BruceSmith

Well folks, the Truth Bus is rollin' across the prairie and headin' to your town. Here are some of the Truth Options you can consider as you speed across AAmerica. Pick as many as you like: 1. Galen is lying. 2. Galen is telling the truth but he is receiving bogus emails and phone calls from Skippy. 3. Skippy's emails to me are real and legitimately express how he feels, medically and Cooper-wise. 4. Skippy's emails are bogus. 5. Someone is posing as Skippy and sending out emails in his name. 6. Bobby B is lying. 7. Bobby B is telling the truth but is being played by Skippy, or some third party. 8. Cousin Brucie is lying. 9. Cousin Brucie is not lying, just having another Royalty moment. 10. Skippy is incredibly obtuse, disinterested, and simple-minded. Hence, Bobby is a beacon of intellectual power, which blows our minds. 11. Skippy is lying to Galen, Bobby and Cousin Brucie, or some combination of all three. 12. Someone posing as Skippy is lying to everybody, all or most of the time.

Clever comeback, but the premise is way too thin for me. Maybe Geestman this and maybe Boeing that. Sounds like you and Skippy have a lot of work to do. - Where did Geestman work at Boeing? - How easy was top-secret information available at Boeing during war time? - how did Geestman avoid detection? Remember, Sail and I talked with a 727 Boeing test pilot and in 1971 he didn't know that the plane could be jumped.

Problem is, Bobby, respect is earned. Do you think you have earned mine? How about Skippy? Do you think he has earned my respect? Do you think Skippy has acted admirably?

I'm asking you Bobby, because you are still writing your book/screenplay/PDF/family docs, etc. Me, I've finished my book. Plus, your comments here have called into question the reputation of other prominent Cooper researchers. Hence, I'm checking you out. You and Skippy are the subject of my investigation. Book #2, I suppose. "The Lies of Cooper World." Whaddayathink?

Nope, I can't say I know why Skippy doesn't want to answer my questions. As a result, I am posting them here for your consideration, and to let the good folks of the DZ know what is going on. As for why Skippy wants to clam up, here are some of the possible reasons: 1. He doesn't like Cousin Brucie. 2. He doesn't have any answers. 3. It's too difficult to type the answers, but he's able to bitch to Bobby about Brucie. 4. Too much damn work. Nevertheless, Skippy and I exchanged about three emails today, addressing a series of issues. The last email, though, apparently was the straw that broke the camel's back. It involves Skippy's reply to a previous question and comment when Skipp said that the FBI should have interviewed NWO employees. I asked which ones, and Skippy replied, "All of them." I was stunned by his flippancy, and the following ensued: Questions for the Skippy/Bobby Team of Cooper Sleuths "Could you expand, please. 'All of them' is a tad vague. "As far as I know, the feds de-briefed the crew - Scott, Rataczak, Anderson, Schaffner, Mucklow and Hancock. Georger Harrison, NWO operators chief at Sea-Tac, worked thoroughly with the FBI through out the skyjacking. His field notes on the skyjacking are on file at the WSHM. "Paul Sunderland, NWO operations chief at HQ in Minnie-Apple, was in constant contact with the cockpit crew and Sea-Tac. CEO Nyrop was also personally involved. "Who else should the feds have interviewed? "Tina's family? Her brother-in-law was a FBI field agent in San Diego and was at Reno with Tina's sister for the de-briefing. He continues to be involved in Tina's story. "Florence? She married a cop. "Rataczak became best friends with Ralph Himmelsbach. "Scottie? He flew in for Himms' retirement party. Anderson flew the 727 used for the sled test. "Remember, Kenny didn't become a suspect until, what, 2007? Who at NWO in 1971 would know what Dan Cooper knew about parachute exits out of a 727 - speed, altitude, configurations, flaps, etc? How would you evaluate NWO staff for expertise on the 727? Where would you start? How would you select likely suspects from NWO staff? "When I talked with Rataczak he told me that Cooper knew more about the plane than he did. Even NWO flight ops didn't know that a 727 could be flown successfully with the aft stairs deployed and needed confirmation from the CIA and Boeing that it was okay to accept Cooper's demands, which begs the question: If Kenny is DBC where did he learn about jumping from a 727? "I know, lots of questions for a guy with communication difficulties, but these are the thoughts going on for me. "Thanks," Bruce

True, I do. I'm a friendly guy and I like talking to people. I have been mostly friendly to Skipp, and respectful, but that doesn't mean I take everything he gives me as 100% Gospel Truth. He lied to me in 2009 over the phone when we talked about his relationship with Geoffrey, so I'm cautious. Not a Big Lie, but a deception nonetheless, and he never apologized to me. Plus, his/your book was a piece of crap and needed endless revisions and corrections. Worse, the cover was obscenely deceitful. "The True Story of DB Cooper" - c'mon. A pix of a well-clad skydiver with a ram-air chute in a day-light jump? I was profoundly offended. We have discussed this aspect of your book many times, and your usual response of , "well it could be true," is too lame for me to stomach. But you and Skipp do have a book, and that fact makes you both worthy of consideration. Now a major dispute has arisen over the credibility of the Skippy/Bobby team and Galen. Who is telling the truth? Who is lying? What is going on? Do we have bogus emails circulating about various inboxes, distorting reputations and perspectives? Or do we have some guys in Cooper World with serious mental health issues mucking up the discussion? Do we have an Al Di of emails? The modern equivalent of the DB Cooper letter writer in the days after the skyjacking? Maybe Galen is telling the truth about the emails in his inbox. Maybe the emails I thought that came from Skipp really didn't come from him. How could I tell? Skipp writes that he is unable to speak on his phone, and maybe that is true. However, he sounded fine to me when we spoke in 2009 - but that was five years ago and things happen. But you say it is very difficult for Skipp to type emails, which is what he told me as well. Yet, he has written substantive missives on his neurological condition on his Facebook page. And, as I have mentioned previously, his emails to me are comprehensible. The Bigger Issue is why he doesn't want to defend his work on Cooper, either here or in other forums. You say he doesn't want the aggravation? Really, the guy was an undercover detective in NY for LE in drug enforcement, at least according to his bio. He can't handle the little pishers here? Just sayin'.

Whoa, not so fast Bobby B. You are more comfortable in a Black-White World, whereas mine is mostly gray (or grey). I'm still gathering information. There are many more possibilities than one guy lying or not. One of those possibilities is that I am being played by Skippy. Time will tell, I suppose. After all, the email that you posted reveals that Skipp's typing and composition isn't that bad. He could post here if he chose.

Well, folks, looks like it's time for a family therapy intervention session here at the DZ. We certainly don't want anyone jumping of a bridge THIS weekend, so I called Skippy to see what's cookin'. I was surprised to receive a Facebook message in response saying that Skipp couldn't talk to me because he has a progressive neurological disorder that causes aphasia, the inability to form words. Skipp also wrote that his aphasia is such that it is also difficult for him to organize his thoughts. As a result, he is very limited in communicating effectively or in a finely fashion. Nevertheless, we exchanged a couple of emails today and Skipp explained his situation a bit further. He said that his aphasia has prevented him from advocating his book, posting here, establishing a blog or website to discuss Kenny, attending any Cooper symposia, or joining the talk radio hit parade, such as C-2-C or Ground Zero. However, his email to me was basically coherent - certainly no worse than Jo on meds, or JT in his heyday here. I'd like to learn more about Skipp, and will continue a conversation with him. In the meantime, he told me that Bobby was the guy who initiated contact to write a book on Kenny, which is 180 from what I understood from Blevs.

No, I didn't know that Mrs. Cooper. How do you know that? More to the point, though, has he ever called Georgia Child Protective Services? I suppose I'll have to ask him in October. I was telling my therapist today of my heroics over the weekend and she told me she has had to deal with GA CPS and their lousy phones, so we commiserated professionally, so to speak. Small World. I suppose I'll be asking Hats about MAC-V-SOG, too! The list is sure growing. Thanx, TSS for the link. I wonder when the last time Ralph met a left-wing pinko liberal journalist on Obamacare who talks with Billy Waugh! It's only 'heroics' if you don't brag about your actions, or post folks' personal info on the internet in a pathetic effort to make yourself look cool, or promote your position within 'Cooper Royalty' (a group based entirely in myth that few care about anyway except other 'royalty') You should know that skydivers actually READ this thread, some of whom hang out at Hatley's DZ. Which means you have about as much chance of a decent interview with him now as I have of getting my cat Hobo to talk. Problem is, sometimes you just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, even when it is in your best interests to do so. Yup, keeping my mouth shut is an issue for me from time to time. But more importantly, do you consider me a hero, Bobby?

I suppose I'll be asking Hats about MAC-V-SOG, too! The list is sure growing. Thanx, TSS for the link. I wonder when the last time Ralph met a left-wing pinko liberal journalist on Obamacare who talks with Billy Waugh!

No, I didn't know that Mrs. Cooper. How do you know that? More to the point, though, has he ever called Georgia Child Protective Services? I suppose I'll have to ask him in October. I was telling my therapist today of my heroics over the weekend and she told me she has had to deal with GA CPS and their lousy phones, so we commiserated professionally, so to speak. Small World.

Maybe Dan Cooper wrote all those letters on the plane as he circled Sea-Tac for two hours. You know how times drags when you're going around in circles. Wait. Dan would have had to know that his name was gonna be changed to DB. Hmmmm. Oh, well, another Great Theory shot down. The Bigger Question is: Who is Al Di? aka "Idla".... My money's on Curtis. Maybe that's my ticket to fame and fortune: The Al Di Lottery!

Sigh. 377 Now can I get an AMEN???

Are we talking about SEX again? And I missed it? A scrubbed post about Jo and her mother and xxx's? Where? When? Geez, I take a nap for a couple hours and THIS happens. Jo, I gotta keep my eye on you 24-7.

Prove it, Mrs. Cooper. Sister Elizabeth Mary told me Tina left the convent about 1991. All other family members that I have spoken with concur

Interesting, because Bill Mitchell told the WSHM that the sun came out as they crossed the tarmac to enter the aircraft. Bill says he put his sunglasses on at that time, so was not surprised when Dan Cooper donned his. Plus, Meyer later said that the weather was so bad that he has gauged the severity of rain storms from that experience ever since. Does anything add up in Norjak? Just askin'.

Eighteen-C is asking me if I should be known as BS-1, or some other moniker. Thus, I have chosen CB-1, which stands for Cousin Brucie -1. Since I doubt that anyone else named Cousin Brucie will come to the DZ, I suppose I can be known as CB. My preference is Cousin Brucie, though. Cooper Royalty always works, too. Anyways, I spoke with Sail today and he has had his second knee replacement. Two months on the first and one month on the second. He is progressing fairly well, as far as I can tell, and is climbing stairs, which I think is remarkable. It took my ex months to do that last winter. So, Sail and I decided we're gonna head down to Hats after my return from NY in October. It's be our Halloween Treat!

Mea Gusta, mi amigo. I will make an effort to go see RH-2 in person. As for a real Cooper jump, FBI agent Gary Tallis told me that he was willing to do the jump on company time but J Edgar turned him down. I find it hard to believe that Coss and Ralph jumped together lots and Hatley never heard Coss spout his stuff about Cooper not making it. If true, that puts Cossey's announcements in an even more suspect place, which is turns make Ralph's process of reasoning questionable. Didn't Ralph see that Cossey was playing both sides? That is an inherently dangerous place to be. Or was Cossey a real good liar, kept Ralph in the dark and Ralph never watched TV news. Hmmmm. Regardless, this kind of deception on Cossey's part is more like the Earl Cossey I know than any other version I have heard. Lots of odd pieces to fit together here, know what I mean. Maybe Sail can come with me and we'll throw Petey into the mix. BTW, anyone know how Sail is doing after his knee replacement? I haven't heard.

I bet the hairs on your neck stood up when you heard all that. A most interesting little chat! Actually, Eighteen, the hairs on my neck stayed still. After a few years on the DZ, I've heard a lot of shit.... ...besides, I spoke with Ralph after I had chatted with our darlin' lil' Andy's mom, left messages for the Auburn, (WA) PD chief and Andy's principal in GA, and replied to a few emails discussing Blevs' atrocious behavior.... ...so how's your day been goin'? Another gorgeous day in Paradise?

Correct. Ted E is Ted E Mayfield. Sorry, if I was too flippant. Yes, Ralph Himmelsbach wrote in his book that Ted E Mayfield helped in the FBI investigation of the DB Cooper skyjacking. However, Ralph did not disclose the specifics of that assistance, nor has he ever commented on it, as far as I know, even though he has been asked to do so by researchers, Perhaps RH saw Ted M as some sort of Frank Abagnale? Frank Abagnale? The name is vaguely familiar, but please refresh my memory. After Google search: Ah, yes, the Catch Me If You Can , guy. Hmmm. Mayfield is slimier, imo. He kills people. And he won't talk to me.

Ralph Hatley called me today, finally responding to my phone message of many weeks ago. Here is my report: ******************************* I spoke with Ralph Hatley on Monday, August 25, 2014. Ralph is a noted, long-time skydiver and owner of a DZ in Eagle Creek, Oregon. He is very familiar with the DB Cooper skyjacking and knows many of the principals in the case. Here are the highlights of the conversation. “Yes, Earl Cossey and I were good friends,” he told me straightaway. “We made many jumps together.” Ralph is a no-nonsense kind of guy so I got right to the point about Coss. “What do you think about his murder?” I asked. “I think he caught a guy burglarizing his house,” Ralph replied. “Do you think his murder had anything to do with the DB Cooper case?” “Absolutely not,” Ralph said, and he began a long soliloquy about Earl Cossey, the rigger and controversial technical expert for the FBI in the Norjak case. Ralph said that he knew Cossey “quite well,” and they had many conversations about DB Cooper. Essentially, they both felt that Cooper made it to the ground successfully, so much so that he was able to truck out of the woods with all of his gear. Hatley said that he and Coss never doubted that Cooper had made it, and he stated that all “real” skydivers felt the same. “Cossey told me the FBI were just a bunch of idiots,” Ralph said, “But a few of them were decent, such as Ralph Himmelsbach, who is a personal friend of mine. Ralph Hatley (RH-2) continued and said that he had told Ralph Himmelsbach (RH-1) that many of his Norjak theories were “far-fetched,” especially the notion that DB Cooper died in the jump because he was an inexperienced skydiver. When I asked him about DB Cooper, Hatley laughed loud and long although I wasn't sure why. Nevertheless, Hatley launched another commentary on the skyjacking. “The night of the skyjacking I was contacted by the feds. ’Ralph,’ they said, do you know a skydiver named Dan Cooper?’” “’Sure,” I told them. He’s a guy from Moses Lake.’” RH-2 said that the feds didn't quite believe him and thought that Cooper died in his getaway, or was too afraid to leave his airplane. “I was laughing my ass off when the aircraft landed in Reno, sparks flying, and they couldn't find the skyjacker,” said Hatley. At this point I challenged Ralph about the many statements Earl Cossey made to the media, including during several interviews with me, that DB Cooper was an incompetent “no-pull” who cratered into the ground on his getaway jump. “Bullshit!” Ralph roared. “We all knew that the perpetrator made it.” In further discussion, Hatley adamantly claimed that Cossey believed DB Cooper made a successful jump. Along those lines, Hatley said that DB Cooper “had some knowledge.” He said the skyjacking was “well-planned” “Cooper picked a parachute that was not a regular skydiving parachute. He picked an NB-8 or an NB-6, whatever, and that was smart because it had a rigging card and a rigger’s packing pin, so he knew the chute hadn’t been opened and tracking devices put inside.” At this point, Ralph became very coy and challenged me to study the flight path and call him after I had a precise understanding of the details. After much prodding, Ralph relented and told me that he felt DB Cooper jumped over Battleground WA, and this location was very fortuitous because it contained a DZ that was owned by Ralph. “I knew the area very well. I’d made a couple thousand jumps in that area, and I could do it under the same conditions and they’d never find me either.” Ralph also said that he volunteered to simulate the exact jump – weather, clothing and gear, for a “substantial fee” - but the FBI declined his offer. Ralph also said that DB Cooper was not alone. “How do you know that, Ralph?” I asked. “Well, that’s a long story, and I might tell you if we’re face-to-face and I feel like I’m in a good mood,” he replied, laughing. “But I told Ralph Himmelsbach. My story is impossible to verify, though.” Ralph also said that the money found at Tina Bar in 1980 was “tossed into the Columbia at the Washougal Bridge.” At this point I promised to meet with Ralph in the near future to continue our conversations, which seemed to be tip-toeing into delicate areas. © 2014 Bruce A. Smith

Correct. Ted E is Ted E Mayfield. Sorry, if I was too flippant. Yes, Ralph Himmelsbach wrote in his book that Ted E Mayfield helped in the FBI investigation of the DB Cooper skyjacking. However, Ralph did not disclose the specifics of that assistance, nor has he ever commented on it, as far as I know, even though he has been asked to do so by researchers,

Amen.

Update on Andy, Monday, 3 pm-ish PT Danielle Poppens called me this afternoon, and we had a warm, substantive chat about her son and the DZ. In short, Andy is fine and not suicidal. In addition, she thanked me for my concern, and the actions that I and others have taken regarding her son's welfare. Other points of importance: 1. She was away with Andy for the weekend, apparently, and is only now learning about the whirlwind. 2. She has begun the process of sorting things out with CPS and Andy's school. 3. She has begun reading some of her son's posts on the DZ to see for herself what the fuss has been. 4. She told me that she does not think that Robert M Blevins has a relationship with her son outside of the DZ. Ms. Poppens sounds like a solid, capable mom, and has a sense of humor. When we said our goodbyes, I concluded with "Let's Go Mets," and she replied - "No, Go Braves!"

Like what, Jo? I thought my life was an open book. You say I have secrets and that you know things about me that others don't? Wow. Please tell us! I'd like to know!