BruceSmith

Mr. Shutter generously reconfigured the Progressive Radio Network audio interview with me about DBC and my book, Sky Thief - A Report on the DB Cooper Skyjacking Investigation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11iQ_fIGxA4 My thanks to Dave, and of course, Danny Schechter and the folks at Progressive Radio Network.

Greetings Everyone, I have just returned from a few weeks in NY with family and making the rounds with publishers and agents regarding my book on DB. Along the way I was on an Internet radio show talking about the skyjacking. Here's the link if you would like to hear the broadcast. It's all audio, and to get to the Cooper stuff you have to scroll through the first 28 minutes of the show, which is dedicated to a discussion about Syria. I'm on from about 28:00 to around 43:00. http://prn.fm/2013/09/news-dissector-090513/ The show is hosted by a journalist named Danny Schechter, and the site is Progressive Radio Network.org. On another front, I went to visit Skipp Porteous and Sherlock Investigations and was surprised to learn that he has left NYC. I was told by multiple sources that he had sold the PI biz and had moved to Montreal with a woman he had married. Mazel Tov, Skipp! Presently, I am moving around dazed and confused by jet lag, but next week or so I hope to go to the Cooper exhibit in Tacoma with Meyer and other DBC folks. I'll give you a report on what I find.

Does anyone have recent word from Sluggo? My emails to him are bouncing back. I know a few months ago folks were worried about his health and I had sent him an email, to which he responded and said he was okay. But now, zip.

*** Whether the "DB Cooper" letters are a hoax or not is a major issue in the current investigation. It certainly is a focal point of the mysterious Al Di, and I suspect that it is also a salient point of interest in Curtis Eng's life as well, since he exchanged 60 emails with Galen on the subject. But of course you would know that if you have read my book. Please excuse my redundancy in case you have seen my discussion on this subject, but I haven't received a request from you, Testy, for the book so I don't know for sure what information is available to you at the moment.

Galen has contacted me tonight since there seems to be some confusion as to who is The Weasel and who is The Snake. I told Galen that I strongly prefer being called The Snake as opposed to the other moniker, and Galen has not voiced any objections. That said, please know that I also have strong mixed feelings about being called "Cousin Brucie," but I think it's a fine term of endearment depending on the time and place - context is everything, I suppose. Also, in local political circles here in Washington I am affectionately called "The Hit-Man," to which I am most fond. So, take your pick, friends...

Bruce, Is it possible that you could get Robb Heady to join this forum? I'm sure that we have more questions to ask him than he has to ask us. And we need to talk to him directly. Robert99 *** I've encouraged Robb to puruse these pages and I don't know if he has. However, he has asked me to get him in touch with 377, which I have. Robb also has indicated that he wants to attend the Ariel festivities if I'll "take him." But he doesn't "want to be asnwering questions all night long," but I think a few would be tolerable. If Robb and I make it to Ariel this year, which is my plan, I'll let the DZ know. Also, I am happy to forward any suitable email to Robb if you want to send it via me at: brucesmith@rainierconnect.com.

Yes, but he is Cooper copycat Number 8 at the Mountain News and the DZ. I interviewed him a few months ago, thanks to Snowmman, and posted the conversation here. You can also ask me for a free copy of my book on Cooper, which explores all the the Cooper copycat skyjackings that I have been able to identify - Cini through McNally. Just send me an email request at brucesmith@rainierconnect.com for an electronic copy of "DB Cooper - A Report on the Investigation into America's only Unsolved Skyjacking."

Quote Bruce, the whole issue of the reserve lines is covered here in depth: http://www.citizensleuths.com/pink-parachute-gallery.html Thanks, G, I'll pass it along. -BAS

Greetings Everyone, I was just asked by Fred Poyner at the WSHM to let everyone here at the DZ know about thier Cooerp exhibit online. I didn't know that they had one, and am glad to hear about it. Here's Fred email to me: ******************************************* Hi, Bruce. I know you are one of the regular contributors to the Dropzone forum, and just wanted to pass along a resource in case it may be of potential interest/discussion/debate for the group. Please feel free to share this link below, to our site. In the process of researching and developing the Cooper exhibition for our museum here, we have assembled a collection of oral history interviews, photographs, views of artifacts, archives, relating both to the subject of the Cooper hijacking, and the broader topic of air travel security history. Some of this material I’m sure you have seen before, while others are wholly original to this exhibition, such as the interview with passenger Larry Finegold and BJ Hickey, one of the Northwest staff at Sea-Tac the night of the hijacking. Gwen also filed a FOIA request with the FBI, as part of our research into the case. A couple of documents we received as a result of that are included with our online gallery to review and download. I hope you can make it out to see the exhibition at some point. Best, Fred COOPER gallery online -- http://collections.washingtonhistory.org/results.aspx?hl=222 Fred Poyner IV Digital Collections Curator Washington State Historical Society Washington State History Research Center 315 North Stadium Way Tacoma, WA 98403

Greetings Everyone- Robb Heady sent me an email today with some questions about DB Cooper. It appears that Robb is getting hooked on the story and the mysteries! He asked me to post his queries here for us to kick around. Here's his email: *************************************** Bruce, Thanks for sending be a copy of your new book. I read it and found the book to be very interesting and informative. I have not read any other books about Cooper, but your book seems to be the best accumulation of all the known facts, characters, sleuths and theories. Good job. Based on the information I learned in your book, I have some thoughts on the subject that you might want to bounce around at that DZ chat room. Weather was a key issue for me, and I assume it was for Cooper and McCoy. I picked a day with light to no wind and scattered cloud cover. You have to be able to see the ground to know where you are. Did Cooper pick that day because it was the best weather that week, or did he have to jump on that day because other days did not fit into his plan? I would be interested in the parachute he opened in the plane. Without D rings those reserve chutes were useless to him, but what he cut out of that one chute could tell us more about his plan. If he was going to blow up or throw away his bomb and brief case, then he would only make a money pouch out of the chute. If he was taking everything with him, then he would make a bag that he could lash behind his legs for the jump, and then lower the bag about 10 feet below him once he was under the canopy. The amount of material he cut from the chute would be quite different depending on his plan. So when does this book get published and where can I buy 10 copies? Congrats on the book. Sincerely, Robb

Greetings Everyone, I thought I'd share a report on the DB Cooper Music Festival that was held last weekend near Olympia, Washington, just beneath the early stages of 305's flight path. DZ bad-boy Meyer Louie was there and penned this account, which I have just posted at the Mountain News. It sounds like Meyer had fun and he is putting out a call for Cooper sleuths to join him next year at the Music Festival to spread some of the wealth of information about Coop we have gathered. ********************************************************** August 4, 2013 Report on the DB Cooper Music Festival at Medicine Creek Winery I attended the festival this afternoon at Medicine Creek Winery in Nisqually, WA. It was only 10 minutes from my house, so I thought, “Why not?!” I arrived mid-afternoon and had the option of paying $10, $15, or $20 – depending on how long I wanted to stay. I paid $15. I listened to three bands – mostly reggae and blues – it was all top-notch music – very nice. It was hot -mid 80s – but the Medicine Creek Winery facility was quite spacious, cool, and comfortable. The inside area was a nice bar and restaurant, with lots of elbow room. People were sunning, shading, eating, drinking, and listening to good music. The turnout was pretty good, and it was clean, comfortable - quite classy, in fact. I looked around for anything Cooper – any booths, costumes, or people just talking about Cooper – and all I found was one guy in the first band I listened to – he was dressed up just like DB Cooper – shades, black tie, dark sports jacket, white shirt. The resemblance was uncanny – shocking, in fact. He looked a lot like the sunglasses composite of Cooper. He was a bit young, but the resemblance was scary. Then he posed next to the composite of Cooper that was hanging on the wall (the official DB Cooper Music Festival poster – check it out on Google or Facebook – I’m sure it will be there) – and, except for being a little young, he looked just like the Cooper composite. I’m serious! I asked him if he was a nephew or grandson of DB Cooper, he said he didn’t think so. Other than that, there was nothing else Cooper at the DB Cooper Music Festival. I must admit, I was disappointed. The focus was the music, not our man. So I got a little creative – or so I thought. I asked around about who had any information on the man for whom the festival was supposed to be about. One of the concession ladies said her husband had written the Facebook ad about Cooper for the festival. I found him. Turns out he was a member of one of the bands. He acknowledged writing the piece on Cooper, and he said he got all of the information from Wikipedia. I had read it last night, on Facebook – most of write-up was correct, just a couple of glitches on the basic facts. He, in turn, introduced me to the emcee – the guy who was introducing all of the acts. I informed him that I am one of the guys who is still investigating the Cooper case. One band had just finished, a new band was coming on, so what does the emcee do? He gets up and tells the crowd there is an actual “Cooper investigator” in the crowd. He pointed me out and introduced me as “Louie” and encouraged anyone who wanted to talk about the DB Cooper case to find me and I’d be willing to answer their questions (okay, I agreed to this beforehand). I got several takers actually. It was fun answering their questions and talking about the many suspects and theories out there. Before I left the festival, I gave the emcee my business card and offered to set up a booth at next year’s festival. The booth would be an information booth about DB Cooper – books, articles, souvenirs, T-shirts, if you will - you know - real information and facts about DB Cooper – for whom the festival was supposed to be about. The emcee (who was also one of the event organizers) was open to the idea. So, next year we might have a booth. If it comes to that, I will ask for your assistance – volunteers, books, articles, souvenirs –whatever you think should go into our little DB Cooper information booth. There were some big name local sponsors for the festival – so, who knows, the festival may become a big deal someday. It was fun. © 2013 Meyer Louie

Hmm...I can see this a nice gesture on your part. Let me venture a couple of comments on that idea. First, the book is unedited. If you pass out too many copies free now, and later it is professionally edited, then the people who you allowed to have it will be comparing the final version to the unedited version when referring to it, or making quotes. If people in the Cooper Biz are going to make references to it, you always want them to have the best version possible. Second, if there are differences between Manuscript A and Edited Manuscript B, you will hear about that later in some form or another. There's an old saying in the publishing biz: Even an editor needs an editor. A manuscript is NOT a book. It is simply an unedited manuscript. My humble advice is to not release too many copies of the unedited version before you have the polished product ready. I have the greatest hopes for you, and I sincerely wish you luck getting that book published by a standard house. But they don't care how many people have the rough draft in hand. They only care about the finished product you submit. Even though I've edited more than fifty books now, I know better than to try and edit my own stuff. *** You are very welcome, Robert. I'm glad you enjoyed the gift. You are quite correct. Every book needs a good editor. That is why I am headed to New York for a spell, to find one, along with an agent and a publishing house that can give my work the support it needs to deliver my work to the greater public. Thanks for your encouragement.

Does anyone know if Tom Kaye's team, or anyone else, has found, on the money or elsewhere, any evidence that would point to contamination by anything that would be fed to cows or excreted by them? ***************************************** Bruce, I was hoping that you or someone else could tell me your findings in this matter. Robert99 Quote I know of no residues on the biils that come from cows or any other source. I've corresponded with Georger and Tom Kaye on the subject, and I don't know of any substantive findings along these lines. Galen also has a team looking into the subject, but again, I don't know any of his findings. I think the subject is an excellent one to explore. I would think that something would be on the bills that would tell us a bit about where it was for eight years prior to the Ingrams' hot dog roast in 1980. Welcome home. BTW, R99, would you like a free electronic copy of my book on Cooper? I have made this offer to all the DZ's readers as a way to soften up the resistence of the powers that be in the publishing world.

I might be wrong, but seems like I remember that cattle or cows grazed the Fazio property. Would that be significant to your question? Yeah, the Aliens got 'em in '91. Don't you read the Mountain News, girl...pass that bottle of wine, will you please. Some of us are getting thirsty tonight.

Jo often threatens litigation but she never sues. Never will. Galen and I are lawyers. There may be others here lurking. We never threaten fellow Cooper nuts with lawsuits. Why do you think that is? 377 No Money? More to the point, 377, Jo is now sending me XXXXX's and OOOOOO's. After all we're Cooper Kin. Just a family spat... ...ahem....but if there was was o.ooo1 more decibel of volume in her voice my little cabin would have been filled with itty, bitty shards of Japanese plastic, if you catch my drift...

Excellent question, R99. Please keep us posted on your findings.

Quote I called Paul this evening and he wilted in the summer heat of inquiry. He had no answers to direct questions, and refused to provide any corroboration of his claims. All he has is rapid patter, in my view.

I'm happy to call, but I'm not sure I have your phone number. I'll dig around, but you can always call me. I'm on Pacific Time and my phone number is listed in the "contact" section of the Mountain News. -Bruce

Greetings Everyone, I have just finished my book, titled, "DB Cooper - A Report on the Investigation into America's only Unsolved Skyjacking." As an open-sourced journalist I am happy to share an electronic copy with all the readers of this forum. If you would like a copy, send me an email at brucesmith@rainierconnect.com. In addition, I will be sending a copy to all those that I've spoken with about the skyjacking, such as Georger, Tom Kaye, Ayn Dietrich, etc. From all, if you spot inaccuracies or factual errors please let me know. Of course, the first copy I am sending is to our very own Jo - she's already threatened to sue me! You should have heard the phone message!!! Wow. Thanks, Bruce

Just when you thought there couldn't be any more news about Tina Bar, well, guess again! A film crew from the Travel Channel was there a few weeks ago and Galen has sent me this report. Jerry T was also part of the shoot, on the Washougal part, and he called me with some of the details, which confirms and supports what Galen has said. Here's Galen's piece: The Travel Channel is hosting a new series this fall/winter that will feature "mystery destinations." They chose the D.B. Cooper mystery as one of their top stories for their feature episode. Most of the filming was done at Tina's Bar in early July. This was a fairly expensive operation and involved several camera crews, sound crews, and a professional director. The host of the show is a former CIA agent with 20-years in the company. For the Tina Bar episode, we used several boats from the Caterpillar Island marina as props to gain river access to the money find from 1980. Also, I had my own science team on site, where we recreated our experiments at Tina's Bar and laid out our conclusions for the TC. All in all, it was a lot of fun spending a few days at Tina's in 90 degree weather. Ralph Himmelsbach was invited too, but he chose not to come. Instead, Jerry Thomas (yes, that Jerry) was invited too and he toured the Travel Channel film crew into the Washougal watershed area. My understanding is that the Travel Channel also hired some semi-professional skydivers to jump into the area of the flight path for a little background drama. It seems Tina's Bar is going to really get placed on the map again. The Fazio's seemed happy about the Travel Channel's appearance, even Al (who gets a bit grumpy whenever I show up with my science crew) Fazio was smiling. Galen

Here's Meyer's report: Exploring Tina Bar with Robert99 on Friday, July 26, 2013 I had the pleasure of meeting a great guy, Robert99, and spending the day exploring Tina-Bar with him. We spent the day thoroughly exploring the area in the immediate vicinity of the Ingram money find. Robert99 brought the township/range coordinates of the money find location, and -- after figuring out how to use his brand new, hand-held GPS locator -- we eventually found ourselves standing on the exact spot of the Brian Ingram money find – using the GPS coordinates as our guide. After taking a lunch break at a McDonald’s in downtown Vancouver, we came back to Tina-Bar and used Robert99’s metal detectors. We ended up scanning and searching pretty much every square foot of a 25-yard by 50-yard section just above the money find. It was hot, around 100 degrees where we were (Robert99 confirmed the temperature with his equipment). We both got real sunburned, and I came down with a little heat exhaustion - but some shade, lots of water, and a jump into the Columbia River fixed me right up. I’m getting a little ahead of myself. The day played itself out in stages. I emailed Robert99 from my home in the South Puget Sound area at 5:30 am, informing him that I was on my way to meet him at 8:00 am, in Vancouver, WA, at the Best Western hotel – where he was staying. I got there a few minutes late. Robert99 had tons of maps; he took one out and showed me where we were headed for the day. We took off. Our first stop was Vancouver Lake Park. We found a picnic table, where Robert99 took out more maps. Then he took out his NB6 parachute pack and harness (actual canopy not included). He thoroughly explained every part of the apparatus – and how it all worked together. Amazing information! We looked at several more maps, and I saw a 2-inch binder of just some of Robert99’s research. Amazing, again. Then we headed to Tina-Bar. What a great area – a couple of times we were fortunate enough to see Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens from the same spot. I followed Robert99’s nice, blue sedan in my pickup. We drove just past the Fazio Brothers sand operation and into the Fazio driveway. We stopped at the main office and got permission from Mr. Fazio (I didn’t get which brother he was – I did the asking, I must’ve been a little nervous) to spend several hours at their beachfront there, Tina-Bar. Mr. Fazio was very cordial and gracious; he asked that we not drive down onto the river road – where the fishermen were, members only. We spent a long time just walking around -- looking and exploring. I took several pictures - all day, in fact (several are attached). We met a gentleman there by the name of Jon Livermore (he gave me permission to use his name here). He said he had been fishing Tina-Bar for 56 years – that he had pretty much grown up there – give or take a few years. He was very helpful and cordial, and he answered every question we asked -- and much more. He talked about the cabin that was once there. It would be several feet off shore, well into the River by now. The cabin was removed before shore and bank erosion would have eventually swept it away. Jon said in the summer of 1978, he was able to drive his car here (he pointed out to the Columbia River – in the same direction where the cabin used to be). Jon talked about the sand and clay. He said the piles of sand all around us came from river dredging; you could see the original clay only close to shore. He said it was not unusual for the beach to lose two feet to five feet of sand in high-river runoff, and it would be even more in a flood event. Jon said the beach at Tina-Bar in 1980 was several feet higher (as in way over my head higher) than it is now. Several feet of shore have eroded away – it was painfully obvious, in light of Jon’s explanation. He said it’s only going to get worse. Jon also pointed to the shore sand and said to notice the slope, the steepness, of the sand itself, and also to notice the little “cliffs” at the top edge of the sand. “That’s erosion…where the sand keeps dropping off.” he said. “We’ve lost trees – the trees and shrubs [close to shore] will go too.” Beyond the top edge of the little sand cliffs was a ridge, an embankment of piled high dirt that ran parallel to shore. Beyond the ridge of dirt was a slight land depression – a little draw, if you will - that ran parallel to the embankment. We asked about that. Jon said that was a filtration system to keep cow feces out of the river. Robert99 asked if the Columbia River could have ever breached the embankment and gotten into the filtration land area. Jon said “No.” We asked Jon to indicate the highest water level he’d ever seen the Columbia River reach. He pointed to a log on the hillside, below the top of the embankment -- above and to the right of the money find, toward the Fazio’s. My estimate – about 10-15 feet above current river level. Robert99 will, no doubt, have a better estimate – gauging water levels isn’t exactly my area of expertise. Jon came by several times thereafter to offer his assistance. What a nice guy! Robert99 said we should check out a briar patch at the top of the embankment – just below the little sand “cliffs.” We hadn’t broken out the metal detectors yet. So what I do? I put on my winter coat, some long pants, and my boots (it was 100 degrees out, remember). I take just a hammer and a pocket knife and I cut my way through the briar patch – thorns and all – checking every square inch as I inched my way toward the center of the briar patch. I’m thinking that’s where the heat exhaustion and all those scratch marks came from, ya think? We did more exploring, more talking to Jon. Robert99 used his GPS device to pinpoint the exact location of the money find, using the township and range coordinates that Robert99 brought with him. We marked the spot, exactly. Around that time, Robert99 found some canvas webbing in the sand, not too far from the money find location. It looks like an extra wide belt (see attached photo). It has some lettering on it that said ‘AAR 77.’ Also, there is something else; it says ‘7,700 LBS.’ Can anybody help identify what this webbing is? Is it a parachute harness? Is it a cargo strap? What is it? We aren’t sure. Your assistance is needed – and appreciated. Thanks. Then we took a lunch break. We drove all the way past downtown Vancouver to a McDonalds -- and ate big. We were hungry and thirsty and definitely feeling the effects of the high temperature that day. When we returned to Tina-Bar, we got out the metal detectors and commenced to search every square foot of the embankment and filtration land areas – 25 yards by 50 yards I’d say. Thanks to Robert99 for the great gear, sophisticated instrumentation, and abundant information -- from all his years of quality research. We ended the day at Tina-Bar, late afternoon, then we drove back to the Best Western. Robert99 bought us a soda (and lunch too, by the way, thanks again). We sat in the air-conditioned Best Western lobby and reviewed our day at Tina-Bar. We didn’t find what we were hoping to find (a parachute, more money, lots of pretty dancing girls), but we learned a lot by being there. We explored, we asked questions, and we carefully examined and studied the immediate area surrounding the exact money find location at Tina-Bar. If there are any errors or omissions in my report, Robert99, please feel free to correct and alter as you see fit. I thank Robert99 for sharing his wisdom, knowledge, expertise, research, and hospitality. He traveled a great distance to be here today. And thanks for the invitation, Robert99 -- it’s a day I will never forget. Meyer Louie July 27, 2013 (Pix to come - BAS, or visit the MN.)

Greetings Everyone, Meyer Louie asked me to post his report of his recent exploration of Tina Bar with Robert99. The entire report is posted on the Mountain News - WA, and I will be posting it here as well. It has a selection of Meyer's photos, too, which has been a difficulty on my part to get them posted here at the DZ. I will try, however. In the meantime, here's the link: http://themountainnewswa.net/2013/07/28/db-cooper-local-sleuth-re-investigates-money-find-location/#more-6670

Talk about an optimist! LD allegedly drops the loot, can't find any of it and says "our money troubles are over" I like a guy with a positive attitude. Marla may be short on evidence but she sure lit up the symposium. 377 I agree, 377. One of the most sagacious pieces of advice that I received from my father was: "Never let the facts get in the way of a good story."

...This discounts interdimensional teletransportation via the Maldum Fornax Vector Diode according to Bruce Smith who runs Mountain Hi News ... not to be confused with RobertMBlevins Adventure Books Trolling Newsvine News! Any new Cooper Cult news? *** Yes there is, Georger! Just when I thought I had seen or heard EVERYTHING in Cooper World, the Tacoma News Tribune announced to day that there will be a DB COOPER MUSIC FESTIVAL at a local winery called Medicine Creek. It's a beautiful site and not far from Olympia, WA, which is like a mini-Berkeley. It's going to be on August 4th, all day. Twenty bucks gets you in. I'm looking forward to hearing the Bump Kitchen play their smash hit, "Who Ordered the Waffles!". (No joke). The festival's tag line is: "Just give me the music and no one gets hurt." Plus, they're using Compositte B (my favorite) for their posters. What's not to love???? So c'mon by, and don't forget the opening three weeks later of the DB Cooper exhibit at the WA Historical Museum in the old Union Station in downtown Tacoma. Tommie Kaye and the boys will tell us how it is! Remember, no funny stuff or I'll do the job, or at least I'll go looking for a real job...

Bruce, With all due respect, your "encounter with an interdimensional being" is a bit too much for some of us. I hope this being stayed out of your Cooper research. Robert99 Yes, Robert 99, I agree. I should have put a woo-woo warning on the post. On the other hand, it can be reassuring to know who the New Agers are amongst us! (smile). Rest easy, my Cooper writings do not mention any angelic encounters. However, I do discuss remote viewing in Chapter 28, though, so be careful when you read the book. Would you like a copy? I can send you an electronic version that has had two edits. No Index, yet, or Acknowledgements, however. No book deal either with a mainstream pub, so I am launching a hunt for a literary agent. BTW: In terms of a "Way, far out" rating scale, let's say 1-10, what would you give my Flight 800 story? 9.9? Just asking. You didn't ask me, but........ I can see the Blue Angel (we know em as hants and they can be dealt with swiftly by a root doctor if need be).... and I can certainly see writing a song with 4 bottles of wine on the tailgate of a pickup truck (hell we do that all the time with and without dixie cups).... but I'm having a little problem picturing you doing the free form dance thing for 3 days. That's kinda out there