Part 53, page 132

Transcript

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FD-350 (Rev. 7-16-63)

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Hijacker's 'twin' * * * * * * * * * * * * Looks, hobby plague Seattle sky diver

By DON HANNULA

Put a pair of dark glasses on Seattle's Bill Whitney and you've got a remarkable resemblance to a composite sketch of the Thanksgiving-Eve jet hijacker who parachuted away with $200,000 ransom.

Add the fact that Whitney is a co-holder of the Northwest sky-jumping altitude record at 30,000 feet and the result is suspicion.

That suspicion by Whitney's sky-diving acquaintances led to his being questioned for 5½ hours Thursday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The look-alike problem has bothered Whitney, 3828 Whitman Ave. N., who earns his living in the sound-equipment business.

"It's nice to be remembered, but not this way," Whitney said. "It would be nice to look like a movie star or something, but not a guy who pulled a job."

Whitney said: "I know a lot of jumpers up and down the coast. I understand a lot of them looked at that sketch and thought of me. The whole point is I didn't do it and I don't need that kind of reputation."

WHILE WITNEY'S facial features resembled the F. B. I. composite sketch drawn from descriptions by witnesses, his height, weight, age and complexion didn't match those given for the hijacker.

Whitney is 5-feet-8 and about 140 pounds. Witnesses said the hijacker was 6 feet and 175 pounds. They said the hijacker had an olive complexion. Whitney is fair-skinned. The hijacker was described as middle-aged — between 40 and 50. Whitney is 33 with prematurely receding hair.

After the hijacker showed a stewardess what he said was a bomb, commandeered the Northwest Orient Airlines 727 November 24, and released the passengers in Seattle for $200,000 and four parachutes, he bailed out somewhere between Clark County and Reno, Nev.

Immediately the F. B. I. began checking out anyone with parachuting experience.

Whitney, who has made some 300 jumps since taking up the sport in 1965, said he first heard that he was being sought for questioning Thursday.

He said: "I heard the F. B. I. was looking for me and I said: 'Oh, brother.' I figured, rather than have them pick me up on the street or somewhere, I'd call them." When he did, they said, yes, the F. B. I. did want to talk to him.

"If I had been guilty, I'd be in jail right now," Whitney said.

Whitney said a San Francisco newspaper reporter also flew to Seattle to interview him after a San Francisco sky jumper told the reporters he was convinced Whitney was the skyjacker.

WHITNEY SAID his problems were compounded by having few people to verify where he was the Wednesday of the hijacking. The bachelor said he drove to Bellingham about 7:30 a. m. and spent some time with this partner in the sound-equipment business, returning to the Northeast Seattle home of his partner about noon. He said his partner returned about 6:30 or 7 p. m. and saw him at the home. He said he couldn't recall anyone else seeing him. Whitney said he spent Thanksgiving Day at his parent's home in Tacoma.

"Another thing, I wear dark glasses a lot," Whitney said. The skyjacker was wearing dark glasses.

Whitney is convinced the skyjacker got away. He does not consider what the skyjacker was reported to have done as difficult. "I could have done it, yes, but I didn't," Whitney said.

But Whitney also believes the hijacker will be caught eventually — that he won't be able to resist telling some one some day. Whitney said: "If they ever make a movie of this, I'd be happy to play his part."

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(Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.)

P.C

Seattle Times Seattle, Wn.

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Date: 12/5/71 Edition: Author: Don Hannula Editor: Henry MacLeod Title: UNSUB; aka Dan Cooper, Northwest Airlines Flight 305, Portland to Seattle 11/24/71 or Classification: HIJACKING; EXT Submitting Office: 164-81 Seattle [x] Being Investigated

COPY SENT TO BUREAU.

DB Cooper-22470