Interview re Robert Hugh Cooper, Sr. as possible NORJAK suspect

FO-302 (REV. 3-8-77)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription: May 2, 1980

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[REDACTED], commonly known as [REDACTED], [REDACTED], Apex, North Carolina, [REDACTED] home telephone number [REDACTED], work telephone number [REDACTED], appeared at the Raleigh, North Carolina, Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) where she was advised of the official identity of the interviewing agent and thereafter furnished the following information:

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[REDACTED] said a few evenings ago, she was watching a television program entitled "In Search of" and viewed a composite photograph of a man being sought for the hijacking of an airplane about ten years ago in the Northwestern United States. [REDACTED] stated the program stated the man used the name "D. B. COOPER" and parachuted out of the airplane. [REDACTED] said the composite photograph resembled her [REDACTED] ROBERT HUGH COOPER, SR.

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[REDACTED] said that on [REDACTED] ROBERT HUGH COOPER, SR. at Pueblo, Colorado, which is [REDACTED] [REDACTED] said she first met COOPER during July, 1961, while they both were [REDACTED] in Pueblo, Colorado. [REDACTED] said [REDACTED] on March 14, 1962, and that [REDACTED] advised that in January or February, 1962, she and [REDACTED] moved to Parker, Arizona, where they both [REDACTED] which was owned by [REDACTED] said [REDACTED] was older than COOPER and looked after COOPER [REDACTED] advised that the [REDACTED] lived in Tucson, Arizona.

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[REDACTED] stated [REDACTED] in Parker, Arizona, she returned to Pueblo, Colorado, for a short while before taking a job in Northern California. [REDACTED] said she worked for [REDACTED] California, as a [REDACTED] at various [REDACTED] in the Northwestern United States. [REDACTED] stated COOPER visited her at some of the [REDACTED] [REDACTED] in 1963.

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[REDACTED] stated she last saw COOPER in 1963 in Yuma, Arizona, where he was in jail, probably on a bad check charge. [REDACTED] said she visited COOPER in jail and later saw him on the street there where he told her he had been released.

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Investigation on 5/1/80 at Raleigh, N.C. File # CE 164-219 - 3

by SA THOMAS M. MILLER Da[te dictated] 5/1/80

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.

ORIGINAL & 5 to Seattle 5/2/80 (2)

DB Cooper-43767

CK 164-219 2

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[REDACTED] stated that shortly after [REDACTED] COOPER showed her a [REDACTED] and told her that she should [REDACTED] and threatened her with physical harm if she were to do so. [REDACTED] said she did [REDACTED] when COOPER was not around and found contained therein a number of photographs showing COOPER in airplanes with parachutes on his back. [REDACTED] said she never knew COOPER to have parachuted and that he never talked about parachuting. [REDACTED] said COOPER said he had been in the Korean War and that he refused to talk much about his experience. [REDACTED] said COOPER was missing his left testicle which he stated was shot off during the Korean War.

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[REDACTED] said that shortly after [REDACTED], COOPER rented a furnished house in the [REDACTED] of Pueblo, Colorado, using the name DAN COOPER. [REDACTED] stated she did not know why COOPER used the first name of "DAN" for this transaction.

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[REDACTED] provided the interviewing agent with two pages she said she tore out of [REDACTED] which is the only thing she [REDACTED] stated these pages contain the handwriting of both COOPER and herself.

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[REDACTED] provided the following description of COOPER based on her recollection as well as information contained on [REDACTED] pages, which is unverified.

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Name: ROBERT HUGH COOPER, SR. Sex: Male Race: White Date of Birth: February 18, 1930 Place of Birth: St. Louis, Missouri Height: 5 feet 9 inches - 6 feet Weight: 180 pounds Build: Thin, had tapeworm at one time. Hair: Dark brown or black, worn in various styles from "duck- tail" to crew cut which he changed frequently. Eyes: [guess: Unrecalled], possibly blue. Facial Hair: Occasionally wore waxed handlebar mustache. Complexion: Average Occupation: Cook

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DB Cooper-43768

CE 164 219 3

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Dress: Liked to dress well, conservatively. Tattoos: Two on each arm, one on back, rose on right forearm. Habits: Heavy smoker, favored Lucky Strike cigarettes. Military Serial Number: 659222, United States Marines First Wife: [REDACTED] Last known to be residing in St. Louis, Missouri, in [REDACTED] Son: [REDACTED] b6 b7C Brother: [REDACTED] had red hair. Brother's Wife: [REDACTED] b6 b7C Parents: Never mentioned by ROBERT HUGH COOPER, SR. Other: Missing left testicle.

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DB Cooper-43769