BruceSmith

Have you seen the FBI quote about their capture of skyjack fugitive George Wright? That was a cold cold case (41 years old) but someone tipped the feds. The same thing could happen with Cooper. Some new clue could solve an old case. 377 Quote Here is the NY Times story on Wright's capture: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/nyregion/fugitive-who-left-in-priest-disguise-is-caught-as-painter.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print Also, my condolences to Red Sox Nation. I have never witnessed such an epic collapse. The Bosox were unbeatable for the middle half of the season. Neverthless, Go Yanks!

It's been said that your quote has been widely attributed to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, but I think it's been "purloined" by others. I love Mark Twain and his quotes, A quick google lookup revealed these..... that could easily fit several of our DB Cooper cast of characters.... "Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please" "Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live." "Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable." "Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't." "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." "I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way." *** "I never let the facts get in the way of a good story," as told to me by my dad, Alan W. Smith. He also said during a discussion of my narrative work on our family: "I always love a good fiction."

That's a very accurate statement regarding Bruce, if he will take it - This is what I mean by he needs to consolidate and focus his talent, ie. his interests. Otherwise he winds up being a Jack of all trades and Master of none. Mastering a craft usually happens by mastering one's self! Quote Okay, gang, I'm really focusing now. So, Jerry, as I have asked you before, what is the name of the 4th stewardess? Also, who is it that Curtis trusts exclusively as an eye-witness? BTW, Georger. I agree completely with your concluding comment that mastering oneself is essential to mastering any skill. Further, I applaud the use of the word, "master." That is exactly the word to employ. In my meditation it is exactly the vision I hold for myself.

Easy answer: He thought he had 'special' insight. They all think they do. Some are born teachers! Never need a lesson or training, schooling, apprenticeship, etc. Its a psychological condition (sometimes born of necessity) that often backfires. On the other hand, you have the real journalists and writers, some of who are untrained but willing to learn to perfect their trade, rather than preach-prove! In terms of raw talent I think Bruce is better than Gray by a long way! And Blevins isnt even in Bruce's league and Blevins knows it and resents it. But Bruce has a chip on his shoulder and can be undisciplined driven by compulsions without which he could be a very-very good writer/thinker. Bruce is fractured in his thinking - without that he could be a true professional sought after - people sense this in Bruce, in case he wonders. Bruce has real natural talent if he would only master it - Bruce could benefit from a Writer's workshop working with pros or working with true pros at a large newspaper. Bruce needs a lucky break that would consolidate and focus his talent. Writing is a very difficult profession. *** Thanks for the honest feedback, Goerger. I concur with most of your assessments, but dang, my arrogance is still shining through? Whew, I've been working on that sucker for some time! I guess it's back to the pondering chair....

Greetings all, With interest ascending upon the publication of Geoffrey's book and the posts in the Mountain News, I thought it would be timely to develop a list of DB Cooper links. Here's the list; if you have any suggestions for additional links, please let me know. This posted in the header of the Mountain News: Links to DB Cooper Information 1. “Legend of DB Cooper – Death by Natural Causes” is a book written by Ron and Pat Forman about their friend, Barb Dayton, who confessed to being DB Cooper in 1978. The Forman’s account reveals the life of an extraordinary being, who at the very least was the first person in Washington state to undergo a sex-change operation. http://legendofdbcooper.com 2. Geoffrey Gray’s book: “Skyjack – The Hunt for DB Cooper” is the most comprehensive treatise on the skyjacking to date. Gray had exclusive access to the FBI files, personnel and evidence, and his account of the actual events during the hijacking – and the dialogue between Cooper and the flight attendants – is gripping. http://huntfordbcooper.com/ 3. “Sluggo” is the pre-eminent historian of the DB Cooper skyjacking. He has studied and collected data since the incident occurred, and his web site is the authoritative place to review FBI documents, transcripts of cockpit conversations, and see TV clips from the early days of the investigation. A must-see for any Cooper enthusiast. Sluggo’s web site is officially titled: “Sluggo’s Northwest 305 Hijacking Research Site,” and its URL, n467us, utilizes the registration number for Cooper’s plane, which was the identification number painted on the fuselage. http://n467us.com/ 4. “The DZ.” The most famous and most widely read blog site on the DB Cooper case is a forum that exists as part of a skydiving web site known as “The DropZone.” Called the “DZ,” it is the wild west of Cooper sharings, and is not for the timid or thin-skinned: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3110098;page=1;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; 5. Lest we forget the FBI, here is their current Cooper site: http://vault.fbi.gov/D%20B%20Cooper%20 6. Of course, the Mountain News: http://themountainnewswa.net/category/db-cooper/

For all the newbies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpE1oyHWpG0 Thanks, Vicki. I hadn't known your story before.

Quote I like your thinking 99. Jo's behavior certainly calls into question her true agenda. If I wanted to find the truth about my wife, I'd get high speed Internet - wait! I already have it! That's right - I'm a journalist and it is a de rigueur tool for professional work. Time to get real.

No Vortex phenomenon - and I am NOT one of those wanting to be part of a grand drama. Surprise surprise and the mouse is laughing with Cherry Cheese Pie all over his face. You Will Never Know If You Don't Know Now! Duane was Dan Cooper. Quote 16 years, numerous hysterical phone calls to Geoff and me and others, and a failure to drive down to Tina or Flo and insist - or beg - that they take a look at a pix says you're in the vortex.

Hey Jo, I have an idea for a new quest for you to engage. Would you be willing to consider the possibility that Duane lied to you? That he is not Dan Cooper, but simply one of the 922 guys who have confessed to the skyjacking? If you would like to discuss why Duane would do that, I'd listen. I would very much like to learn about the Cooper Vortex phenomenon and understand the how's and why's of so many people wanting to be a part of this grand drama.

Quote So, Jerry, what have I exaggerated? Further, when have I quoted you inappropriately or misused information that you have given me? In general, the notion of permission is a bit of a tricky thing. When talking with a reporter, there is implied consent just by talking with me, especially for news-making strangers and public officials - everything is on the record. To go off the record, one must declare that specifically. Now, you and I have had numerous chats and the sharp journastic line has begun to blur - what is on the reocrd and what is just shooting the breeze? As I discussed with you in our last conversation, at this point I would clarify with you whatever comes up between us and seek your permission to publish. Typically, this means finding the correct phase or word that both of us are comfortable with before I go to work. Now, in emails the issue is a bit sharper. When I ask you specific questions about the DB Cooper case, that is on the record. When I just ask, "So, what's new," that's off. Copacetic? Lastly, whenever you have issue with my professional conduct I would appreciate it if you speak with me before you blab it to the world on the Internet. Deal?

Greetings, Pat Forman again shared some important information on the Mountain News that I thought the DZ 'hood would like to see. It's about DNA: First are her comments, followed by mine. ******* Pat Forman says: August 25, 2011 at 2:41 pm (Edit) Hi Bruce, Ron and I kept notes through the years that provided us with a chronology when we wrote our book. According to these notes, there was a story on the NBC news in 2000 that the FBI now had DNA evidence from the cigarettes. I have searched news archives and cannot find reference to that original report but I did find reports from 2000 that DNA was used to prove a skull that was found did not belong to Cooper. I also found articles stating that the tie was tested for DNA in 2001. We are now hearing that the cigarettes were missing when the physical evidence was sent to Quantico for “retesting” in 2007. If the cigarrettes and the tie were tested prior to then, the results should have been in the NDIS. Would this be something worth specifically asking of the FBI about if you get to talk to them again? It wouldn’t help to prove or disprove Barb as a suspect since the FBI won’t test her anyway, but it might help to retest the others against the profile in the NDIS from the cigarettes if there is one. Reply from BAS, aka Cousin Brucie: This is very important information, Pat. I didn't know that the cigs had been submitted to DNA testing - nor any DNA testing as early as 2000 - and did I know there was a re-testing in 2007. As for asking the FBI about this, here's the rub and to me is a red flag. The person I could talk to, specifically Ayn Dietrich, has only an elementary knowledge of the case. Further, I haven't approached the case agent Curtis Ng because I don't want to jeopardize my relationship with him over simple sleuthing, and I understand that initially his knowledge of the case was rudimentary - although he is quickly rectifying that situation. I don't want to use up any time or energy he might give me now when I will need it later for the big enchilada. Remember, Dietrich didn't know who Tina Mucklow was, nor, apparently, was she familiar with DNA samples from the hair strands. This happens because of the frequent swapping-out of case agents and turning over the PIO job to a similar slew of fresh faces. I've been on the case for three full years and have seen three PIOs appear in Seattle. In fact, one, Fred Gutt, I never got around to talking with. To me, this dynamic is an impediment to the investigation and thus, is a red flag.

Greetings everyone, Pat Forman, co-author of "Legend of DB Cooper - Death by Natural Causes" has been busy investigating the flight characteristics of 305 and posting them on the Mountain News. I thought some of her material was particulary astute, and asked her for permission to pass on her commments to the DZ community. Here it is: Basically what we learned is that a 180 to 200 pound object "leaving" the plane would not be noticeable in any manner on a plane the size of a 727, even considering the position (arm) of the end of the stairs in relation to the center of gravity on the plane. (The center of gravity is the point where the weight of the plane is considered to be concentrated. Arms are measured in reference to that point. http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aircraft/media/faa-h-8083-1a.pdf (This) is a good source of information on weight and balance. The charts for weight and balance considerations are created by the aircraft manufacturer and are only recalculated if modifications to the aircraft are made that would change the center of gravity.) 1. Even though the 727 was not pressurized at the time there would have been residual pressure inside the aircraft. There is a pressure door at the top of the stairs. The opening of that door would be the most probable cause of the "pressure bump". 2. The "curtsy" would have been caused by the lowering of the stairs into the airstream and the airstream pushing the leaving the airstream. (The way the stairs are built, the wind flowing under the aircraft could have initially kept the lowered airstairs from extending into that airstream. There are many things that could have caused the stairs to enter the airstream. The most likely cause would have been the turbulence of the aircraft on the night of the jump. However, it could have been caused by Cooper climbing down the stairs to determine that passing of a check point to allow for timing an actual predetermined jump point. 3. The FBI's test is flawed because the conditions that night were not duplicated. The weather was stormy the night of the jump and with the configuration of the 727 (flaps and gear down) the turbulence caused by the wind would have been magnified. Also, they stood at the top of the stairs and pushed the 200 pound sled down, making it nearly impossible to determine the exact position of the sled when the curtsy was felt. Also, based on our experts, the curtsy would have been felt when the stairs attempted to enter the airstream and was pushed back by the airstream itself. It could not have been caused by the 200 pound sled leaving the staircase. It is almost as if most of the "scientific evidence" being brought into this case are merely attempts to prove the FBI's theories, not attempts to determine what actually happened that night. I think Himmelsbach was closer to being correct all along. The fact that the Ariel area was searched so extensively that a small piece of the rear stair instruction plaque that blew off when the door was opened was found but no other evidence was found in the area, is better proof that the jump did not occur there than the flawed FBI test that the jump did occur there.

Thanks to Guru 312, here is a clickable link to the Ayn Sandalo Dietrich interview on the Mountain News: http://themountainnewswa.net/...le-fbi-spokesperson/ Hmmmm... it's not clicking. Ahem, Guru, could you help us out, a bit? Thanks. 2nd try, where I cut and paste the whole thing: Copy and paste the following into another post and you'll have a clickable link: http://themountainnewswa.net/...le-fbi-spokesperson/ Guru312 I am not DB Cooper ****************** Drats! oh, well.

Greetings everyone, The Seattle FBI PIO, who started the world-wide flap over LD Cooper with her comment that he is the Bureau's "most promising" lead, is back from vacation. I interviewed her yesterday, and you can read the report on the Mountain News: http://themountainnewswa.net/2011/08/18/db-cooper-report-interview-with-ayn-dietrich-seattle-fbi-spokesperson/

Simple. You don't look like Marla Cooper. Try hiring a gorgeous female assistant and have her make the FBI inquiries Bruce. The pharma companies figured out years ago how to get some face time with doctors. Have you ever seen a drug rep? 377 I dated one. (smile). Once. But we're still friends. Hmmm. I wonder what the name of Barb's doc was...where's that phone number? Arrrghh. So many DB Cooper files, so little time. Ah, but then I could sneak past the guards at Blevins' workshop at Auburn Days, too!!! And I wonder if Tina would talk to me then? After all, she talks to Jo. And maybe Jane would answer the door, since she talks to Jo, too! 377, ya just can't ask a woman to do a job you're not willing to do yourself; know what I mean?

*** Send me $27.33 and a couple bucks for postage, Greenie, and I'll buy you a copy at my Barnes and Noble and mail it to ya. Note: It might take a little while as my truck has a blown head gasket, but, patience is a virtue. "Skyjack" will be delivered. Promise.

No thanks Jerry. I like to speculate about the survivability of the jump but replicating it takes considerably more courage than I have. I'm the guy sitting it out when the winds get above 20 knots at my DZ. I'm the guy who lets the crazies do the crazy stuff and feels no need to emulate them. Snow offered to do it for $5000 and he really is a man of his word. He has no jump experience but is in great shape and has a LOT of ice climbing and rock climbing experience. I'd bet he'd survive and be able to walk out to a road. Some TV producers ought to hire Snow and do a special. Stunt men charge way more than $5000 for a stunt like this. You wouldn't need to charter a jet, a tailgate Skyvan, Herc or CASA 212 could fly at the same speed as a 727 configured for dropping. A Skyvan could be brought up from Arizona at moderate expense compared to a jet. Geraldo Rivera could narrate the show. Marla Cooper could be in it too. She really needs a break. I have jumpable radio telemetry gear that would give us his position, altitude, speed, course, heart rate, temperature and blood oxygen level (SPO2) . Amazon hinted that she could do the jump. How about it Amazon? Whats your price? 377 Quote This is truly a great idea. Wow. What a TV special it would make if done in Ariel this November! Let's see, I need money and I have three months to learn how to jump out of an airplane. Anbody got ten grand and a 727?

I have been asked in an email about my views of the FBI and their effectiveness and trustworthiness. Here is my response: "If the FBI wants the DBC case solved, then where are the 'DB Cooper' letters, the cigarettes butts, the hair strands and whatever was retrieved from the head rest, such as possible clothing fibers? Also, where is Larry Carr, why was he removed from the case? Surely consistency in the case officer is the best way of solving any case. Further, why did they bungle the LD Cooper scenario, calling it a "most promising" lead before they conducted fingerprint and DNA analysis? Lastly, where is all the stuff from Barb Dayton's family that they gave to the FBI for DNA analysis - Larry says he never saw it but the Forman's attorney delivered it to the Bureau and Special Agent Jeremy Blauser - after all he requested the material. Lastly, how come the FBI doesn't return my phone calls or emails? As for other questionable FBI investigations, how about JFK, RFK, and MLK. Everbody feeling comfy about those findings? Or how come not one single guy on Wall Street has been convicted of bringing the world economy to its knees? Or, closer to (my) home, how come the FBI surveillance team couldn't find the parole-violator-soon -to-be-double-homicide-perp down the street from me despite camping out in the woods for two weeks ( Daniel Tavares)? But the neighbors knew where he was and told me - he was hard to miss since he had prison tattoos on his neck. One of the neighbors even gave me the business card of one of the investigators, whom I called but then my editor received a phone call from the Washington State Patrol about my inquiry and I was pulled from the story. (Mauck homicides, Nov. 17, 2007; Detective George Mars, WSP, misidentifying himself as an FBI agent to my neighbors but was nevertheless actively participating in a joint surveillance operation with the Bureau in Graham, Washington from approx Oct 25 until Nov. 3. Personally, I don't think they were looking for the perp, but rather, the perp's handlers as I think the murders were a political hit. Archived at www.dispatchnews.com)."

For those new to the DZ forum and the DB Cooper case, I invite you to also visit my online news magazine, The Mountain News - WA. I offer an overvierw of the case and an investigatory look at many of the mysteries of the case. http://themountainnewswa.net/category/db-cooper/

I know we all have this view of the FBI as infallible, Quote No, we don't.

Geoff is in Bellingham, WA tonight, and then tomorrow he's in Seattle. I would go see him tomorrow except my p/u blew its head gasket Friday night coming home from a Tacoma Rainiers baseball game. Bob was talking about going as its just down the road. SF is next for GG, a one night stand if I recall. GG is also posting on his web site that he wants to organize a symposium in Portlant for the 40th. I think that is a great idea. I'm surprised that Geoffrey doesn't stop in here from time to time. For those contemplating seeing Geoffrey, don't be afraid. I find him him to be, generally, a nice guy. He's super cute, too. It will be curious to see how much he talks about the case and expands beyond what is in the book. That is one thing about GG - he doesn't reveal too much about what he knows when he interacts with others on the Hunt. Ayn Dietrich, the federal voice that launched a thousand Cooper ships with her "most promising" quote, is back from vacation, today, too.

Bruce Im going to post again about this. I will explain more if you like. I am concerned this happened and I dont know how this happened. All I do know is Geof surfaced more than a year ago (called Tom or something) talking about "two types of silver" attributed to me, and I never could figure out how he got that, or what I said to convey that impression. When it surfaced I issued an immediate advisory to Geof and Tom, so I have no idea how this got into publication all these months later. I thought it was a fluke and dead issue. If you or anyone has any questions about this I will try and answer. Let me just leave it at that and see if this surfaces again. But, the only form of silver I know about, found in the three bills Tom tested, is silver nitrate AgNO3, which was a byproduct of the finger printing the FBI did on those bills. Thanks, G. This is amazing. How can Geoff get it so wrong? Sad.

Georger, can you share your views on the meaning or importance of the silver particles imbedded in the linen fibers of the ransom mney? Geoffrey says you made an independent discovery of these particles that is above and beyond the silver nitrate residues from the Bureau's fingerprinting process. Can you tell us your findings? Thanks -

I loved Geoffrey's book. I thought his account of the hijacking was superb. In fact, he loaded it with so much dialogue and nuance that I stopped being angry that he had exclusive access to the FBI files! I'm grateful that he put so much defintive information in one place. It's a treasure. I love how Tina joked with DB, and how she stepped in when Flo was losing her cool. Also, I loved reading about so many of you here. I've come to know many of the DZ personalities, either meeting in person or chatting over the phone. It's like gossip coming alive. I thought GG's description of Jo, particularly her late night phone calls filled with hysteria, were spot on. And I didn't know Georger was such a scientist - responsible for the formation of the Citizen Sleuth Team. Whoa, G! Geoff's self-descriptions were very honest and courageous, such as his ruminations on winning the Pulitzer, and his paranoid night sweats in the Catskills. "So that's where he called me from when I gave him the phone number for Jay Unger. Wow!" I thought to myself. Now to the dangling facts and loose threads of his narrative. 1. Besides the 8 cigs lost, we now have missing hair fibers to discuss. Or at the very least, how come the FBI doesn't cite them as a source of DB Cooper DNA? Where are they, are they being used - or if not, why not? 2. How come Coss told me the NB6 and the Paracommander were his chutes? Gray says Coss had sold them before the skyjacking. What's up? BTW: GG is on a nationwide book tour. He's in the Seattle area next Monday and Tuesday. In addition, he's putting together a DBC symposium for the Ariel shin-dig. That should be great.

I trying to get a passenger list for Flight 305. I don't see it at Sluggo's. Can anyone please share? Thanks. I'm looking for confirmation on: Truitt Andvik Donahue Street