Part 4, page 15

Transcript

The scan is the source; the transcript is machine-generated from it.

Goaded by public adoration of the skyjacker and rankled almost to tears by such Coopermaniacal items as ballads ('D.B. Cooper: Where Are You Now?'), D.B. Cooper sweatshirts, and even memorial bikini panties, the Seattle office of the FBI has sworn to scout every inch of terrain between Sea-Tac and Reno, to track down their man. At this writing it looks very much as if Mr. Hoover's minions may have to do exactly that.

The media has been just as eager for clues to Cooper's whereabouts, his true identity, his motives. Locally, the P-I offered a $5,000 reward under their Secret Witness crime fighter series. The Seattle Times, while gently chiding editorially those who would adulate Cooper, has pretty much kept its button-down cool about the whole thing.

Now, into this lacuna-filled tangle of pop heroism, electronic legend and FBI fumbling, steps the Seattle Flag with an authentic, first-person, totally exclusive interview with D.B. Cooper himself.

Elsewhere in this issue we have explained something about how that worldwide scoop was obtained, and the lengths to which the Flag is prepared to go to protect the anonymity of 'D.B. Cooper'. In no way do we either condone or condemn Cooper's crime; our task is to simply report the news, from any viable source.

All we promised, in return for this interview, was that we would under no circumstances-- including grand jury investigation--divulge our source of information; and that we would tell D.B.'s adventure exactly as he related it to us, and respect at all times his inalienable rights under the Constitution.

Namely: life, liberty--and the happiness of pursuit.

Editor's Note: For reasons that are obvious, we are not able to give the full story of how this interview was obtained and who was the Flag's source. We can say that the interview occured in the metropolitan area of Seattle sometime in the month of March. It was not the result of any supersleuthings or investigation on our [part].

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ANON: [Why not explain], of all places... COOPER: Well, the papers say you're in Mexico or South America. ANON: Well, that's where the authorities are looking, right? You don't escape just by crossing borders; look at James Earl Ray. The trick is not to be where they think you'll be. For instance, they didn't expect anyone to hijack a plane in the Northwest, and they didn't expect a parachutist, and... well, I'm sure you catch my drift. I'm not in Mexico or South America yet, so don't believe everything you read in the papers. ANON: How long did it take you to plan the skyjacking? COOPER: A year, six months. I had the notion for a long time, but I didn't start the ground work until June. Something happened which made me think it was time to do it. ANON: What was that? COOPER: Skip it. It would take too long to explain. ANON: Tell us how you got the idea. COOPER: It came to me while I was watching TV. Hijackers before me had always been first class fools. Can you imagine anything more stupid than risking the death penalty because you want to go to Cuba right now. Hell, you want to go to Cuba, charter a boat, or go to Mexico. Their airline isn't so bad. These guys who get so worked up about politics are sick. Me, I wanted money. Doing it for money, as some girls know, is a lot smarter. The trick I turned was not how to get the money--others had done that--but HOW to get AWAY with the money. ANON: How did you prepare yourself? COOPER: Like anything else, successful skyjacking takes training and hard work. My preparations were as extensive as any astronauts. The guy you're looking at is probable the world's greatest authority on skyjacking. Before I left home on the 22nd, I had a big fire. I burned graphs, airplane floorplans, timetables, weather reports, maps, over a hundred pages of notes...I earned my money.

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ANON: Can you give us some more detail? COOPER: I just did. ANON: I mean uh, more step by step description. COOPER: Well, as you know, once I activated the stairs and the back door it was fucking cold. Below zero, I think I read. I had prepared myself as much as you can with gloves and long johns, but there's a limit to how much protection you can bring along on a business flight from Portland to Seattle, (laughing) It would have been a bit suspicious if I had come aboard in heavy boots, with Eddie Bauer sub-[artic] gear and a sports chute. I would have had quite a time fitting into [ISD?]. ANON: I guess so, but did you, back on the subject, jump immediately after you opened the door? COOPER: Hell, no. That would have been a very dead giveaway. I had to wait until I was over my touchdown area. This is where the FBI screwed up. At the 'appropriate' time I went back past all those empty seats to the stairs. Christ, it was noisy. Next time I'll have something better than kleenex for ear plugs. I tried to walk down all the stairs. About the tenth step, I think it was, I stepped off. It was all wind and gravity after that. ANON: Were you aware that planes were following the Northwest 727? COOPER: Yes, I couldn't see them in the plane or during my fall, but there is NO way I could miss hearing them once I bailed out. Knowing how close McChord is to Sea-Tac, I would have had to be awfully stupid not to figure on having company as we flew south down Vector 23. It was a calculated risk. That is why I jumped in bad weather and at night. And I suppose I waited just a little longer than I wanted before pulling the chute. ANON: How long was your free fall? COOPER: About 5,000 of the 7,000 feet. Kind of hairy when you can't see the ground or the horizon. ANON: How was the landing? COOPER: Rough. Let's not talk about it. ANON: Is that where you got the limp? COOPER: No, as a matter of fact, I did that in January, skiing. ANON: You went skiing in January!? COOPER: I should go in June? I'm not going to give up what I like to do just because I'm a celebrity. Who'd [want that?]

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Seattle Flag, May 10, page 2

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