices re NORJAK suspect Richard A. Armstrong
Document date 25 June 1980
Also filed at: Part 96 pp. 371–378
Copies may differ in what was redacted.
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Id: Cooper-Part-71:002-009
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-71:002-009 Document: Teletype Pittsburgh to Director and field offices re NORJAK suspect Richard A. Armstrong Id: Cooper-Part-71:002-009 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-71%3A002-009 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 71 pp. 2–9 (DB Cooper-30234–30241), Teletype, dated 25 Jun 1980 — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-71%3A002-009
PGUWU5 1/1W5202 RR. HQ CE PD SE SL BA WFO DE PG R 250320Z JUNE 80
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FM PITTSBURGH (164-93) (P) TO DIRECTOR (164-2111) ROUTINE CHARLOTTE ROUTINE PORTLAND ROUTINE SEATTLE ROUTINE ST. LOUIS ROUTINE BALTIMORE ROUTINE WASHINGTON FIELD ROUTINE BT UNCLAS
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New Sub files Subject: Richard A. Armstrong SUB 0 [illegible initials]
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ATTENTION: LEGAL ATTACHE UNIT AND LATENT FINGERPRINT SECTION SECTION 1 OF 2 NORJAK (A), (OO: SEATTLE) ON JUNE 23, 1980, PARKERSBURG, WV, RA, RECEIVED ANONYMOUS TELEPHONE CALL FROM WHITE FEMALE, WHO STATED SHE HAD SEEN D.B. COOPER STORY IN PARKERSBURG NEWSPAPER AND THAT RICHARD ARMSTRONG WHO RESEMBLES ARTIST CONCEPTION OF COOPER, IS RESIDING AT BICKEL TRAILER COURT (BTC), PARKERSBURG, WV. SHE STATED ARMSTRONG IS SINGLE, UNEMPLOYED, POSSESSOR OF NEW CADILLAC AND HOUSE TRAILER.
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b6 b7C SUB U [guess: Sub4]
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DB Cooper-30234
b6 b7C b7D
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PAGE TWO, PG 164-93 UNCLAS ON JUNE 24, 1980, COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPH OF COOPER WAS SHOWN [REDACTED] (PROTECT IDENTITY), [REDACTED] WHO SAID ARMSTRONG RESEMBLED COOPER. [REDACTED] FURTHER ADVISED THAT ARMSTRONG HAD LIVED AT BTC FOR TWO WEEKS AND THAT HE WAS EMPLOYED AT DU PONT, WASHINGTON, WV, BY EDENFIELD ELECTRIC COMPANY (EEC). ON JUNE 24, 1980, [REDACTED] (PROTECT IDENTITY), [REDACTED] EEC, WAS SHOWN COMPOSITE AND HE, TOO, STATED THAT ARMSTRONG RESEMBLED COOPER. ON JUNE 24, 1980, [REDACTED] ( PROTECT IDENTITY), [REDACTED] DU PONT, ADVISED HIS RECORDS INDICATE ARMSTRONG HAD BEEN OFF WORK SINCE MAY 19, 1980, BUT HAD APPARENTLY RETURNED TO EEC ON JUNE 23, 1980. REASONS FOR ARMSTRONG'S ABSENCE NOT INDICATED.
ON JUNE 24, 1980, ARMSTRONG WAS INTERVIEWED AT HIS HOUSE TRAILER AND IMMEDIATELY THE INTERVIEWING SA SAW A SIMILARITY BETWEEN COOPER AND ARMSTRONG WITH THE ONLY DIFFERENCES BEING AGE AND HEIGHT. 1971 WITNESSES DESCRIBED COOPER AT 5'10" TO 6'0", WITH AGE IN MIDDLE FORTIES. ARMSTRONG IS 5'7", AND 43 YEARS OF AGE. IT WAS NOTED AT FIRST APPEARANCE THAT ARMSTRONG HAD A TATTOO ON HIS LEFT ARM WITH LETTERING "U.S. PARATROOPER". MOREOVER, ARMSTRONG INDICATED DURING THE INTERVIEW A KEEN INTEREST IN THE COOPER MATTER.
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DB Cooper-30235
PA3 5#433 0&164-93 UNCLAS
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HE SAID HIS INTEREST RESULTED FROM EARLY NEWS REPORTS THAT COOPER MAY HAVE BEEN A PARATROOPER. ARMSTRONG ASKED POINTED QUESTIONS OF SA SUCH AS, HAD ANY LATENT PRINTS BEEN OBTAINED AND HE WAS INTERESTED TO KNOW IF COOPER HAD, IN FACT, PARACHUTED INSTEAD OF HIDING SOMEWHERE IN THE PLANE. ARMSTRONG ADMITTED THAT HE HAD MADE 30 JUMPS WHILE IN THE U.S. PARATROOPERS SOME OF WHICH WERE FROM PLANES FLYING 300 MILES PER HOUR. HE STATED THAT ALTITUDE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEM FOR ANY SKILLED PARACHUTIST.
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ARMSTRONG MUST BE CONSIDERED A SUSPECT, UNTIL HE IS ELIMINATED, BECAUSE OF HIS SIMILARITY TO THE COMPOSITE OF COOPER, HIS U.S. PARATROOPER SERVICE, HIS ADMITTED USE OF DYNAMITE AND HIS UNEMPLOYMENT AT THE TIME OF THE SKYJACKING, NOVEMBER 24, 1971.
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ARREST RECORDS OF ARMSTRONG AT PARKERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WOOD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, PARKERSBURG, ARE NEGATIVE.
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ARMSTRONG PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING BACKGROUND INFORMATION CONCERNING HIMSELF:
NAME RICHARD A. ARMSTRONG, SEX MALE, RACE WHITE, $DOB AUGUST 3, 1937, POB HIGH POINT, NC, RESIDENCE BICKEL TRAILER COURT, PARKERSBURG, TWO WEEKS, FORMER RESIDENCE NO. 5, LOT 31, EIGHTH AVE., PARKERSBURG, WV, HEIGHT 5'7", WEIGHT 165, EYES GRAY, GLASSES
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DB Cooper-30236
PAGE FOUR PG 164-93 UNCLAS
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YES, BUILD MEDIUM, HAIR DARK BROWN, THIN, RECEDING HAIRLINE, VOICE INTELLIGENT, SLIGHT SOUTHERN ACCENT, COMPLEXION OLIVE, TATTOOS RIGHT FOREARM, HEART WIHH MOM IN CENTER AND DAD UNDERNEATH, LEFT FOREARM, AIRBORNE EMBLEM WITH U.S. PARATROOPER UNDERNEATH, OCCUPATION ELECTRICIAN, EMPLOYMENT 1974-1980 EDENFIELD ELECTRIC COMPANY, WASHINGTON, WV, 1974(LATE) ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL UNTION (EWLU), NUMBER FIVE, BEAVER, PA, 1974(EARLY) EWLU, NUMBER 653, TAMPA, FL, 1973 EWLU, NUMBER THREE, NEW YORK CITY, NY, 1972 EWLU, VINEYARD, NJ, 1971 (EARLY) EWLU, NUMBER 24, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 1971 (LATE) UNEMPLOYED, STAYED WITH MOTHER VERA P. ARMSTRONG, 1470 NASHVILLE HIGHWAY, THOMASVILLE, NC, 1967-1971, EWLU, ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, 1961-1967, U.S. ARMY, ENTRY ON DUTY JUNE 10, 1961, DATE OF DISCHARGE JUNE 30, 1967, ARMY SERIAL NUMBER US52523651, RANK PFC, POSITION 90 MILLIMETER GUNNER (TANK), NUMBER OF PARACHUTE JUMPS 30, 1957-1961 CONSTRUCTION WORKER AT ERNEST HARMON, AIR FORCE BASE, STEPHENVILLE, NEWFOUNDLAND. HE HAD U.S. GOVERNMENT LICENSE TO USE DYNAMITE. PASSPORT INFO: 1957 TO NEWFOUNDLAND, 1980 APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT TO SAUDI ARABIA, FATHER GEORGE ARMSTRONG, SR. (DECEASED), MOTHER VERA P. ARMSTRONG, 1470 NASHVILLE HIGHWAY, THOMASVILLE, NC, TELEPHONE 919-883-2388,
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DB Cooper-30237
PAGE FIVE 164-93 UNCLAS
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BROTHERS: [REDACTED] WARREN, OH, 8SISTERS: [REDACTED] LAKE MILTON, OH, [REDACTED] TRINITY, NC, [REDACTED] TRINITY, NC, HIGH POINT, NC, [REDACTED] GREENSBORO, ,;, MARITAL STATUS DIVORCED (TWICE), [REDACTED] [REDACTED] ELIZABETH, PA, . [REDACTED] WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN, PARKERSBURG, WV, [REDACTED]
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WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN, SSAN 247-52-1113, AUTOMOBILE 1977 CADILLAC, TWO DOOR HARD TOP, BROWN IN COLOR, WEST VIRVINIA DRIVERS LICENSE C320748, HEALTH: ARMSTRONG ADVISED HE HAD A DRINKING PROBLEM IN EARLY 1970'S, ARRESTS: TWO PUBLIC DISTURBANCE ARRESTS IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, HABITS SMOKES ONE AND HALF PACKS OF CIGARETTES A DAY.
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THE BUREAU IS REQUESTED THAT LEGAT, OTTAWA, CONDUCT ARREST CHECKS AT ERNEST HARMON AIR FORCE BASE, STEPHENVILLE, NEWFOUNDLAND.
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DB Cooper-30238
PAGE
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SIX PG 164-93 UNCLAS ARMSTRONG OBTAINED PASSPORT TO GO TO NEWFOUNDLAND IN 1957. ALSO, [guess: INE] HAD A U.S. GOVERNMENT LICENSE TO HANDLE DYNAMITE. WILL COMPARE MILITARY FINGERPRINTS OF ARMSTRONG WITH LATENT FINGERPRINTS IN THIS MATTER. CHARLOTTE, AT HIGH POINT, NC. WILL CONDUCT ARREST CHCKS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. AT THOMASVILLE, NC, WILL CONDUCT ARREST CHECKS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. WILL INTERVIEW ARMSTRONG'S MOTHER, VERA P. ARMSTRONG, 1470 NASHVILLE HIGHWAY, RE SUBJECT'S 1971 UNEMPLOYMENT AND RESIDENCE WITH HER, SINCE NORJAK OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 24, 1971, AND ARMSTRONG ADVISED THAT HE WAS AT HIS MOTHER'S HOME AT THAT TIME, ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A PHOTO OF SUBJECT AND FORWARD TO SEATTLE, PORTLAND AND PITTSBURGH. PORTLAND, AT PORTLAND, OREGON. WILL PROVIDE PG WITH UPDATED INFORMATION IN CAPTIONED MATTER. SEATTLE, AT SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. PROVIDE PG WITH UPDATED INFO IN CAPTIONED MATTER. ST. LOUIS, AT ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. AT NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER, (CIVILIAN RECORDS) REVIEW FILE ON ARMSTRONG FOR HIS PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT AT U.S. AIR FORCE BASE, ERNEST HARMON,
BT
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DB Cooper-30239
PG0006 1770327Z RR HQ CE PD SE SL BA WFO DE PG R 250327Z JUNE 80 TSBURGH (164-93) (P) TO DIRECTOR (164-2111) ROUTINE CHARLOTTE ROUTINE PORTLAND ROUTINE SEATTLE ROUTINE ST. LOUIS ROUTINE BALTIMORE ROUTINE ATTENTION: LEGAL ATTACHE UNIT AND LATENT FINGERPRINT SECTION SECTION 2 OF 2 NORJAK (A), (OO:SEATTLE)
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DB Cooper-30240
PAGE SEVEN PG 164-93 UNCLAS
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STEPHENSVILLE, NEWFOUNDLAND, 1957-1961. AT FEDERAL RECORDS CENTER, 9700 PAGE BLVD., REVIEW U.S. ARMY RECORD OF ARMSTRONG, ASN 52523651 FOR PERIOD 1961-1967. OBTAIN PHOTO AND FORWARD TO SEATTLE, PORTLAND AND PITTSBURGH. WASHINGTON FIELD, AT WASHINGTON, D.C. AT DEPARTMENT OF STATE, PASSPORT OFFICE, REVIEW FILES ON ARMSTRONG REGARDING HIS PASSPORT GRANTED TO NEWFOUNDLAND IN 1957. ALSO REVIEW FILE FOR HIS APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT TO SAUDI ARABIA DURING 1980. OBTAIN PHOTO AND FORWARD TO SEATTLE, PORTLAND AND PITTSBURGH.
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BALTIMORE, AT ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND. CONDUCT ARREST CHECKS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ARMSTRONG'S TWO ARRESTS IN EARLY 1970.
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PITTSBURGH, AT PARKERSBURG, WV. WILL ATTEMPT TO LOCATE [REDACTED] FOR INTERVIEW. ARMSTRONG SUGGESTED ON JUNE 24, 1980, THAT SHE HAD PROBABLY CONTACTED THE FBI IN THIS MATTER.
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ARMED AND DANGEROUS. BT
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b6 b7C
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DB Cooper-30241