Part 6, page 17

Transcript

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0-19 (Rev. 1-30-74)

Assor. Dir. Dep. AD Dep. AD Asst. Dir. Admin. Comp. Sys. Ext. Files Gen. [illegible] Ident. Inspection Intell. [illegible] Plan. & E[illegible] Spec. In[illegible] Training Legal Coun. Telephone Rm. Director Sec'y

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Perfect Crime Fans Count the Years: 1, 2, 3...

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By B.J. McFARLAND United Press International

AROUND this time of year in the Pacific Northwest thoughts turn to the mystery of D.B. Cooper, history's first and only [guess: successful] parachuting sky bandit. Where is he and where did he stash the cash?

Three years ago, Cooper went aboard a Northwest Orient airlines flight in Portland for a short hop to Seattle.

The plane wasn't airborne much more than five minutes when one of the more bizarre crimes in history was committed. [illegible]

Got What He Wanted

Cooper, threatening to set off an explosive device, demanded and got $200,000 in $20 bills delivered, along with three parachutes, to the plane in Seattle. Then after allowing the passengers to debark, he ordered the crew to fly the 727 to Reno, following a course down the western sector of Washington and Oregon before cutting across the mountains on a direct flight to Reno. Somewhere en route, he bailed out from the tail exit.

No trace of Cooper or the money ever was found.

Cooper's foray set off a chain of similar skyjackings that changed the face of air travel throughout the world.

'But only Cooper beat the law at taking the money and jumping. The law is still looking for him.

'The case is an active one, not only here but throughout the United States,' said Julius Mattson, agent in charge of the FBI's Portland office.

'We're still getting leads,' he said, 'but not quite as heavy as we were. The case still is in the public mind and when the public thinks of it, it also thinks of us.'

'There really has been no substantive development. The work now is mostly eliminating possibilities, proving or disproving tips offered.'

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Police sketch of Cooper

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'Not one of the $20 bills has turned up anywhere.'

Cooper apparently strapped the money to his body for the jump. A theory that he may have fallen into Lake Merwin, east of Woodland, in southwest Washington about 80 miles north of Portland, could not be proved following an exhaustive search by the FBI and Army troops from Fort Lewis, Wash.

Things Changed Forever

The rash of skyjackings that followed brought multiple changes for the air traveler, the major one being search of luggage and persons, the electronic surveillance has produced an arsenal of weapons and explosives.

The Federal Aviation Administration reports that during the first nine months of this year, 65,300 'dangerous items' were seized at airport security checkpoints in the United States. The total included 1,657 guns, 12,638 explosive devices, and 21,221 knives.

While skyjackings no longer are commonplace, the FAA says the danger always exists, and because of it security checks likely are to continue as a permanent part of air travel.

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The Washington Post Washington Star-News Daily News (New York) [handwritten: 93] The New York Times The Wall Street Journal The National Observer The Los Angeles Times

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164-2111-[illegible] NOT RECORDED 202-JAN 9 1974 Date DEC 1 1974

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54 JAN 10 1975