CCharger

1. The FBI bulletin of the crime said he was a "heavy smoker of Raleigh filter tip cigarettes". 2. Tina Mucklow described Coop as a "chain smoker". 3.His fingers bore tobacco stains indicative of habitual cigarette use. 4. He smoked 8 cigarettes in 5 hours. 5. His tie bore signatures of used matches most likely used to regularly light tobacco. Based on these facts we can safely conclude Coop was a regular cigarette smoker. Back to the Benezedrine, it was commonly used recreationally at this time. Many writers and artists used it to focus their creative energies. JFK was a habitual user as a matter of fact. It gives laser focus, boundless engery, and constant euphoria. It can also cause paranoia, restlessness, and, in excessive use, rage. With this said, it should be noted that both stewardesses on the flight described Coop as "child-like" when the money was delivered and even said he "jumped up and down". Strikes me as odd behavior, but when paired with the amphetamine use, it sounds logical.

I agree that the tie probably will not, in and of itself, lead to IDing Coop. However, I think it can be very valuable in providing clues that, when placed in context and paired with other facts, may point to or eliminate certain people. Also, in reference to contamination, that particular brand was only available for the 12 months prior to the crime. It bore signatures of use by a heavy chain smoker which we know Coop was. All signs point to the most likely scenario being that it was Coop's tie.

In reference to contamination of lycopodium by FBI latex gloves...the lycopodium was present along with titanium dioxide, silicates and alumina. This combination is only present in pill coatings. We know Benzedrine pills were coated in lycopodium powder in 1971. We know Coop had Benezedrine on him. Is it safe to conclude Coop was a routine user of Benezedrine?

Here is another thought to chew on. Many think Coop was ex-military - SOG paratrooper perhaps. The covert operations connection to some suspects is well documented. However, witnesses I consistently describe Coop as in his mid to late 40s. This is far older than any of those guys at that time. The average age of an American GI in Nam was 19. If he was ex-military, it is far more likely to be a Korean War vet rather than Vietnam. There weren't many 45 year olds jumping out of planes in combat in late 60s, early 70s.

That's interesting. The pills you speak of were Benzedrine. That is an amphetamine that required a prescription in 1971. It was frequently given to military pilots in WW II up to and including Vietnam. It's street name was "bennies" and was used recreationally by beatniks and hippies in the 50s and 60s.it is prescribed for the relief of nasal and bronchial congestion...such as asthma or allergies. This begs the questions...was Coop an asthmatic? Was he a speed head? Was he a military pilot familiar with the stimulant from combat? Was the lycopodium powder present on his tie from his routine use of Benzedrine?

I have lurked this thread for months and even posted on it not long ago. As an outside observer, I am shocked by the amount of vitriol and personal attacks that occur here. All of the nasty comments and bickering really becomes an impediment to figuring this case out. There is really great info here, but it is hard to filter through the nasty posts. Also, so many of you have already made your minds up that any new ideas are disregarded or ignored. Is the point of this thread to forward an agenda or exchange ideas and information to solve the case? With that said, here is my two cents: Kaye's research indicated the presence of lycopodium powder on the tie. He suggested that this was from powder used on pills to keep them from sticking together. However, lycopodium powder was also used on latex gloves until 1973 when it was replaced by cornstarch. The suggestion has been made that DB was a chemist or engineer. The use of latex gloves would seem to bolster this idea, no? Any other thoughts on this?

Well, no, I cannot prove it opened up here and you cannot prove it didn't. Really where it opened up is irrelevant. The money came from Salmon Creek and ended up on Tens Bar by natural means. Also there is no proof that the bundles were found neatly stacked together. Lastly, if you think the money WAS buried, the question remains...WHY? What earthly reason was it buried on someone else's private property just feet from the water? Would DB, who had everything else meticulously planned, do something this stupid? Slim to none.

The issue of the money cannot be solved until someone can pinpoint where DB bailed. If we know he bailed over the Columbia then we can pretty much assume what happened. So. Where did he bail? The assumed time has been 8:13 when the crew felt the pressure bump. But wash that 8:13:00, 8:13:30, or 8:13:59? Traveling at 225 mph, even 30 seconds amounts to nearly 2 miles difference. Nevertheless, the time of 8:13 puts DB bailout somehwhere just west of Battleground, WA. Given, a 1000 yard "forward push", in a "no pull" scenario, DB would have come down somewhere near Salmon Creek. Considering the Salmon Creek flows into Lake River almost directly behind Tena Bar, it seems as if the pieces fit. The only bugger is how did the money get over to the OTHER side of Tena Bar? My guess, as I have said is some funky hydraulics that pushed some of the money back down to the south. I would like to know how long it would take for a bag of money to float down the Salmon River from Battleground.

Sorry, misunderstood what you meant by "feel". There is no tide at The Dalles. Never said that. You said the chart was for the flow at the estuary. It's not. It was based on observations of the flow much farther away. The tide affects the flow of the Columbia. Not drastically, but it does. At least enough to push a few packets of bills downstream a mile or two. That is why it was discovered along the tide line on shore. Now, if DB did survive and bury the money on Tena Bar, the question is why? If I have thousands of dollars, I am NOT going to bury it on someone else private property feet from the water. So what would be the motivation for someone (DB or someone else) to put it there?

Correct on the flow of the Columbia. So low discharge + a high tide could reverse the flow. It would not be like Niagra suddenly jumping up the falls.

You're wrong again. In these charts, these are observations made from the The Dalles which last I checked is quite far from the estuary. But it is clear that it is impossible to discuss facts with someone who claims they can "feel" the tide. Am I saying that the Columbia River is bi-directional? No. All I am saying that given the right circumstances, the Columbia can flow backwards.

http://www.nwcouncil.org/library/isab/isab2000-5.pdf That's a website that has several charts that show that peak seasonal flow for the Columbia river is highest in the months of March through September with the peak being in June. Flow is lowest during the winter months. While I respect your observer status to flow, just because your haven't seen the Columbia flow in reverse during high tide, doesn't mean it hasn't happened. High tides + low flow = Columbia River reverses flow Period.

377 I am new to these forums and have never skydived, so I have a question. Cooper was jumping from around 10K feet and the plane was moving at around 200 mph. When people jump from planes, they don't fall straight down. Some forward momentum propels them forward as they fall. Given the accepted conditions for the jump (speed, height, wind, drift) how far would Cooper have been "thrown forward" from his jump point to his impact point (assuming his chute never opened)?

Not sure how the weather report in 2012 is pertinent to 1971, but I will let it slide. Yes, it was a wet November in 1971 which is why the Salmon would not be as choked with debris and would be wider and deeper than normal. However, as the winter progressed, it got colder and rain turned into snow. Lastly, the Columbia can reverse flow up to 52 miles from the ocean. Documented fact.

No doubt that bodies can travel great distances, but over time they rot and are eaten by animals. Perhaps one day a trawler will snag a parchute pack attached to a suited skeleton, but it hasn't happened in over 40 years.

Thanks for the feedback. However, there has been no definitive proof of exactly when and where Cooper jumped. Some have suggested as far south as Orchards. And even if he jumped just north of Battleground, there are streams, creeks and tributaries along the Salmon included Mills Creek and Woodin Creek. Just check a map. As far as the Columbia flowing backwards, it is FACT that during high tides and low discharge, the Columbia flows in reverse as far south as Bonneville Dam. Winter is the season with the most precipitation, but it is most snow which doesn't melt till the spring. So the discharge is lowest in the winter.

No doubt that most of us want a cool, action adventure ending, but most likely that's not what happened. Once Cooper is spat out into the Pacific Ocean by the Columbia River, the chances of finding ANYTHING attched to him are basically nil. Also, it is unlikely he would have had much of anything. The parachutes and money bag were attached to him and most likely ended up at the bottom of the water. The paper bag? Could have ended up anywhere in the woods or farmlands of Clark Co. The only conspicuous thing missing is the briefcase, and again, that could be anywhere, perhaps just waiting to found in a copse of trees somewhere in southern Washington.

It seems pretty clear from my research what happened here. Cooper jumped just north of Battleground. Shocked from the cold, confused by the chute, disoriented by the darkness, he splashed down either in Salmon Creek or one of her tributaries. Never opened the chute - dead at impact. His corpse floats downstream overnight along the Salmon River. By sunrise the body is filling with water and begins to sink, dragged slowly along the bottom into Lake River. Days, perhaps a week or more, passes. The body and the money along are dragged along the bottom. The drawstring opens and the money spills out just as Lake River flows into the Columbia. The body, freed from the anchor of the money bag, floats to the surface one night and is discharged into the Pacific Ocean. Some of the money travels up the Columbia very slowly if at all. Tidal actions and low flow during the winter time causes the Columbia to reverse flow and deposits the money on Tena Bar where in time it is covered first in snow and later in sand. It is found 9 years later. Everything else is lost. Cooper is fish food, and the rest of the money is either completely deteriorated or washed out to sea itself. I know it doesn't sound as sexy as Cooper landing, getting away, and secretly burying the money on a deserted sandbar, but it is far more logical. Thoughts.