BruceSmith

There has been some question as to my assertion that 727s were used to "jettison commandos and material into the covert wars in Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam." I received defintive information on that happenstance in the past few days. I have the name of the pilot who has claimed he was part of those operations. I have the registraition numbers of the 727s he flew and the cover name of the airlines that supplied the aircraft. I'm in the process of directly confirming this information with the pilot. I'll keep y'all posted.

Report on Interview with Alex Hannaford, June 21, 2011 Removed by request of the original poster.

That's pretty funny Farflung...I'm sure I've seen an installed urinal when I used to build those monstrosities that the rich and beautiful tend to construct. I say I'm sure...but don't actually recall where it could have been...as I only use a urinal when pissing on the floor or gutter will get me arrested for lewd conduct...at home I just piss in the yard...it keeps the coyotes at bay. I personally feel if you can't just piss in the yard and need a urinal in the house you've already given up your manly status. hangdiver Quote Regarding in-home urinals, I don't know what I would do with one if I had it. To whit: I had to pee three times during the interview with the Japanese guys, and I did what I normally do - go out in the garden and nearby apple orchard and take care of business. I live on six acres, so "lewd and indecent behavior" charges are not something I worry about. But I was wondering what my Japanese friends from New York City thought of my personal hygiene practices. I thought they might have another story for Japanese television... BTW: They didn't pee once. But they weren't drinking tea, either. Hmmm. BTW: Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm glad I don't have a personal urinal. At night, when I have to pee, I use the toilet and forgo stumbling outside in the dark. Then, I welcome a toilet to sit upon as I am usually so groggy I need someting to keep me in position, if you catch my drift...

Which brings us to an important issue concering experiencers - the validity of recalled memories via hypnosis. John's sessions certainly brought forward some remarkable tales of extraterrestrial realities, but the even bigger mystery is what goes on in our own minds. What is the truth of us????? ****************************** John Mack is an OK guy, smart and highly educated, but he failed miserably as an impartial researcher of alleged alien abductions, sexual assaults and impregnation of Earth women. Now he gets all wishy washy and basically says that whether these events actually happened is the wrong question to be asking. When Harvard Medical school tried to fire him I was on his side, even though I thought his research was incredibly sloppy and biased. He embarrassed Harvard and those blue bloods don't like messy scandals that hit the press. The alien abductions didn't happen. You can bet your life on it. What he is chasing is sexual psychopathology. These abductees or experiencers hallucinated, dreamed or fabricated these incredible stories. Thank goodness their false claims were directed at aliens. Had Earthlings been the alleged perpetrators some might be rotting in jail on false sexual assault charges. Janet may have been suffering from something that altered her ability to accurately perceive and recall factual events. Alcohol, drugs sleep derivation and organic mental impairment can all cause these distortions. I don't think she could see the plane and if she could she couldn't resolve such details as extended stairs. Perhaps John Mack should interview Janet. He wouldn't care if she saw the 727. That's the wrong question. Don't take it personally Bruce. I like you and admire your hard work and unvarying civility. We just have orthogonal views on UFOs, human levitation and paranormal physics. 377 "unvarying civility.." gee 377, thank. I'll have to tell my mother. (Today was her brithday, too - 87 and still tootin'.) Sexual-Psychological pathology is the root cause of the abduction phenomena? Okay. I'm ready to believe you; can you share any evidence that proves that claim? For myself, I can assure you that I very strongly doubt that my abduction experiences were remembrances of literal events, that they were "true" in the usual meaning of that word. The Big Question, as Dr Mack has suggested, if not the literal truth then what are these experiences? By extension, where are recalled memories coming from that the hypnosis brings forth. If it's all sexual confusion and chaos, how and why does it manifest in this manner? If we understand these mechanisms, then what else will we know about ourselves? At the very least, knowing better these hows and whys will make us better witnesses the next time a hijacked airliner flies over our heads, eh? It'll also help us figure out who steals these planes, too! BTW: John Mack needs to talked about in the past tense. He died several years ago in London, hit by a vehicle as he crossed a street late at night. He was atending a UFO conference and had spoken there earlier in the day, as I recall the reported circumstances. BTW II: John did not fall prey to the "abductee Sirens," in my view. Initially, he was an accomplished and highly respected trauma doc working with kids in Boston. He used regression hypnosis very effectively with his young patients and achieved notable results. From that work, the "experiencers" started coming to his door and asking for help with their difficulties living with their abduction experiences. I never sensed that he or his staff were "sloppy."

It's more fun to ponder alien abductions than victim-witness psychopathology. Surely you can see why. Even a Harvard Med School professor, John Mack MD fell prey to the abductee Sirens. The lure of the fantastic always trumps the barely measurable attraction of a well designed research thesis. 377 Hey Three-Seven-Seven, why the knock on John Mack? He was a great researcher, and his literary work is very important. His shift, from calling folks abductees to experienceers, reflects his humility and judgement that he and his clients really didin't know what was going on. I was a participant in one of his follow-up studies, and I still don't know the literal truth of things. Which brings us to an important issue concering experiencers - the validity of recalled memories via hypnosis. John's sessions certainly brought forward some remarkable tales of extraterrestrial realities, but the even bigger mystery is what goes on in our own minds. What is the truth of us?????

I got this from Galen. As for dates, I think it was early 90s, when he also attempted to interview Tina.

I know it's in Calame's book, but it just isn't true. Thanks for the clarification, Sluggo. Can you shed any light on where Russ goes off track? Any reason why his perspective is incorrect? Russ in my opinion is both savvy and diligent, based on my moderately lengthy interview with him, his book, and information from him that others have shared with me - most notably Galen. Any guy who flies to Carolina and conducts an interview with Flo by shouting through her front door gets high marks from me. So how much does Russ get wrong, and how come he got it wrong? Was he mis-lead, do you think?

Now below is the new post by "Sheridan" - do they sound like the SAME person to you guys? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- So interesting. Just out of curiosity I Googled my name and was amazed. Page upon page of all sorts of information about me. Some was quite flattering. For a lonely old geezer it was inspiring. However I was stunned to find out that people were reading my book, The Idiot's Frightful Laughter. How could this have happened? Several years ago I was quite chagrin to learn that Bruce Smith had phoned my brother and crazy sister-in-law and printed their conversation on the site. So shocking. I several interesting tales that occurred to me the other day, but I'll save them until later. My nick name for much of my adult life was Pete, not Dan. It's interesting that so many people still imagine that D.B. Cooper is still alive. I thought that I solved that issue. I sent an email the other day to the drop zone in Cloverdale about 16 miles from here. They are a bit dubious about letting an 85 year old geezer make a jump and I sure and hell am not going to make a tandom. Well, I am a bit hesitant having osteperosis. Carr and Smith are FBI I assume. Enough said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note: The real Peterson already knew about this site and what was on it because he posted here. As for Peterson's stories that occurred to him the other day and he said he would save them till later - well, I for one would love to meet Pete in person and listen to and record all of the stories he can tell about his past - I personally think it is fascinating. This is the past that will just disappear into oblivion and the new generations will have no records of the early days of skydiving or the experiences caucasions faced with their involvement during the days of intergration. A good example is how little there is on the early days of forestry and smokejumping. Absolutely nothing to speak of on the Camino and Snowline areas. The records have been mininized, lost and thrown way. No one recorded these things in history. What is left of the history has been dispursed to different Fire districts in lots of states - Nothing was compiled in sequence and order and in its entirety, I regret I was NOT interested in the past before Duane died - I didn't realize he held History within his memories of prisons and what life was like back in the 20's and 30's. I was NOT looking back - only forward and now I realize how important the past is and was. Wish I could just travel back in time and redo my life...knowing what I know to day. I would have recorded everyday of my life no matter how insignifcant it was to me. I would have questioned everyone I met about their life and any involvment with any thing of historical interests. Wish I could remember the stories my great grandsmother used to tell about a wagon trains and the Indians - Now all of that is lost except the fragments I do remember. These Fragments are not enough for one page. Quote I agree Jo, so when are you gogin to write your book? Also, sharp analysis here on the inconsistencies in Bull Dog Pete's posting. However, that is the hallmark of Mr. Pete, in my view. His story is fascinating and filled with so many mysteries....

Quote Welcome back, Pete. So glad to see you are still on the planet, and poking your nose into the this little Cooper soiree online. I'd love to continue our conversation and email correspondence. May I call and write? By, the way, Bull Dog Pete, I am not FBI, nor any other kind of law enforcement or intel guy. I am very much what I say I am, a reporter, and now the publisher of the Mountain News, a new gig after my exalted career at the Dispatch came to an abrupt end last September. But, Pete, even if I was FBI, why can't we talk? You talked with Mary Jane Fryar for hours, and she told me you were the most fascinating suspect she'd ever interviewed during her FBI career. Hey, man, I'd love to listen to your stories, too! Also, Pete, your old buddy from the U District, "Bob," has his knickers in a super twist over you being DBC. I hope you have a chat or two with him and give him some peace of mind. As for posting my interview with your brother, I ask your forgiveness. I shouldn't have done that, and these days I don't. In my defense, I didn't know who I was dealing with exactly. Most of what I knew about you I gathered from your postings on the Internet, so that makes you a public figure in my eyes. Further, when I called you, you hung up on me and said you weren't Sheridan Peterson - at least that's what I thought happened. Maybe the guy I spoke with wasn't you, so again, if I'm wrong here I apologize. But in the communciations we have had, I find you a cagey guy and you don't always play it straight with me, in my view. That's why I posted about your family. Pete, I'm just looking for an honet, open conversation. If you want it off-the-record, we can talk about that. I'm flexible. You up for a visit? An in-person interview? A phone call to start things off? Emails? I'm up for the whole story: Your father, WWII, Vietnam, Mississippi, Nepal, the Philippines, China, Saudi, PNG, skydiving at 85, teaching Kangaroos how to write English, even. Whaddayasay?

Here's my own experience with Bruce Smith: He called our office in Auburn and represented himself as being with a newspaper in Pierce County, WA. I found out later he was only an occasional free-lancer for them and at the time he interviewed me over the phone, he was no longer with them anyway. So he lied about that. Then...when I wouldn't answer some of his questions, he posted the entire so-called 'interview' at Dropzone and blasted me about it. His main complaint was that I refused to give him the true names of the witnesses used in our book Into The Blast. I tried to explain to him that legal ramifications made this impossible. Later, the History Channel revealed their true names anyway, but he wasn't listening. He was simply pissed off I wouldn't just hand out sensitive information to a guy I didn't know and had never met in person. After that, I blocked his email address from my Gmail. I'm going to go out on a limb here. I believe his story about the interview with 'Amazing Stories' is either completely false, or he's been had. Take your pick. Quote Now you are lying Roberto-san. As we have discussed here before, I was a full-time freelancer with the Dispatch, from Nov 2006 until September, 2010, writing nearly 1,000 stories for them. As for your other characterizations of my actions, why do you smear me? Have I smeared you? You get a rough ride here, Robert, but not from me. By the way, I have been contacted about covering your possible gig in Graham. I have declined.

I wish Bruce would surface with the passages from Calame's book which Bruce thinks support his contention? It can't be more than a couple of sentences, can it? Quote What I referenced I got straight from Calame and Rhodes' book, pages 155-162, where they list the top 23 parallels between Danny B and Richard Floyd.

They contacted me through Sluggo, but supposedly told Bruce that I would not give them the rights to any photos. I did NOT tell them that - I agreed to give them more than they had just as long as they were ACCURATE in what they said about WEBER. Look at Wikepeda - that is NOT accurate, but I can't change it..because I don't know how to make the references they require. Things Bruce said are not accurate about Weber either. Belvins references his BOOK? What could I do that I could reference, probabley the only place I have ever been able to tell most of the story has been at Dropzone.com. All the other subjects have book references that are fiction and with authors promoting their subject - HOW objective is that. All I asked for was for them to run what they were going to say about Weber and let me proof it for ACCURACY - not he said and she said nor would I change anything unless it was absurdly inaccurate. Such as Weber confessed on his death bed 5 days before he died (How Many times to I have to tell people it was 11 DAYS before he died) and he was not on drugs during that entire time. Remember he was hiding the morphine tablets in his pillow and stupid me told the nurses - yet, when I found them he told me we had to go for a ride and he had something he had to talk to me about. Well, when I told the nurses he wasn't taking his pills they checked his mouth and then put a patch on him and he was gone in 48 hours. I guess he wasn't dieing fast enough for them. Stupid me didn't realize what they were doing. I am sad and tired tonight - Too much Crap! The FBI is crappy and life is crappy....why can't anyone get the facts about the crime straight and keep them straight. Quote I am carving "11 Days" into my desk top, Jo, so that I never make this mistake again! (smile)

Found this in about two seconds on google. Could this be the same show? http://wn.com/Amazing_Stories_(TV_show) On Youtube also. Quote Once again, Smokin' you deliver.

Konnichiwa, Bruce. And gozaimasu to you on the interview. I don't have a problem with people on this thread questioning the legitimacy of my posts. However, sometimes I have questions as well. I am reasonably familiar with Japanese television programming. After an extensive search, I find absolutely NOTHING regarding a current TV series in Japan (either in Kanji or English) that even makes a reference to the series you mentioned, i.e. 'Amazing Stories'. And you say that this series is now in its tenth year, but there doesn't seem to be a website for it, or any references to it on either Japanese internet, or the internet in general. There are no listings for this show on what passes for a 'TV Guide' in Japan, either. The only reference at all belongs to the American series from the 80's. Just saying. I would appreciate a response to this. I could be wrong, but I would like to see proof. Arrigato, Robert for your kind words. The lady told me she was filming a piece for "Amazing Stories" and that it was a show that has been running for ten years. Maybe I got bamboozled. Maybe it was a fake interview! Maybe it was two folks who want to know all I know about the DB Cooper case and just can't get enough reading the Mountain News and the DZ. Maybe they are fans who wanted to spend a few hours with their beloved, but didn't have the courage to just ask me for an audience? I don't know, Robert. I just don't know.

What is "FAA Flight Plan Stationary"? Have Farflung or Robert ever seen such stationary, or anyone else, whatever Bruce is talking about? In case you forget we already had testimony on the paper Cooper used for his notes. Smith's allegation is brand new. Quote This information comes from Calame's book.

Hi everyone - I was interviewed by a Japanese TV film crew today. Their show is "Amazing Stories" and has been running for ten years in Japan. They are doing a one-hour special on DB Cooper. They contacted me after reading a lot of my Cooper writings at the Mountain News magazine and viewed me as a neutral historian - someone who wasn't pushing a suspect or scenario. I was very impressed with their knowledge of the case. In addition, the producer, who also led the interview, Yuki, is exceptioanlly well read on the case, having read both Himm's and Calame's book. In fact, they had wanted to interview Russ as well, but their budget wouldn't stretch for a flight to Utah and another day of filming. They were passing up Ralph for reasons they never disclosed. They got up at 3 am in NYC this morning, flew cross country, filmed "B-roll" stock at Sea-Tac and got to my place by 3 pm. Whew. After about two hours with me, they were off to Portland and Tina's Bar, the Ariel Tavern, Lake Merwin and the Washougal River, which they will film tomorrow. I thought y'all might be interested in the kinds of questions they asked. I enjoyed it. Notes: Interview with Japanese TV film crew: “Amazing Stories;” June 2, 2011. Hi Bruce, Thanks a lot! I really appreciate it. I'll call you when we are around. But I guess we'll be there by 2pm. Here's the list of the questions. Thanks for your patience. Please let me know if you have any questions, or if there's any questions you don't have answers. Q1. At the time of the Cooper case, airlines and airports didn't do much to prevent hijackings, such as ID check, security, etc. Why was it? BAS: Airline execs thought increased security would be bad for business – more expense, increased fear of flying by passengers. Q2. When Cooper ordered the flight plan to the pilots, he specified that the landing gear remain down, in the takeoff/landing position, and the wing flaps be lowered 15?degrees. What was the reason for that? BAS: Plane was flying at its slowest speed possible to maximize safety for the jump; hence it needed increased lift. The extension of wing flaps to 15 degrees provided that. Q3. Cooper opened the aft door of the flight 305 during the flight, and he jamped out of the door. Is it easy or possible to open the door from inside? BAS: Yup, just lift the lever. But Cooper didn’t know that – one of the few things he didn’t know about jumping out of a 727. Q4. Why did FBI think Cooper has died? BAS: From what I gather via Special Agent Larry Carr’s numerous TV appearances and similar sources, the FBI now believes the jump to be very risky – it took place at night, in the rain, wintertime cold, over mountainous terrain, lots of trees, dark, Cooper couldn’t have known exactly where he was, etc. Further, the FBI presently seems to be trying to portray DB Cooper as a fool, i.e.: he was not dressed properly for a jump, e.g.: no boots, loafers, thin coat, probably no goggles or gloves, etc. Nevertheless, many commandos – especially guys in the US 5th Special Forces from Vietnam – indicated to me the Cooper jump was not only immensely doable – it was done all the time in Vietnam. Q5. How did FBI profile Cooper? BAS: Initially as a master criminal. Over time that changed and by Himmelsbach’s retirement, DB was called a sleazy, rotten crook who acted foolishly and probably was a burnt-out ex con with nothing to live for. More specifically, the FBI thought he was ex-military and probably ex-Airborne because he used the military chute that was provided and not the civilian sport chute. Now, however, the profile seems to be pretty wide-open. Q6. Did Cooper leave any physical evidence on the flight? BAS: Clip-on tie, six cigarette butts, one glass used for his bourbon and water, and the cut-up reserve chute Q7. What kind of investigation and manhunt did FBI do right after the incident? BAS: From what is public knowledge, primarily from Tosaw and Himmelsbach’s books, the day-after search was a hybrid affair of local law enforcement, FBI, and borrowed helicopters from timber companies searching in the area around Ariel. Plus, Himmelsbach flew on the flight path from Portland south to Reno. My sense of the ground search in Ariel was that it was rather superficial and not well-organized. I think they were just looking for a parachute, something easy to find, so they just gave everything a quick once-over. Q8. How did public see Cooper? What did they think about him? BAS: DB was almost universally perceived as a hero, and he still is. He beat the system, he beat the man. Movie, songs, T-shirts and more. 40 years later, even Japanese TV film crews are talking about DB Cooper! Q9. Are there any examples of them? (In Q8, they are expecting answers like, people see him as a hero.) BAS: Ariel has a festival every year to celebrate DB Cooper. It’s well-attended. Q10. Do you know the copycat cases that happened in the following year? (If you have any specific number of the copycat cases in 1972, please include that as well.) BAS: In his book, Himmelsbach says there were something like 18 more DB Cooper-style skyjackings in the year or two afterwards. Four made it to the ground with their money. One turned himself in after a month on the run, and the rest screwed up once they were on the ground, such as Richard McCoy in Utah. His was a well executed skyjacking but his end-game was poorly planned and performed, which got him arrested a day or so after the skyjacking. I wouldn’t call them copycats. In my view that is an incorrect perspective. The evidence is quite strong that Richard McCoy was not a copy cat, and in fact was in training for the jump before Cooper’s skyjacking. According to Richard Tosaw in his book, McCoy began advanced skydiving training in the early fall of 1971. McCoy also had a PTSD experience during that time, which landed him in a hospital – however, he was released after a few days and returned to work. I wonder if the hospitalization was related to the skyjacking preparation. Q11. Why does Mrs. Jo Weber believe that her husband, Duane Weber, was Cooper? BAS: As I understand Jo Weber’s story, in 1995 her husband Duane confessed from his hospital bed, about five days before he died of kidney disease. Jo’s been on a quest ever since and has found circumstantial evidence, such as Duane’s writings in the margins of books about DB Cooper. Most notably, she had an extraordinary road trip with him in the fall of 1979 through the areas of Portland and the Columbia River that convinced her Duane was Cooper. In fact, Jo claims that at one point Duane told her that a particular trail near Lake Camas in Washington is where DB Cooper came out of the woods. She says that when she challenged Duane as to how he knew that, he replied, “Maybe I was his ground man.” At the same time, Duane also threw a bag of unknown contents in the Columbia River - five months later the ransom money was found six miles downstream at Tina's Bar. Jo thinks that maybe Duane threw the ransom money into the river. Q12. Why did FBI rule out Duane Weber? BAS: It is my understanding that they have conclusively ruled out Duane Weber based on DNA. Q13. Why did FBI suspected Richard McCoy as Cooper? BAS: Many in the FBI felt that Mc Coy was Cooper in the months after McCoy’s skyjacking. Russ Calame and Bernie Rhodes, in their book, DB Cooper – the Real McCoy, indicate there are many compelling pieces of evidence to draw that conclusion. Most notably are the credit card receipts for gas the day of the skyjacking, and a collect call on Thanksgiving Day, the day after the Cooper skyjacking – all from Las Vegas. It blows McCoy’s alibi that he was home having T-Day dinner with his family. Why the Seattle office of the FBI believes McCoy’s alibi, I have no idea. But Calame didn’t buy it and still doesn’t – nor does Himmelsbach, one of many aspects of the case in which Ralph disagrees with the established FBI perspective. Ralph also disagrees with the current view on the flight path, the wind direction and speed, and a few other things. Also, McCoy conducted himself in a similar fashion to Cooper. They both used FAA small plane flight plans as paper to send their instructions to the cockpit during the skyjackings despite the fact that the use of this stationery was not made public by the FBI after Cooper’s skyjacking. Also, McCoy and Cooper both sat in identical seats relative to the size of the plane – McCoy’s was a newer and longer 727 than Cooper’s, so that they had an optimized view of the activities on the ground during the transition phase of the skyjacking, particularly the loading of fuel and the position of the fuel trucks. Both Cooper and McCoy orchestrated their operations in a very similar manner. Q14. Voulunteer team, including Mr. Tom Kaye, has been working on the scientific research on this case, especially the bills found at the river bank in 1980. What kind of conclusion/persumption do they have? BAS: Tom Kaye and the Citizens Sleuth Team worked with Larry Carr on the case and investigated in some very creative and innovative ways, such as trying to determine the biological signatures of the ransom bills found at Tina’s Bar. What creeks and rivers did those bills pass through, if any? Were there any diatoms on them, or other aquatic creatures, that would suggest where the money had spent the previous 8.5 years? Also, Kaye looked at the pollen on the tie, again, to see where the tie had been. The CST also investigated the ransom money, determining that the rubber bands could not have stayed intact around the money for the eight years. Also, they determined, as I understand it, that the black discoloration of the money was from the sliver nitrate the FBI used in searching for fingerprints. Why the FBI hadn’t made that information known prior, I don’t know. However, I have not seen or heard any definitive conclusions, or a written report, from Kaye or the CST. When I last asked Tom about his pollen findings he said he needed more time, and he had already been on the hunt for over a year. I had asked him a year ago, so, Kaye’s had the stuff for two years or so. I don’t know what’s going on. Q15. How did FBI get the partial DNA from clip-on tie? From what, from which part of the tie, etc. BAS: It is my understanding that the DNA samples are from epithelial cells found on the clip. I believe they are finger tip skin cells. I got that from Larry Carr, the case agent a few years back. However, Carr acknowledged to me that the FBI doesn’t know for sure that these cells came from DB Cooper’s fingers. They could be somebody else’s, too. Further, the tie is a suspect piece of evidence. Calame says in his book that none of the FBI agents gathering evidence in Reno saw the tie, nor did they collect it. In addition, Calame writes that the tie did not enter the evidentiary collection in Seattle until four days after the skyjacking, so where was the tie during those four days? Plus, it has been handled by many agents in the past forty years who had no knowledge of how to protect it from microscopic skin cell contamination. Is it possible to conduct a reasonable DNA matching test with the sample? (See above) In addition, I have quick questions about Tina Bar. Would it be possible to film the sign of Tina Bar without entering the property? Do you know the specific place of the sign? BAS: The sign is on the river bank, far from the road. You’d have to get permission from the Fazio’s to enter their property and head on down to the river. I spoke with Al last week and he told me the Columbia is at flood stage and the water is up to the top of its banks. He feels it is too dangerous to go there and film. However, you can go the County Park a few miles from the Fazio’s, Frenchman’ Bar, and take pix of the Columbia from there safely. Many thanks, Yuki

Not true. A press conference was held almost immediately. Himmelsbach notified the media and invited them in with the Ingrams. Seattle was notified instantly. The media was all over the site at Tina Bar including in the air over the excavation. Where did you get the idea H witheld info ? Quote The following comes from Galen, who says he got it recently from a retired FBI agent. Also, Al Fazio didn't know about the money find until he was drving back from a cattle auction and found his road blocked. That tells me that the Portland FBI office either reacted with rapid response and-or kept their plans very quiet. Here's Galen's perspective: The Seattle FO was not apprised of the 1980 Columbia River find by the Portland FO. The NORJAK case handler up in Seattle learned about it in the Seattle Times the next day. No courtesy call by Himmelsbach to the NORJAK case agent in Seattle. Hurt feelings, yes, but mostly pissed off. Seems Mr. Himmelsbach was trying to get the attention directed only to him. This is part of the reason why NORJAK is rather messed up. The evidence is scattered around at various FO's and there was lots of animosity among agents in 1970's and 1980's as to who was really in charge of NORJAK. Himmelsbach had some enemies in the FBI and has some explaining to do to the public as to why the DB Cooper letter to the Portland Oregonian newspaper was never published. Bruce, I got this info from a retired agent. Beat goes on, Buddy.

Any ideas what this physical detail is? 377 Not a clue.

I have always known. So Sparks - whadda ya know?

Quote I am. You?

Bob and I went to Lake Washington High School today, and here are my preliminary findings. Librarian Mary Mason showed us three year books, 1963, 64 and 65. Pictures of Sheridan L. Peterson were in all three and Bob confirmed that they were of the guy who had lived with him for a month in 1961. Mary is one tough librarian. When she saw the 1964 header for SLP, which listed Petey's former occupations as (M)marine, smoke jumper, logger, writer, editor of various newspapers, and technical writer for Boeing, she said, "What a load of b....t" It does seem incredulous that Petey could do all of that stuff. Curiously, he doesn't tout his three kids or his time as a Bubbleator op. LWHS did not have any color photos of Petey, so eye color is still unconfirmed. However, Petey was half-bald! Just a whiff on top and the sides. Nuttin' on the front half, so if he's Danny Boy, he had to be wearing one sharp toupee on November 24th. Plus, he must have really worked out physically between '64 and '71, cause he looks old in the pix. I will endeavor to procure a scanner of our pix and have them available to you guys on the DZ. Mary gave me half a dozen names of colleagues of Petey who are still alive and in the Kirkland-Redmond area. That's on the list of things to do. Nevertheless, the pix I saw today seemed reasonably similar to the pix that Snowmman had provided of Petey - the pix from the University of Missouri, a yearbook, I believe. Also, Bob says that a friend of his researched Marine Corps records and found no trace of a Sheridan L. Peterson having served in WWII. Bob and I had an interesting conversation as we drove from Seattle to Kirkland. Could DB have played tag with Flight 305 across America Nov 24, loading jumping gear into the overhead bins, let's say on the first leg at Washington DC that morning, then catch a cross-country flight to beat 305 to Portland, where he rejoined 305? This way he could have had lots of gear on board for the jump. I have never heard anyone discuss this angle. Has it been considered? Lastly, another weird Cooper-esque factoid popped up at LWHS. The school nickname is the "Kangaroos." Bob and I were flabbergasted to see kangaroo statuary and pix all over the place. "I guess folks in this place like to jump," Bob dead-panned. It was priceless.

Bob and I are gonna go take a trip down memory lane at Lake Washington High School this week and look at old year books. It'll be interesting to see if the Petey who says he was a teacher there looks like the Dan who was a boarder at Bob's.

...My potemtial witness replies, "Well let me talk to my husband about this before I say anything". The next day I get this (secret) phone with someone I cant even identify saying: "If you are who you say you are call Harry and he will talk to you". But I have no idea who Harry is! WHO IN HELL IS HARRY? That was two months ago and I'm still sitting here scratching my head wondering what to do next, or if this issue is even worth the monumental effort I'm having to expend just to get to some body to call me back anonymously saying, "Call Harry if you want to know about Aunt Edith! HARRY WHO !? And this can happen over and over again ... It's no wonder it took Blevins 2 years to nail down just the few suppositions he relies on, if he encountered anything like I have encountered, almost routinely. Interviewing can be exceedingly difficult. I hate interviewing people! Quote I empathize, G. Going back a few posts or so, do you have any names or specifics on who did what from the Vancouver FBI office on the evidence retrieval down at Tina's Bar? It sounds like you have a very comprehensive grasp on the subject. On a somewhat related part of the case, do you know what Tina was doing across the river in Gresham at this time - or just before? Do you have any information on why Tina left the area, and did the money find have anything to do with her departure? Any wacky rumors from that wonderfully loquacious family of yours?

yes they do. One or the other is always on the chicks or tending them. If both are there one tends the chicks while the other sits off to the side and they trade places at least once a day. Barely a day goes by without one or the other taking off and bringing back food. When one leaves they may be gone for quite a long time before returning. I havent picked up a solid pattern yet except food always shows up within 48 hours of the last time. Sometimes you can hear the other one near by (like right now chirping) but not showing up in the camera. The stamina of these birds is impressive. Seeing as we are off-topic ... when we lived upcountry I came home one day to find a "kwevoel" or grey loerie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Go-away-bird) hopping around on the lawn ...with 2 cats in close and keen attendance. The birds nested in a tree in our garden and I had hardly ever seen them on the ground, much less playing tag with the cats. I looked up at the nest... and there was the other adult, clearly trying to teach the chick to fly, so I can only assume the one on the ground was trying to distract the cats from the chick. I've looked at birds in a different light since that day. Quote Bald Eagles regularly appear in the northern reaches of Cooper County, especially in winter, as they follow the chum salmon runs. I saw a pair in February when I did a story on the Nisqually Delta Wildlife Refuge. Also, out here on the Deschutes River in WA. I'll have to check out the Decorah, Iowa boids - everybody's talking about them - they're on the radio, too!

Im enjoying all of this. Never had one problem antenna-neighbor-wise. Over the years have even got the local utility to make changes to accomodate my hobby. Quote You guys actually have lawns????