BruceSmith

What? You don't think Mrs. Cooper would want the world to know how nice she is?

Just to correct the record. I've had two encounters with Ms. Mucklow. The first was in person in 2011. The second was this past October when I called her and aksed if she would like to read what I've written about her. I posted the details of that phone call here on the DZ. So, according to my math and yours, Geoff and I are tied in the Professional Journalist Interview Race. I expect a correction from you, as per customary journalism ethics and standards. Thank you, in advance.

Congratulations, Mrs Cooper on doing the right thing. Perhaps you could summarize what you wrote to Tina and post it here. Also, what was her reaction? Any comment or thank you? Bruce, I wouldn't hold out any hope Jo will make that sort of thing public. I wouldn't...." Why not?

Congratulations, Mrs Cooper on doing the right thing. Perhaps you could summarize what you wrote to Tina and post it here. Also, what was her reaction? Any comment or thank you?

A question to all - Does anyone know if there is any corroborative evidence beyond Jo's claims to suggest that Duane Weber was a suspect in the DB Cooper skyjacking? Other than Jo's declaration that she heard his "Dan Cooper" confession, did her husband ever appear on any investigatory radar screens anywhere else? Did Duane confess to anyone else? Was Duane or John Collins ever investigated based on evidence other than what Jo has produced? If so, what were their findings? If not, why not? The possibility exists that the whole Jo Weber story is a masquarade. Time to check it out, I say.

Thanks for giving me a fair hearing.

You go for it, Robert. You are obviously well-schooled and clear-minded on how best to approach the principals in Norjak. We eagerly await your reportage.

Thanks for your overview on the ethics in journalism, AirT. I'd like to expand upon your comments and give a clearer picture on why and how I operate as a writer. What you've described is old-school journalism, and it was practiced best by newspaper reporters. Most good journalists writing for a paper still follow the precepts that you've described. However, journalism has changed and evolved since your classical paradigms were established. To begin, how I write is called "narrative non-fiction." That means that my personal journey is part of the story. As a result, my opinions and behavior are integral to the story. In fact, they are essential. The big questions are: why do I do that, and what are the pitfalls and safeguards for being ethical. Here are my standards. First, I build upon facts. I write first on what is corroboated and true, and from there I build my narrative. Every time I interject myself into the story I endeavor to be clear on how I developed my opinions, theories, or gut reactions to the facts as they are presented, such as from a PIO. To me, it is ethical in put myself into the story as long as the reader has a decent shot at understanding my motivations and goals. As a seasoned professional, I have learned that often I do not get the story I orginally envisioned, usually due to being stonewalled, but I get a secondary story, namely, how I got stonewalled. Often that is a clue to another line of inquiry. Hence, I always get a story even when my interviewee says nothing. For example, Tina only said five words to me during my visit in 2011, but I wrote 1200 words on how she said them. Now, many people object that I even went to her front door, but that is a wholly other question. As I have stated, I feel that Tina has a degree of responsibility to society to lend a hand in seeing justice gained. On the other hand, those who object to any effort to talk to principals in a crime case, such as Tina and Norjak, are contributing to a cover-up in my opinion. Silence, I have learned, allows the powerful to operate in secrecy, hidden in the shadows. Those cloaked areas are where I and others frequently poke around, and why the narrative non-fiction format is gaining in popularity. In this day and age powerful corporations own all the mainstream media outlets - newspapers, TV and radio. Hence, free inquiry is controlled and usually squashed. In my experience as a reporter I have learned that all law enforcement spins their story. I prefer to call it lying when their version of the truth is starkly in contrast to the facts, as often happens, but I will give them a little wiggle room in this discussion. The bottom line is that cops and the main actors in crime stories are well-protected from true investigatory reporters. Most facts are intentionally hidden, and only parsed when the Powers That Be are safe. Hence, reporters, and more troubling their editors, will rarely poke through the cloak of spin that PIOs churn. Hence, it is very difficult to prove or disprove what the PIOs are saying. Raw facts are very hard to attain these days. That is certainly the case in Norjak. Do you really think that FBI agents don't talk to me because I'm a little too pushy, or I don't play "nice," as Blevs often suggests I be. Do you really think Lee Dormuth lied to me because I wasn't nice? Hardly. He has an agenda to protect and he knows that I know. What that agenda is, I don't know. As a result, the most that I can write about are the little skirmishes I have with my interviewees. It's not games we are playing here, but a real-life battle. Which brings me to the ethics of what happens here on the forum. I am astonished that of all the family members of confessees or their supporters, such as Jo with Duane, Blevs and good ole Lyle with Kenny Christiansen, or Bradley Collins and his Dad, John Collins, etc - none have reached out to Tina, the crew or the passengers and apologized for their loved one who threatned to kill them 42 years ago. Remember, so many here say that my visits to Tina have triggered her PTSD, but when are those who claim to be kin of DB Cooper going to take responsibility for the impact of their skyjacker - the guy who started that PTSD long ago. In my view, one can't get the fame and glory of being related to DB Cooper without taking on the task of giving restitution back to those harmed, even if it is only emotional acknowledgement of the trauma that was delivered on November 24, 1971.

A superb assessment of the dynamics here. Thank you.

Hi CS, Though R99 might be correct that it was flown back to Seattle the next day, I don't know that I've ever seen the answer to this question anywhere. Do we have any knowledge that it went back into service immediately? The only info that I know of that might have a bearing on this is: On this forum, Ckret (Larry Carr, FBI) states that Cooper's seat was removed and sent to Quantico. The sled test was performed on Jan 6, 1972. Not saying that the plane had to be out of commission for either of these to take place - just throwing it out there fwiw. Geoffrey Gray told me that the whole plane flew back to Quantico. Others told me it went to Boeing Field in Seattle, or the air field in Renton where the 737s and 727s were built, and presumably repaired. I have no additional corroboration on this, though.

It is NO wonder Galen does NOT want you contacting these individuals. He has already experience 1st hand what happens when you approach the witnesses. Strange that GALEN has never attested to the things you claimed. Remember I was in contact with Galen at that time. He sent me one of the pictures in the mail. YOU didn't know that did you? ONLY after the fact and you were very unhappy about that - infact you were STEAMING! I believe that you are zero for three, here, Mrs. Cooper. I've asked you three times for an instance of my lying. Yet, you haven't been able to produce a single item. I'm done. Three strikes and you're out, too. G-bye Mrs. Cooper. Take a seat on the bench.

Ahem, Mrs. Cooper, but I asked you what I have written that is a lie. Your characterization of your comments to me as "not a white wash" is simply your opinion of what I wrote. As far as I can tell, you are not able to state one thing that I've said that was a lie. So, put up or shut up.

What have I said that was not true, Mrs. Cooper?

Not true, Mrs. Cooper. In fact, I sent you a copy of my writing about you for your review, as I have done with all my interviews that I have the capacity to get in touch with. Usually that means an email address. My standard operating principal is to share a draft with all my interviewees for the sake of gaining greater acccuracy. I do not give anyone editing power or the ability to cancel or delete anything, only to clarify the truth of what they have said to me. Sometimes, such as with Carol Abracadabra, the revisions can be quite extensive. Others, such as yourself, their requests to change what I wrote were denied. In your case I refused because what you asked of me, in my judgement, was a request to white-wash what you have long told me. For a few, their vascilations go in the book as just that - they told me one thing in 2010 and another wholly contradictory account three years later, as in the case of Don Burnworth's daughter. In her case I provide both accounts that she has given me. A handful, such as Nick O'Hara, go in with a detailed account of the dialogue of his effort to stonewall me. The rule is, and I did not make this rule but I fully understand it, is that the author always gets the last word. That's the way it is. You may not like it, but as I have often told you I believe strongly that you should write your own book and tell your story just way you want it. That way you get the last word on your account of your husband's journey. Truly Mrs Cooper, I doubt you will ever find any serious writer who will write your story just the way you would like it written. At this point, I doubt that your husband ever said anything about Dan Cooper, DB Cooper, or any skyjacking. You have never offered any proof that he said what you claim he did. But you have a great story, so keep the pen moving!

Good rant!

Really Bruce? I was trying to give ya the benefit of doubt regarding the issue of your ethics in journalism...but I think you're way off base if that's how you really feel. A civil servant has just as much right to privacy as any 'normal' citizen...a RETIRED one so much the more. Brings to mind the discussions about Neal Armstrong - Journalists always pined that 'we taxpayers' spent a pretty shiny dime sending him to the moon, he OWES us and the American people interviews, access, autographs...on & on. Well...NO he did NOT. He was simply a man hired o do a job, nowhere in the job description did it say anything about 'owing reporters' access to his life ~ ESPECIALLY during retirement. Your thinking on this is rather convoluted, and what's REALLY scary is you don't seem to know it. The pen is a pretty mighty tool. Thing is, like any tool it can be used to build or tear down. When you attempt to use it for retribution against someone merely wishing to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights...that's crossing a line of both ethics & decency. Your comment surprises me, and not in a good way. I urge you to reconsider that line of thinking. I think the key is finding a balance - how does a public servant share their knowledge in a way that is meaningful, yet not overly intrusive into their own personal lives. Sometimes, fate places people into the public eye without their their prior consent, such as Tina (and by extention her family) becoming the primary wtiness to Norjak. Others make decisions that convey a measure of social responsibility, such as being an FBI agent. When you accept the public's money to do a job there are attachments and expectations that come with it - subtle and intangible mostly, but real nevertheless. Much of this is in a grey area, just as what my responsibility is to be truthful, determined, and yet not be a bully. Clearly many here, and in editorial offices, too, take issue with my decisions and actions. However, I think my saving grace is that I am committed to hearing the complaints made against me and to apologize and correct statements that are in error or cause unjustified harm. As for giving people the benefit of the doubt, I ususally hold my more agressive responses in check until someone has proven themselves incapable of civil discourse, such as Jo. Others, because of their position of holding unique and critical information, such as Tina, Ralph, Ron Nichols, Larry, etc, I hold to a very high expectation of sharing that knowledge. Stonewalling me, or asking 600 bucks a clip for an interview, is not reasonable, especially when someone is picking up 60-grand in a pension for life - AND they turn themselves into quasi public figures by writing books, appearing in documentaries and news clips, and casting themselves as experts in Norjak. Also, FBI agents, retired or not, who deceive me really get my blood boiling, and I pursue my investigation of them and their actions whether they want to stay in the shadows or not. Cops who lie to me really make me cranky, and I don't think that is unreasonable.

Flight Engineer (and now Captain) Andy Anderson and Alice Hancock are both still alive. That is what I hear from Galen. He says he has spoken to both of them at length, and Alice agreed to help Galen make contact with Tina. Alas, Tina rebuffed Alice, according to Galen. Galen has also asked me to respect his position pitching his book and his investment in finding these two indivuduals. As a result, he has not given me the contact information for them, and I have been unable to find either one of them on my own. As for a raging recluse. Tina is unique. She is quite selective on who, when and where she rages. She slammed the front door three times when I visisted her in July 2011. To me, one door slam is anger, two is totally pissed off, three is rage. In addition, I never felt that Tina's anger was directed towards me personally or directly. Rather, I felt she was angry at something else and I simply triggered the association. She didn't make eye contact with me at all when she slammed the door, nor did she ever hurl any epithets towards me. The rage was quite contained. No f-bombs at all, nor any shouting. In fact, no words at all, once she asked me to leave. Thanks for the picture of Tina, Smokin99. So that is what she looks like when she smiles. Wow. Thanks Bruce. did either of them comment about the case that you know of. I don't recall reading anything? No, I don't know what their perspectives are on the case. All I know of them is from my brief conversation with Galen. G said that they both were quite cordial and conversant. Andy did express a little surprise that no journalists have gone looking for him, and both said they weren't hiding from the press - just not seeking it. Galen gave me the sense that Andy has some unique ideas about the case and is wating for someone to ask him the right questions. Hopefully, Galen did.

Flight Engineer (and now Captain) Andy Anderson and Alice Hancock are both still alive. That is what I hear from Galen. He says he has spoken to both of them at length, and Alice agreed to help Galen make contact with Tina. Alas, Tina rebuffed Alice, according to Galen. Galen has also asked me to respect his position pitching his book and his investment in finding these two indivuduals. As a result, he has not given me the contact information for them, and I have been unable to find either one of them on my own. As for a raging recluse. Tina is unique. She is quite selective on who, when and where she rages. She slammed the front door three times when I visisted her in July 2011. To me, one door slam is anger, two is totally pissed off, three is rage. In addition, I never felt that Tina's anger was directed towards me personally or directly. Rather, I felt she was angry at something else and I simply triggered the association. She didn't make eye contact with me at all when she slammed the door, nor did she ever hurl any epithets towards me. The rage was quite contained. No f-bombs at all, nor any shouting. In fact, no words at all, once she asked me to leave. Thanks for the picture of Tina, Smokin99. So that is what she looks like when she smiles. Wow.

Bruce you NEED to take SOME TIME out and I believe the other posters will agree to this. Your behavior is uncalled for. WAY over the limits! Does this mean that you believe that retired FBI agents have the right to lie or sandbag a case with silence, Mrs. Cooper? Or would you just prefer that I shut up. Or will you continue to demean my character and impune my professional reputation until you get the silence that you crave? How ugly you gonna get girl?

Robert99, neither Earl Cossey or Norman Hayden have ever claimed that scenario. Earl always maintained that he modified the rip cord on a parchute he owned. Norman says that none of his parachutes were ever modified as long as he owned them. Further, Norman told me that he doesn't remember when or where he purchaed his two back chutes. Of course, he has told other people other versions of this scenario, such that he purchased his chutes from a army-navy store, or some such. However, I believe that Norman bought his two mains directly from the Pacific Aviation people since he had a long-standing relationhip with them.

And what did I say when you said that you refused to apologize for something that you don't remember? As for me, I recall that I insisted on an apology regardless of whether you remembered the instances or not. Then, you agreed to issue a written apology on this thread with the caviat that you don't remember ever suggesting that you wanted to sue me. With that, I agreed to talk with you, and did. Now, you have refused to issue your apology. Hence, I don't want to talk with you until you deliver me a written apology in this forum.

When Lee Dormuth or his wife ask for an apology I will give it due consideration. As for your accusation that the Dormuths clammed up because of my alleged bad behavior, what's your proof? What interviews were they giving to journalists before I knocked on their door and then wrote about Lee's need for dental care? Rather, I think you perceived a weak spot in my public standing and then took advantage to deliver a cheap shot. As for the Dormuths' behavior, consider this: 1. Lee lied to me about the nature of his relationship with Tina. I know it is active and not passive because I know that he reads her mail. 2. Lee told me that he has no interest in Tina and "wants no part of it." I find that unconscionable. His sister in law is a raging recluse and clearly needs all the familial support she can get. 3. Lee did not return repeated phone calls to me before I walked up to his front door. I think he has a responsiblity to society and all taxpayers to communicate on a case that he is intimately familiar with. After all, we paid him - and continue to pay him in a pension - to deliver a measure of justice. I don't think he is keeping his end of the bargain. Hence, I think I am entitled to an apology from a former civil servant who feels he has a right to deceive and keep silent in his retirement. I say no. What say you, Robert?

More on Mayfield: The following is from my chapter on Ted. "...However, one early suspect has lingered to this day, Ted Mayfield, who enjoyed a revival in 2006 when two Oregonian sleuths, Matt Meyers and Dan Dvorak drew sharp attention to Mayfield’s profile: Ted is a former Special Forces trooper, sky diving champion and pilot. He also owned a sky diving school, Pacific Parachuting Center, and has an impressive history of committing crimes in the aviation field, including convictions on two counts of negligent homicide stemming from the deaths of two of his skydiving students. He was also found guilty of transporting a stolen airplane across state lines; plus he lost his parachute rigging certificate from the FAA for packing improprieties in 1994. In 2010, Mayfield got snagged again for flying without a proper license. Mayfield is also reported to have a conviction for armed robbery. Most troubling, though is the report that Mayfield’s Pacific Parachuting school had thirteen skydiving fatalities during his tenure. Like Meyers and Dvorak, I have also explored the Mayfield story. According to Ralph Himmelsbach, Ted Mayfield had been such a bad egg in the sky diving community that he was allegedly fingered as Cooper by six different callers to the FBI on the night of the Cooper hijacking. In fact, notes from NWO’s George Harrison sitting in Sea-Tac’s control tower reveal that Mayfield was fingered while the plane was still on its way to Reno. More impressively, Mayfield was already well-known to Himmelsbach prior to the skyjacking because Ralph had a “run-in” with some of Mayfield’s skydiving staff at the Aurora State Airport. This small airport southeast of Portland is where Himmelsbach parked his private plane, and at issue was the failure of Mayfield’s people to comply with proper procedures and causing unsafe conditions. Astonishingly, Mayfield called Himmelsbach the night of the skyjacking to offer his assistance while 305 was still in the air, making Himmelsbach, in effect, his alibi. Himmelsbach seems to accept his role in Mayfield’s story, and the agent also turned to Mayfield for some level of assistance in the Cooper investigation. In his book NORJAK, Ralph praised Mayfield for being “most helpful” although it is not quite clear what contributions Mayfield made to the FBI. However, Himmelsbach does describe Mayfield as assisting him in identifying certain skydivers being put forward as Cooper suspects, and specifically states that Mayfield was helpful for his “comments that night, and other conversations we had later when he assisted us in the investigation.” I was curious to learn more how a suspect this problematic could also be instrumental in helping the FBI. Why would Ralph maintain a relationship with an ex-con like Mayfield, particularly since he had already had bad business with him? Seeking answers, I called Mayfield at his Oregon home in November 2009. However, when I identified myself and explained the purpose of my phone call he hung up on me, but not before saying, “No thanks. I always get wracked over the coals every time I do that.” Digging more deeply I interviewed a local skydiving administrator, Bill Jeswine, the former manager of the Issaquah Sky Sports center where the reserve chutes for Cooper originated. Jeswine told me in 2013 that he was summoned to help run the Pacific Parachuting Center when Mayfield went to jail, and he described the conditions at the facility as “horrible.” But the comparisons between Mayfield and Cooper are all behavioral. Physically, Mayfield is too short and seems to have little of the Cooper characteristics. His attitude is so pugnacious that in YouTube clips he walks with a strut reminiscent of Danny DeVito. In addition, Mayfield was in his twenties at the time of the skyjacking – much too young to be Cooper. Perhaps Ted Mayfield has been buffeted by the Cooper Vortex long enough that he now chooses to decline its embrace...."

His posting above has been reduced for the sake of time and energy. Can't believe I actually called this bully to ask him a question & then came to the computer & found this ludicrous posting. Well, if you think I am going to answer your questions only for you to twist the facts - got another guess coming! I have answered both questions in the past so they do NOT deserve to be re-addressed. Brucie do you know how to read & comprehend. Why don't you ask Galen - he knows and I have the emails to prove it - but there is no need. Cook is the sneaky snake in the grass, and he has used his ablility to manuver and confuse and he has really done a number on you Brucie Brucie is the SHARK - how well he just describe himself! Dangerous not me - Brucie twists things & make all kinds of notations about the mental status of others. He is the one with a problem - A bullie who never grew up and is only self-serving with smear tactics. Actions such as yours Brucie! I call it the way I see and hear it...and anyone who reads your postings can see right thru you. Regretfully I did call him a few moments ago to ask if there was a picture of this Brad Collins on his site or taken by any one at Ariel. Why should I apologize to BRUCIE when he continues to demean, twist and demand answers to questions I have already answered in the only way I am willing to. I am NOT going to make-up an answer for him. He has never apologize about Tina or to Tina for his horrid actions. Yet, he wants me to apologize to him. Cold day in Hell! How would I do bodily harm to a giant with the manners of a bull in a china closet? HIS ATTACKS need to stop NOW! He thinks his words have power and his words only make him VERY SMALL! He has a brilliant mind and the ability to write - but, he is self serving - always putting his own twisted thoughts and sordid opinions into the what otherwise was a good informative paragraph or writing and in his postings. So much for the promise of a written apology to be posted here, Jo, regarding your stated desires to cause me bodily harm and sue me in court. Yup, Mrs Cooper called me tonight, but before she could ask her question I insisted that she promise to post an apology. It seems that she was unable to fulfill her stated promise.

I'd love to investigate Ted further. He lives in Sheridan, Oregon, just west of Tina, Santa Claus, and Himms. He's got a story to tell. He's also just east of where Gossett died. Cooper Country is so rich. I wonder why people stick aorund. Only Ron Nichols has left the area for So. Cal, and he's only there part-time.