Skyjack: The Hunt for D. B. Cooper (45 page)

Duane Weber’s employment history from 1952 to 1974, as it appeared on a 1974 résumé; his awards and letters of commendation from Life Investors, Annualized Life, Annualized A&H, Michigan Life Insurance Company, Interlock Screw and Bolt Corporation, and American Income Life; and interviews with Jo Weber.

NOVEMBER 24, 1971. ABOARD NORTHWEST 305.

FBI interviews with passengers, stewardesses, Northwest officials, pilots, and others; author interviews with passengers; FBI files and documents; Teletypes and transcriptions between pilots, crew, and law enforcement; passenger statements following hijacking in newspaper reports.

DECEMBER 7, 1942. COVE CITY, NORTH CAROLINA.

Details from Richard Floyd McCoy’s childhood, family life, and schooling at Brigham Young University from
D.B. Cooper: The Real McCoy
, by Bernie Rhodes. Details on McCoy’s military record: court documents and exhibits from McCoy’s 1972 criminal trial.

NOVEMBER 24, 1971. ABOARD NORTHWEST 305.

FBI interviews with Northwest officials Hal Williams, Dennis Lysne, Mucklow, FBI summary reports, transcriptions of radio communications, Himmelsbach,
NORJAK
by Himmelsbach.

Clyde Jabin: Information on Jabin’s goof of Cooper’s name comes from the
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
, November 27, 2007. Another explanation for the error comes from Himmelsbach, who claims an agent gave the reporter the initials of Daniel Barry Cooper, who was ruled out on the night of the hijacking after police located him.

THE HUNT

Letters from alleged Cooper suspects to FBI, from FBI files.

AUGUST 24, 2007. APPROACHING PORTLAND.

Trip taken by the author; interviews with Himmelsbach,
NORJAK
.

NOVEMBER 25, 1971. WEST LINN, OREGON.

Accounts of the day after: interviews with Himmelsbach. The re-interviewing of the witnesses: FBI files. Search of the plane in Reno: FBI files. Quotes from Walter Cronkite come from footage of the broadcast, courtesy of Vanderbilt Television News Archive.

SEPTEMBER 3, 1969. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

Medical procedures come from the medical files of Barbara Dayton. History of Bobby Dayton: interviews with Ron and Pat Foreman, Rena Ruddell, Sharon Power. Postcards and letters of Bob Dayton, from
The Legend of D.B. Cooper
by Ron and Pat Foreman.

NOVEMBER 26, 1971. WOODLAND, WASHINGTON.

Details of search headquarters found in local news accounts and FBI summary reports. Details of the radio communications and pressure bump controversy: FBI files.

Ralph Himmelsbach: interviews with Himmelsbach;
NORJAK
by Himmelsbach.

The passages about local reactions to the hijacking, including quotes and descriptions of local suspects, are drawn from a variety of newspaper sources, including the
Seattle Times
, “Amateurs Hunt Dollars, Not Hijacker,” November 27, 1971; the
Seattle Times
, “Money Seekers Join Hunt for Hijacker in State,” November 27, 1971; the
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
, “Sketch Made of Hijacker” by Dick Clever, November 28, 1971; the
Seattle Times
, “Hijacker of Jetliner Steals Public Fancy Here” by Ross Anderson, November 28, 1971;
The Columbian
, “D.B. Cooper, R.I.P.” November 19, 1976;
The Barometer
, December 3, 1971, classified ads; the
Oregon Journal
, “D.B. Cooper Record Scores In Gresham” by Dennis McCarthy, December 30, 1971;
The Columbian
, “A Party for D.B. Cooper” by Bob Burnett, November 28, 1976; the
Seattle Times
, “$200,000 Question: Who Pushed on Door at Midnight?” by Dave Birkland, November 28, 1971.

MARCH 1995. WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.

Jo Weber: The death of Duane Weber and its aftermath are drawn from interviews the author conducted with Jo Weber. The passage and details concerning
Soldier of Fortune
magazine refer to the December 1994 issue of
Soldier of Fortune
. Details about money left in a bucket: “Skyjacker at Large” by Douglas Pasternak,
U.S. News and World Report
, July 24, 2000.

NOVEMBER 27, 1971, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

Details of agents’ investigation into parachutists: FBI summary reports. Investigation into the parachutes the hijacker was given: FBI interviews with rigger Earl Cossey. Boeing layoff statistics: “SEA-TAC International Airport: Part 3-Boeing Bust to Deregulation” by Walter Crowley,
historylink.org
. FBI investigation into Air America connection: FBI summary reports.

FALL SEMESTER 1971, BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, PROVO, UTAH.

McCoy’s medical condition:
D.B. Cooper: The Real McCoy
by Rhodes. Passages on skyjacker psychology:
The Skyjacker
by Hubbard. Mormon articles:
Lds.org
. Details about McCoy’s home life and idea to hijack an airplane:
The Real McCoy
by Rhodes and news reports from McCoy’s criminal trial.

NOVEMBER 29, 1971. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

Details about the first sketch composed: FBI files. Details about the Towncraft tie: FBI files. A list of suspects: FBI files. Accounts from those detained: “Hijacker’s ‘Twin’: Looks, Hobby Plague Seattle Sky Diver” by Don Hannula,
Seattle Times
, December 5, 1971; “The Hijacker is Everywhere” by Dick Lyall,
Seattle Times
, December 15, 1971; the letter “I am no Robin Hood,” from “Only 14 Months to Live,”
Los Angeles Times
, December 14, 1971.

AUGUST 24, 2007. WOODBURN, OREGON.

Interview of Himmelsbach conducted by author. Details of the hijacker’s description: FBI files. “A beautiful but moody woman,” from
D.B. Cooper: What Really Happened?
by Gunther.

DECEMBER 5, 1971. WOODLAND, WASHINGTON.

Teletypes from agents about the search: the FBI files. Details about suspects and descriptions and investigations of leads: FBI files. Himmelsbach’s concern about copycats: interviews with Himmelsbach,
NORJAK
. Everett Holt: “Accused Hijacker Bluffed, FBI Says,” the
Hartford Courant
, December 27, 1971. Billy Hurst: FAA reports. Merlyn St. George: “FBI Identifies Slain Hijacker Through Prints,” the
Hartford Courant
, January 28, 1972. Stanley Speck: “Hijack Suspect in San Diego Case Arraigned,” the
Los Angeles Times
, April 10, 1972.

FEBRUARY 18, 1970. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.

Dayton medical files, including psychological evaluations, surgical and nurses’ notes.
The Legend of D.B. Cooper
by Ron and Pat Foreman. Interviews with Sharon Power, Rena Ruddell, Ron Foreman, Pat Foreman.

JANUARY 6, 1972. MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE.

Experiment with the aftstairs and SR-71 search: FBI files. The discovery in the cistern: “Young Woman’s Body Discovered” by Steve Erickson,
The Oregonian
, March 30, 1972. Army search: FBI files and Bureau Teletypes.

APRIL, 1995. PACE, FLORIDA.

Discovery of “Dan Cooper”: interviews with Jo Weber. Summarization of hijacking:
D.B. Cooper: What Really Happened?
by Gunther. Memories and experiences of Jo Weber: interviews conducted by author. “Bloodiest forty-seven acres” and conditions inside Missouri State prison at Jefferson City: “The Wall” by J.J. Maloney,
Crime Magazine
, May 15, 2003. Experiences of James Earl Ray: “James Earl Ray” by Maloney,
Crime Magazine; Truth at Last: The Untold Story Behind James Earl Ray and the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr
. by John Larry Ray and Lyndon Barstein (Lyons Press, 2008). Conversation of Duane Weber’s family members: audiotapes provided by Jo Weber. “Crook, I guess,” recounted in “Smooth Talker at Beach Faces Robbery Counts” by Dick Morgan, the
St. Petersburg Times
, July 29, 1957.

AUGUST 25, 2007. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

Ken Christiansen’s history and childhood: interviews with Lyle Christiansen. Larry Carr and current information and theories on the case: interview with Larry Carr.

APRIL 7, 1972. PROVO, UTAH.

Richard McCoy’s hijacking of United Airlines Flight 855, and his parachute jump, his escape, and capture:
D.B. Cooper: The Real McCoy
by Rhodes. The response from neighbors: “FBI Captures Student, ‘Evidence’
in Skyjack,” the
Salt Lake Tribune
, April 10, 1972; “FBI Holds $499,970 in Skyjack Ransom,” the
Salt Lake Tribune
, April 11, 1972; additional news clips about McCoy’s arrest: Salt Lake City
Deseret News
.

AUGUST 26, 2007. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

The trip to Bonney Lake: conducted by author. Ken Christiansen’s habits: interviews with Lyle Christiansen. Details of Bonney Lake home: observed by author. Interviews with Christiansen neighbor and Kennth MacWilliams conducted by author. Hubbard “for these men, to command a woman,”
The Skyjacker
, by Hubbard. Tracking down stews: Hancock, Schaffner, and Mucklow, interviews conducted by author. Mucklow (“He was never cruel or nasty”), “Search Pressed for Hijacker,”
Seattle Times
, November 27, 1971.

JUNE 29, 1972, SALT LAKE CITY, MCCOY ON TRIAL.

McCoy in court; the feds lay out their case; Rhodes attempts to get McCoy’s confession:
D.B. Cooper: The Real McCoy
by Rhodes. McCoy’s escape:
Deseret News
.

NOVEMBER 23, 2007, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

Carr’s report on the evidence: interview with Carr. First encounter with the evidence: author. Lyle’s response to Kenny’s motive: interview with Lyle Christiansen.

FEBRUARY 12, 1980, PORTLAND, OREGON.

Names of suspects: FBI file. Himmelsbach struggles with case: interviews with Himmelsbach,
NORJAK
, by Himmelsbach. Indictment: “ ‘Dan Cooper’ Has One Year to Go Before Statute of Limitations Runs Out,”
The Columbian
, December 25, 1975. Money is found:
NORJAK
, by Himmelsbach;
D.B. Cooper: Dead or Alive?
by Tosaw; interviews with Patricia and Dwayne Ingram.

NOVEMBER 23, 2007, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

Larry Carr takes the investigation into cyberspace: interview with Carr. Carr’s exchange (under the name ‘Ckret’) on
dropzone.com
was posted November 6, 2008, and November 7, 2008. Details on
dropzone.com
: interviews and research conducted by author. Jerry Warner (Georger): interviews conducted by author. Cooper Days: “A Party for D.B. Cooper” by Bob Burnett, November 28, 1976; interviews with bar owner Donna Elliott; lyrics found on newspaper clips on the walls of Ariel Tavern. Ron Foreman and Cliff Kluge present Barbara Dayton: interview by author.

THE CURSE

Snowmman quote (“Jo, you’re seeing Jesus in the Toast”) posted on
dropzone.com
, November 4, 2008.

DECEMBER 2008, SIERRA VISTA, ARIZONA.

Tom Kaye gets the money and biography of Tom Kaye: interviews with Tom Kaye. A description of the ranch in Sierra Vista: observed by author.

AUGUST 1988, WASHOUGAL, WASHINGTON.

Living in the woods, biography of Thomas: interviews with Jerry Thomas. Titles, military posts and certificates, copies provided by Thomas. Presenting the canvas bag to Himmelsbach: interviews with Thomas and Himmelsbach.

DATE UNKNOWN, 1978, PUYALLUP, WASHINGTON.

Ron Foreman meets Barb Dayton for the first time: interview with Ron Foreman. Barb is depressed: interview with Pat Foreman. Barb confesses to the Cooper hijacking: interviews with Ron and Pat Foreman,
The Legend of D.B. Cooper
by Ron and Pat Foreman.

AUGUST 2000. PACE, FLORIDA.

Prison records of Duane Weber: provided by Jo Weber, courtesy of Doug Pasternak. Details of
Soldier of Fortune
magazine: found in
Soldier of Fortune
, December 1994. Jo Weber’s investigation and memories: interviews with Jo Weber. Details of Robert Kennedy dying near a clip-on tie:
Contract on America: The Mafia murder of John F. Kennedy
(Shapolosky, 1988).

JULY 26, 1972, BRIGHTON, COLORADO, MCCOY.

Richard Floyd McCoy’s escape from prison, letters to the judge appealing for a reduction in his sentence, and planning another escape:
D.B. Cooper: The Real McCoy
by Rhodes.

MARCH 1, 2008, CATHEYS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

Bobby Dayton and biography of his children: Rena Ruddell. Psychology of hijackers:
The Skyjacker
by Hubbard. Searching the Dayton ranch: author. Life on the Dayton ranch and interview of Sharon Power conducted by author; poem provided by Sharon Power. Billie Dayton’s recollection of Bobby Dayton and deathbed confession: interviews of Billie Dayton conducted by author.

AUGUST 2000, PACE, FLORIDA.

Jo Weber’s introduction to Bob Knoss: interview with Jo Weber. Jo Weber’s recollection of the paper bag floating on the river: interview with Jo Weber.

MARCH 4, 2008, WOODBURN, OREGON.

Search for the cistern and remaining ransom with Cliff Kluge, and Ron and Pat Foreman: interviews and participation of author. Notes of Barb’s confession: provided by Ron and Pat Foreman. Medical files of Barb Dayton, provided by Ron and Pat Foreman, courtesy of Rena Ruddell. Larry Carr’s discovery of the white parachute: interview with Carr. The discovery of Dan Cooper the comic: interview with Wayne
Walker, aka Sluggo. Details of comic book character Dan Cooper: from
Les Aventures de Dan Cooper
, Volume 1 through 8, Le Lombard Publications. Interview of Albert Weinberg, the Dan Cooper comic book artist, conducted by author with French translation by Valerie Fischer.