georger 244
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377 22
QuoteOh, I think they would have found it by now in the area he jumped. I updated my previous post on this with a better Google map with better markers.
That area of Washington is not 'wilderness' or heavy mountain terrain. It is mostly lowlands, homes, farms, small towns, a lot of roads, and the National Forest areas are heavily used by thousands of campers, hikers, loggers, Boy Scouts, four-wheel enthusiasts, hunters, fishermen, and a LOT of mushroom hunters.
I believe the parachute they found WAS Cooper's. I already gave the case why a few posts back. Check the improved map, but read the last few lines of the post first to make sense of the map.
********************
If the found canopy was indeed silk then it is HIGHLY doubtful that it was Cossey's emergency chute. I started jumping in 68 and have jumped lots of old surplus gear, but ALL the canopies were nylon. My first main chute was dated 1951 It was an orange and white C9 jet ejection canopy made from 100% ripstop nylon, not silk. Nobody in their right mind, especially a rigger, would be carrying a WW 2 vintage silk canopy as their last chance chute in 1971. I am not even sure if they were TSO'd for use as emergency parachutes in 71.
377
2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.
Quote
Keep up with the times and the news. It was on National TV new programs.
And the very same could be said of you.
Keep up! Smarm Obsession is not proof!
Duane asked you to STOP! in 1 9 9 5 .
What does Smarm mean?
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
Farflung 0
A strange and terrible incident in the Bay Area Skydiving DZ (Calif) the other day. Some guy went jumping and didn't return home so his family notified the police. After a search of the area his body was found about half a mile from the DZ with both chutes in their containers. This was surprising on several levels.
First is the environment around Byron Airport. This is one of the most bucolic spots between the Central Valley and the foot hills towards the Bay Area. Very flat, virtually treeless and open makes for a simple search area. Yet it took a fair amount of effort to find his body knowing precisely where he jumped on a sunny afternoon.
Secondly, the jump pilot and any people on the ground were too absorbed with what ever they were doing to notice a jumper with a big wad of canopy in his arms had not returned. Do people typically shove their deployed chute in the back of their cars and drive home after a second jump? I'm a bit (much actually) surprised there is not a ground observer counting canopies and letting the jump pilot know when it is all clear. If one was to experience a failure and survive with a couple broken legs, it appears they would be doomed none the less. Cross check equipment, cross check each other then you're on your own. I realize this would have changed nothing in this case, just trying to imagine how a jumper can meet such an end without any first hand notice.
Which brings up the probability of a person glancing up, at night, just in time to observe a person throwing flares and departing the rear of an aircraft. So many witnesses to this event who were not jumpers or involved in aviation and no one from Byron Airport observed a man falling to his demise. Jumpers, pilots and the usual crowd at an airport on a summer day with out so much as a "What about Bob?" uttered.
It is chilling to read about any such tragedy and somehow worse that there was not a process in place to track such a short and quick journey, with such high risk involved.
First is the environment around Byron Airport. This is one of the most bucolic spots between the Central Valley and the foot hills towards the Bay Area. Very flat, virtually treeless and open makes for a simple search area. Yet it took a fair amount of effort to find his body knowing precisely where he jumped on a sunny afternoon.
Secondly, the jump pilot and any people on the ground were too absorbed with what ever they were doing to notice a jumper with a big wad of canopy in his arms had not returned. Do people typically shove their deployed chute in the back of their cars and drive home after a second jump? I'm a bit (much actually) surprised there is not a ground observer counting canopies and letting the jump pilot know when it is all clear. If one was to experience a failure and survive with a couple broken legs, it appears they would be doomed none the less. Cross check equipment, cross check each other then you're on your own. I realize this would have changed nothing in this case, just trying to imagine how a jumper can meet such an end without any first hand notice.
Which brings up the probability of a person glancing up, at night, just in time to observe a person throwing flares and departing the rear of an aircraft. So many witnesses to this event who were not jumpers or involved in aviation and no one from Byron Airport observed a man falling to his demise. Jumpers, pilots and the usual crowd at an airport on a summer day with out so much as a "What about Bob?" uttered.
It is chilling to read about any such tragedy and somehow worse that there was not a process in place to track such a short and quick journey, with such high risk involved.
377 22
I've jumped at Byron and so has Amazon. It is a caring kind of DZ and not at all the cold impersonal place that the tragic story implies. "Byron Love" is a legendary phrase denoting the unique vibe at the DZ and in my experience it is accurate.
I read that the jumper was kind of a loner and often departed after his last jump by walking to his vehicle with his unpacked rig and departing without any formal good byes. Still, it shouldn't have happened. He was on a 3 way jump out of the King Air. He reportedly went in as a no pull and didnt have an AAD. He was in his mid 50s. Perhaps he was incapacitated during freefall and was unconscious at pull altitude. An AAD might have helped.
377
I read that the jumper was kind of a loner and often departed after his last jump by walking to his vehicle with his unpacked rig and departing without any formal good byes. Still, it shouldn't have happened. He was on a 3 way jump out of the King Air. He reportedly went in as a no pull and didnt have an AAD. He was in his mid 50s. Perhaps he was incapacitated during freefall and was unconscious at pull altitude. An AAD might have helped.
377
2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.
QuoteI've jumped at Byron and so has Amazon. It is a caring kind of DZ and not at all the cold impersonal place that the tragic story implies. "Byron Love" is a legendary phrase denoting the unique vibe at the DZ and in my experience it is accurate.
I read that the jumper was kind of a loner and often departed after his last jump by walking to his vehicle with his unpacked rig and departing without any formal good byes. Still, it shouldn't have happened. He was on a 3 way jump out of the King Air. He reportedly went in as a no pull and didnt have an AAD. He was in his mid 50s. Perhaps he was incapacitated during freefall and was unconscious at pull altitude. An AAD might have helped.
377
What a tragedy! Wonder if it was anyone who reads or partipates in the DZ forums. It has probably been announced in some of the other threads and I feel badly for his family.
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
quade 4
QuoteI believe the parachute they found WAS Cooper's. I already gave the case why a few posts back. Check the improved map, but read the last few lines of the post first to make sense of the map.
Well, that simply doesn't make any sense.
What possible reason could the FBI have for withholding the truth of that? It's certainly not something that's going to be used as a "secret" piece of evidence to flush out the "real" DB Cooper. It's silly to think so.
Carr was a bit of a glory hound with the case. He certainly publicized it as much as anyone holding the files has. I find it unreasonable to assume he'd hide the truth in this particular instance. From everything I've ever seen in the papers and read here, he'd be on top of a building somewhere proclaiming it as a major find -- which it would have been and he'd be justified in doing so.
What possible reason can you give that he'd withhold the truth about it?
quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver
The World's Most Boring Skydiver
377 22
NB 6 refers to the harness and container assembly not the canopy. The NB 6 and NB 8 were, as I recall, Navy rigs. The Navy used 26 foot diameter conical canopies and 28 foot diameter C9 round canopies. Colors I've seen included white, orange, brown and green. I've never seen pink in a stock military canopy. Skydivers did, especially in the 60s, dye surplus canopies, usually white ones. Tie dyed canopies were common. Solid non mil spec colors too. Never saw pink though. Male skydivers frown on pink. Homophobia? Who knows. I got an absolute steal on a pink reserve once. It was too big for most women (200+ sq ft) and no guy (except me) would buy it.
If the chute found buried at Amboy was pink I doubt if it was a stock military chute. Riggers: do you agree?
377
If the chute found buried at Amboy was pink I doubt if it was a stock military chute. Riggers: do you agree?
377
2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.
QuoteQuade says:
Quote'Well, that simply doesn't make any sense.
What possible reason could the FBI have for withholding the truth of that? It's certainly not something that's going to be used as a "secret" piece of evidence to flush out the "real" DB Cooper. It's silly to think so.'
I didn't say the FBI was keeping a secret. I said Porteous and I have a theory about the chute, and that we think the FBI might be wrong. Did you read the post? It's explained in better detail on one of the 21 images on our website, the album on the Photo Albums page at: http://www.adventurebooksofseattle.com
Look, I'll freely admit I'm not a parachute expert, but I have to ask something. Did the military use NB6 chutes in the color pink? That's not a smartass question, but a real question. The Amboy parachute was pink.
Mr. Blevins, You need to go back into this thread and read it from the very beginning and you will find all the answers to your questions about pink parachutes!![[:/]](/uploads/emoticons/dry.png "[:/]"){kind=small}
These guys in this forum have taught me lots of things and I appreciate every bit of it - even when they came down on me and they still do.
Everything you are mentioning about that NB6 find has been discussed throughly in this thread. Seems like you expect everything to be handed to you on a silver platter and that it is NOT necessary for you to do the actual research - I am talking about the kinds of things this thread and these guys have done and myself by just coming here and putting myself at their mercy.
Whew! Sorry guys, but I just had it with this man - can't he take the time to go back thru the many thousands of posts and find the answers. You guys did the research and had the discussions, but this guy wants it all repeated so he doesn't have to lift a finger to dig it out. If you want the credits Mr. Blevins - earn them.
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
QuoteBruce: I'm not answering your questions directly anymore.
You represented yourself to me as requesting an interview for a newspaper in Pierce County, and I agreed to a phone interview. Instead, you took the results and posted them on this forum, which I found completely unprofessional. You didn't even have the courtesy to notify Adventure Books about it.
Try to deny this, and I may post your interview requests publicly.
Anything else you can find on the Press and Media Info page at Adventure Books of Seattle.
I don't understand your hostility, Robert. I thought I had fully disclosed my journalistic intentions - Yes, I wanted to interview you for an article in the Pierce County Dispatch, but that was contingent on you making an appearance in its coverage area, which has not happened as far as I know.
I thought I had also told you that I have been conducting a broad inquiry into the Cooper case for a possible book and/or magazine article. To whit: I remember specifically asking you for the contact information of the main characters in "Blast" so that I could interview them.
Regardless, I am not in the habit of telling my interviewees of every pitch, publication and blog post in which my writing finds a home. That is unprofessional in your view?
Now, as one journalist to another, to aire one's dirty laundry in a public forum like this - now that's unprofessional in my view. If you've got a beef with me, buddy, you should have discussed it with me personally before taking it to the "net. I'm angry at what you've just posted, and I felt a response in this forum was necessary and I wanted all to know where I stand. But, I 'm done. Any further discussion about your feelings towards my professional conduct, or vice-versa, I will persue with you privately.
As for why I made a few DZ posts directed towards you, I felt the forum called for it since you've made a goodly number of postings in the past few weeks and have made a few assertions that are highly questionable. Hence, I addressed them with information that I had with the intention of enhancing the overall pursuit of DB Cooper.
georger 244
If the chute found buried at Amboy was pink I doubt if it was a stock military chute. Riggers: do you agree?
377
377
Thre UPI/FBI release said the Amboy
chute: was made of silk not nylon, and did
not have a "harness container," which Cossey's specially packed NB6/28ft had ... experts cited
are Cossey and "other parachute experts".
Color of chute is not even mentioned in the press
release.
377 22
Quade, Please let Snowmman back. Look at what a resource he is:
I am taking the liberty to post Smowmmans findings since he, not his research results, were banned.
From Snowmman:
I managed to break into Seattle FBI again, and found a unreleased picture of the amboy chute. (the last pic).
The second pic is with robbie, that was released to the news. You can see the inset DOM. But the new picture is better and shows more realistic color and where it is on the chute.
Now with regard to the Walling jump in 1945. It's interesting for "precedent" because it was in winter, and involved a walkout.
I don't think anyone posted the full details before. The Dec 1945 picture of Walling is new.
Marine Lt. Floyd Walling was flying a Corsair airplane from Portland to Seattle on Dec 27, 1945.
He had bad weather, instruments failed and bailed out about 8 miles from the town of Yale. which is nine miles from Amboy.. He walked the 8 miles to Yale the next day.
After he jumped, he used a cigarette lighter to build a fire and stay warm.
Remember, this is Dec 27.
He walked about 8 miles, and followed a creek for the last part. Was found near "Reese's Store" in Yale.
Attached is a picture from Dec 1945 of Walling. What's interesting, is whether that picture was taken after he was found. He's wearing a flight jacket. If so, it shows the clothing he had when he jumped. And he jumped north of Lake Merwin, where the forest is denser.
Evidently his nickname was "T" (his middle initial: Floyd T. Walling)
picture is from
http://www.seattlepi.com/photos/photo.asp?PhotoID=181180
story is from
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6z4fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xdAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5925,180186&dq=amboy+parachute&hl=en
The Amboy parachute is unlikely to be Walling's because of the location of Walling's jump.
Yale is right near the Mt. St. Helen's Aero Ranch airport. It's North of Lake Merwin, on Lewis River Rd.
The Amboy parachute was found south of Lake Merwin, if I remember correctly.
here's a map of Yale
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=yale,+wa&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Yale,+Cowlitz,+Washington&gl=us&ei=Kex1TPPfJ5OesQPdzOSgDQ&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA&ll=45.995292,-122.380142&spn=0.157179,0.207367&z=12
Sluggo posted on this a while back, but it seem's clear it's not Walling's
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3171219;search_string=walling;guest=73982645#3171219
SafecrackingPLF tried to isolate where Ckret was pointing when a news photo had him pointing to the parachute find location.
Sluggo agreed that it was likely North of Cedar Creek Road and South of Spurrel Road. (Sluggo misspelled in his post)
This is South of Lake Merwin. Also note the DOM of the amboy chute is 1946 (attached).
Also note that Walling jumped in 1945.
I am taking the liberty to post Smowmmans findings since he, not his research results, were banned.
From Snowmman:
I managed to break into Seattle FBI again, and found a unreleased picture of the amboy chute. (the last pic).
The second pic is with robbie, that was released to the news. You can see the inset DOM. But the new picture is better and shows more realistic color and where it is on the chute.
Now with regard to the Walling jump in 1945. It's interesting for "precedent" because it was in winter, and involved a walkout.
I don't think anyone posted the full details before. The Dec 1945 picture of Walling is new.
Marine Lt. Floyd Walling was flying a Corsair airplane from Portland to Seattle on Dec 27, 1945.
He had bad weather, instruments failed and bailed out about 8 miles from the town of Yale. which is nine miles from Amboy.. He walked the 8 miles to Yale the next day.
After he jumped, he used a cigarette lighter to build a fire and stay warm.
Remember, this is Dec 27.
He walked about 8 miles, and followed a creek for the last part. Was found near "Reese's Store" in Yale.
Attached is a picture from Dec 1945 of Walling. What's interesting, is whether that picture was taken after he was found. He's wearing a flight jacket. If so, it shows the clothing he had when he jumped. And he jumped north of Lake Merwin, where the forest is denser.
Evidently his nickname was "T" (his middle initial: Floyd T. Walling)
picture is from
http://www.seattlepi.com/photos/photo.asp?PhotoID=181180
story is from
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6z4fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xdAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5925,180186&dq=amboy+parachute&hl=en
The Amboy parachute is unlikely to be Walling's because of the location of Walling's jump.
Yale is right near the Mt. St. Helen's Aero Ranch airport. It's North of Lake Merwin, on Lewis River Rd.
The Amboy parachute was found south of Lake Merwin, if I remember correctly.
here's a map of Yale
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=yale,+wa&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Yale,+Cowlitz,+Washington&gl=us&ei=Kex1TPPfJ5OesQPdzOSgDQ&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA&ll=45.995292,-122.380142&spn=0.157179,0.207367&z=12
Sluggo posted on this a while back, but it seem's clear it's not Walling's
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3171219;search_string=walling;guest=73982645#3171219
SafecrackingPLF tried to isolate where Ckret was pointing when a news photo had him pointing to the parachute find location.
Sluggo agreed that it was likely North of Cedar Creek Road and South of Spurrel Road. (Sluggo misspelled in his post)
This is South of Lake Merwin. Also note the DOM of the amboy chute is 1946 (attached).
Also note that Walling jumped in 1945.
377 22
More Snowffall:
A nice addendum to that story.
The place he was found at, "Reese's Store"...
a nice pic was on the web
it's a funky old place..still there. (attached)
from http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1133897852030679558uFjTBP
If Bruce want's to go to Reese's Store, the directions are:
North from Portland on I5 to exit 21 at Woodland, or south from seattle on I5 150 miles to exist 21
then follow Washington Route 503 (which becomes WA 503 Spur) for 27.5 miles east to Cougar.
4 miles west of Cougar, it's on the left side of the highway. It's no longer in use.
Curiously, climbers attempting the south side of Mt Helens used to register here at one time.
It's no longer in use.
The Reese Family were the first people to reach the floor of Ape Cave. Sometime around Nov/Dec 1951.
It's the longest lava tube cave in North America.
http://books.google.com/books?id=TdMhfJ909kAC&lpg=PA90&ots=IaOvwYMOBl&dq=%22reese's%20store%22%2C%20yale%2C%20wa&pg=PA88#v=onepage&q&f=false
pictures of the inside of Ape Cave are here
http://books.google.com/books?id=TdMhfJ909kAC&lpg=PA90&ots=IaOvwYMOBl&dq=%22reese's%20store%22%2C%20yale%2C%20wa&pg=PA92#v=onepage&q&f=false
A nice addendum to that story.
The place he was found at, "Reese's Store"...
a nice pic was on the web
it's a funky old place..still there. (attached)
from http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1133897852030679558uFjTBP
If Bruce want's to go to Reese's Store, the directions are:
North from Portland on I5 to exit 21 at Woodland, or south from seattle on I5 150 miles to exist 21
then follow Washington Route 503 (which becomes WA 503 Spur) for 27.5 miles east to Cougar.
4 miles west of Cougar, it's on the left side of the highway. It's no longer in use.
Curiously, climbers attempting the south side of Mt Helens used to register here at one time.
It's no longer in use.
The Reese Family were the first people to reach the floor of Ape Cave. Sometime around Nov/Dec 1951.
It's the longest lava tube cave in North America.
http://books.google.com/books?id=TdMhfJ909kAC&lpg=PA90&ots=IaOvwYMOBl&dq=%22reese's%20store%22%2C%20yale%2C%20wa&pg=PA88#v=onepage&q&f=false
pictures of the inside of Ape Cave are here
http://books.google.com/books?id=TdMhfJ909kAC&lpg=PA90&ots=IaOvwYMOBl&dq=%22reese's%20store%22%2C%20yale%2C%20wa&pg=PA92#v=onepage&q&f=false
2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.
Farflung 0
The first attached image (NO 1) is of a Special Agent standing in a parking space and wearing a coat similar to the one Cooper was wearing. What are the odds in Seattle? She appears to be looking down at an amorphous pile of fabric which I can best catalog as 'not pink.'
The next action shot (NO 2) has Robbie Burroughs with the same 'not pink' chute with an inset image with some more data.
Finally, in image (NO 3) Agent Burroughs bravely touches the Amboy chute in order to prove it is in fact 'not pink' in color and therefore eliminating any future confusion.
The next image (FBI photo) is from the FBI web site and is a .... photo. This is the reserve chute that D B Cooper left in the plane the night he jumped. This image and a video on youtube, has one Special Agent Carr (non female) holding what many may consider a pink or perhaps coral, if not fuchsia to rose tinted fabric, which has the feel of silk and the show stopping flair of taffeta. I need a moment to rub down the goose bumps.
The pink chute was no doubt, refused by Cooper since no self respecting Hijacker would be caught dead wearing a little, ain't I sweet, call me Nancy, pink reserve parachute. Besides clashing with Coopers eyes and shoes, the lack of pattern would have been less than flattering as he made his flamboyant exit.
Those crafty 'G' people, have switched evidence where Burroughs now has the Khaki canopy and Agent Carr is clearly participating in the cover up by being filmed holding the pink, reserve parachute, that Cooper left on the plane.
'
Yeah, RRiiiiiiiiiiiight.
The next action shot (NO 2) has Robbie Burroughs with the same 'not pink' chute with an inset image with some more data.
Finally, in image (NO 3) Agent Burroughs bravely touches the Amboy chute in order to prove it is in fact 'not pink' in color and therefore eliminating any future confusion.
The next image (FBI photo) is from the FBI web site and is a .... photo. This is the reserve chute that D B Cooper left in the plane the night he jumped. This image and a video on youtube, has one Special Agent Carr (non female) holding what many may consider a pink or perhaps coral, if not fuchsia to rose tinted fabric, which has the feel of silk and the show stopping flair of taffeta. I need a moment to rub down the goose bumps.
The pink chute was no doubt, refused by Cooper since no self respecting Hijacker would be caught dead wearing a little, ain't I sweet, call me Nancy, pink reserve parachute. Besides clashing with Coopers eyes and shoes, the lack of pattern would have been less than flattering as he made his flamboyant exit.
Those crafty 'G' people, have switched evidence where Burroughs now has the Khaki canopy and Agent Carr is clearly participating in the cover up by being filmed holding the pink, reserve parachute, that Cooper left on the plane.
'
Yeah, RRiiiiiiiiiiiight.
QuoteQuade, Please let Snowmman back. Look at what a resource he is:
I am taking the liberty to post Smowmmans findings since he, not his research results, were banned.
From Snowmman:
I managed to break into Seattle FBI again, and found a unreleased picture of the amboy chute. (the last pic).
The second pic is with robbie, that was released to the news. You can see the inset DOM. But the new picture is better and shows more realistic color and where it is on the chute.
Now with regard to the Walling jump in 1945. It's interesting for "precedent" because it was in winter, and involved a walkout.
I don't think anyone posted the full details before. The Dec 1945 picture of Walling is new.
Marine Lt. Floyd Walling was flying a Corsair airplane from Portland to Seattle on Dec 27, 1945.
He had bad weather, instruments failed and bailed out about 8 miles from the town of Yale. which is nine miles from Amboy.. He walked the 8 miles to Yale the next day.
After he jumped, he used a cigarette lighter to build a fire and stay warm.
Remember, this is Dec 27.
He walked about 8 miles, and followed a creek for the last part. Was found near "Reese's Store" in Yale.
Attached is a picture from Dec 1945 of Walling. What's interesting, is whether that picture was taken after he was found. He's wearing a flight jacket. If so, it shows the clothing he had when he jumped. And he jumped north of Lake Merwin, where the forest is denser.
Evidently his nickname was "T" (his middle initial: Floyd T. Walling)
picture is from
http://www.seattlepi.com/photos/photo.asp?PhotoID=181180
story is from
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6z4fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xdAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5925,180186&dq=amboy+parachute&hl=en
The Amboy parachute is unlikely to be Walling's because of the location of Walling's jump.
Yale is right near the Mt. St. Helen's Aero Ranch airport. It's North of Lake Merwin, on Lewis River Rd.
The Amboy parachute was found south of Lake Merwin, if I remember correctly.
here's a map of Yale
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=yale,+wa&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Yale,+Cowlitz,+Washington&gl=us&ei=Kex1TPPfJ5OesQPdzOSgDQ&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA&ll=45.995292,-122.380142&spn=0.157179,0.207367&z=12
Sluggo posted on this a while back, but it seem's clear it's not Walling's
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3171219;search_string=walling;guest=73982645#3171219
SafecrackingPLF tried to isolate where Ckret was pointing when a news photo had him pointing to the parachute find location.
Sluggo agreed that it was likely North of Cedar Creek Road and South of Spurrel Road. (Sluggo misspelled in his post)
This is South of Lake Merwin. Also note the DOM of the amboy chute is 1946 (attached).
Also note that Walling jumped in 1945.
I was unclear looking at that map exactly what is being said.
The Amboy chute was South of Lake Merwin and the Floyd T. jump was North of Lake Merwin.
I am lost this morning - bad day yesterday.
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
QuoteInterview with Robert Blevins, author of:
“Into the Blast, The True Story of DB Cooper”
I spoke with Robert Blevins for about 20-30 minutes on the Memorial Day Weekend, 2010.
Robert seemed to be guarded, initially. His first words to me were: “It’s okay with me if you tape this.”
That mind-set had been revealed earlier when I read his web site and learned of his efforts to achieve absolute security when he conducted his interviews and wrote his book. He was afraid that the FBI would take all of his notes and shut down his project.
However, over time, my conversation with Robert warmed up, but the initial stages were filled with many pauses.
Overall, Robert Blevins has only a modest understanding of the DB Cooper case. In fact, he has very little knowledge of much of what is in the book, and as a result he is unable to expand or explain in greater detail many elements of the book. Frequently, when I asked a question, Robert would say, “Oh, Skipp Porteous knows that – he did the interview.”
In reality, Robert was more like an editor of Porteous’ transcripts than a writer in the customary sense of the word. However, he did conduct a few interviews on his own, primarily with the Mike, Dawn and Katie characters, and the current owners of the former Christianson property in Bonney Lake, WA.
Apparently, Porteous, a private investigator in New York City, did copious amounts of investigatory work to find all these people and their addresses, and to verify corroborative information, such as determining the various owners of the Christianson property in Bonney Lake and obtaining the details regarding the bag of $2,000 in 20s found in a stump pile.
When I asked if I could interview these individuals, Robert gave a curious answer. He told me that the characters had indicated to him that they would be open to the idea of speaking with other researchers and journalists, but he said that he wanted to protect them and would not release their contact information. He said he wanted to spare them the “onslaught” or words to that effect.
Nevertheless, I asked him to pass on my contact information to them along with my invitation to call me, and he said he would.
Robert also said that he and Porteous did not speak directly with Tina Mucklow, and only communicated with a “family intermediary.” He said that Tina was unable to speak with journalists and researchers because it would be “too upsetting.” Nevertheless, he characterized Tina’s health and well-being as “fine.” He also said that she “has a normal life – family and kids and all that.”
Inserted by Jo:
I have also spoke with the co-pilot on several occassions and the only mention of Scott going into the aft to sit and speak with Cooper was in HA HA HA by D.B.Cooper. I knew I had heard or read this at one time - and I found it, because I underlined this in the book to discuss it with Himmelsbach - which was done yrs ago and also within the last yr.
Indicative of Robert’s paucity of knowledge in the DB Cooper case, Robert was surprised to learn that Tina had been in a convent for 12 years. He had thought the stories of Tina being a nun were false.
Insert by Jo:
Obviously neither Blevins nor Porteous investigated Tina to any extent, so are they even sure these family members are even connected to the Tina Mucklow - of the 1971 incident? If they chased a phone number provided by another party within the Cooper circuit it is a terminal in Maine. Personally I didn't try it - because I had no need to do so.
Robert also does not seem to have any substantive knowledge of the works of Calame, Tosaw or Himmelsbach, and seemed unfamiliar with information provided by Captain Bohan on the wind speed and direction, and other similar details pertaining to the flight path and jump.
Robert also seemed very comfortable with what he considers the FBI’s officially stated metrics on weather, wind speed and direction, and does not appear eager to entertain conflicting information, even if it comes from a former FBI official.
However, Robert is very familiar with Richard McCoy’s age of 29 in 1971, and spoke with incredulity about how the FBI could consider a suspect so wildly out of the reported age range of “mid-to-late forties.”
As for the book’s statement that Captain Scott left the cockpit and sat next to Cooper to ascertain the reality of the bomb, Robert said that he got that from Porteous, who got it from Bill Rataczak in a taped phone conversation.
Insert by Jo:
Because of the outlandish contacts the co-pilot has received in recent months - and the stress he is under - he has NOW stopped all communications with media and others. Yes, there are things that happened on that plane NEVER made public, but they will be reveal when the time is right. Understand it has been 38 yrs and the co-pilot was a victim of Cooper and had a very bad accident a few yrs ago ,which left him with pain and disabilities he will live with for the rest of his life.
Robert has not visited or communicated with Florence Schaffner, nor has Skipp, apparently, yet, although Robert said Porteous would in the future. Robert says they are comfortable with the information provided by Geoff Gray in his New York Magazine piece, where Florence says the picture Gray showed her of Christianson is the closest she has seen, yet, of DB Cooper.
Insert by Jo:
Florence's comment was "You could be on to something". Also if Belvins would do his research he will find she made more definitive comments regarding other suspects. Such as the one when presented a picture of Coffelt in the early 80's. I can't remember the exact quote, but it basically stated she thought she would never see that face again.
Robert does not have a DNA profile of Kenny Christianson. In addition, he claimed that the FBI doesn’t have any viable DNA samples of DB Cooper, stating that the Bourbon cup and the cigarette butts were mis-handled too severely to provide a viable sample of genetic material. Robert said he got this information from Skipp.
Insert by Jo:
How many stories are there regarding the DNA supposedly stated by the FBI... it is time some one actually records the FBI on their response.
When asked why the FBI ruled out Christianson, Robert said it was because of disparities in the height and eye color.
Robert told me that Kenny’s driver’s license says that KC was 5’8” and 170 pounds, with hazel eyes, “whatever color that is,” added Robert.
Later, though, Robert characterized Kenny as “lying” on his driver’s license, adding, “I don’t know why he would lie.”
Insert by Jo:
Just how can he actually say Kenny lied about his height and eye color on documents such as a drivers license? Ridiculous and for a very good reason as yrs ago the DVM didn't just accept your estimate of height and eye color. Also there are mecical records to verify this with.
Robert said that Kenny was taller than 5’8” and probably closer to six-foot tall, based on two pictures. One, taken with his father, Kenny stands an inch taller than his 5’11” dad. Also, in the picture of Kenny walking in the doorway of his home a few days after the skyjacking with a briefcase and paper sack, Robert says the measurements of the door frame and the placement of Kenny in the picture show him to be “about six-feet tall.” Robert says he has verified this by measuring the actual door frame.
Insert by Jo:
Blevins, any professional photographer out there will tell you that is BULL!
Robert also provided some original and interesting information. He said that Kenny Christianson worked for Northwest Orient Airlines, part-time, until 1993.
Further, the Christianson family seems circumspect about the possibility of Kenny being DB Cooper.
“Some don’t care, others are embarrassed,” said Robert.
Robert also said the free PDF version of “Into the Blast” will be “around for awhile.”
He spoke convincingly that his work is about finding the truth.
“It’s not about the money at all. It’s about the truth.”
Insert by Jo:
Blevins you have taken that quote right out of this forum - as it is something I have repeatedly stated. If you nor the family are not in this for the money - WHY would you do a book and why would you state that if Christianson is Cooper the family has much to gain. You made that statement and then you edited it out in a post you made in this forum.
Note:
You guys here at DZ know I do not usually defend someones position - but, with this I just couldn't help myself. The Devil Made Me Do IT. I caught the edit out part because it happened when Blevins was making some statements that I knew where NOT true. I have spoke to individuals interviewed by both Blevins and Porteous many times over the yrs. No, I do not mean the "characters" in his story. The characters he defined as "witnesses" - they were either accomplices or individuals who know the subject, but not "witnesses"...unless they were on the airplane or at the scene when it happened.
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jo Weber
QuoteMore Snowffall:
A nice addendum to that story.
The place he was found at, "Reese's Store"...
a nice pic was on the web
it's a funky old place..still there. (attached)
from http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1133897852030679558uFjTBP
If Bruce want's to go to Reese's Store, the directions are:
North from Portland on I5 to exit 21 at Woodland, or south from seattle on I5 150 miles to exist 21
then follow Washington Route 503 (which becomes WA 503 Spur) for 27.5 miles east to Cougar.
4 miles west of Cougar, it's on the left side of the highway. It's no longer in use.
Curiously, climbers attempting the south side of Mt Helens used to register here at one time.
It's no longer in use.
The Reese Family were the first people to reach the floor of Ape Cave. Sometime around Nov/Dec 1951.
It's the longest lava tube cave in North America.
http://books.google.com/books?id=TdMhfJ909kAC&lpg=PA90&ots=IaOvwYMOBl&dq=%22reese's%20store%22%2C%20yale%2C%20wa&pg=PA88#v=onepage&q&f=false
pictures of the inside of Ape Cave are here
http://books.google.com/books?id=TdMhfJ909kAC&lpg=PA90&ots=IaOvwYMOBl&dq=%22reese's%20store%22%2C%20yale%2C%20wa&pg=PA92#v=onepage&q&f=false[/reply]Quote
Thanks, 377. I'll add Reese's to the list.
BTW: I've been to the Ape Caves. Wonderful. Unlike anything else I've ever seen, although it reminds me of what the NY City subway system might look like in a post-apocalyptic era.
Blevins, you are so very easily mixed up I really can't take anything you say seriously about Cooper...no seriously... for someone who claims to be some kind of expert on norjak.
BTW I think you and Jo are the only ones to threaten law suits in this thread.
So that's the crowd you're running with. just sayin...
You were warned about this thread...take heed.
"Mans got to know his limitations"
Harry Callahan
BTW I think you and Jo are the only ones to threaten law suits in this thread.
So that's the crowd you're running with. just sayin...
You were warned about this thread...take heed.
"Mans got to know his limitations"
Harry Callahan
377 22
QuoteBTW I think you and Jo are the only ones to threaten law suits in this thread.
yeah... all this tough talk about lawsuits but nothing ever happens. That's OK though, most litigation is a huge waste of time and money. It's better used as a threat than a weapon.
I welcome Blevins and still support Jo's right to be here, although I disagree with her all the time. It's a numbers game. Cooper was a real person, not a Sasquatch. He lived somewhere. He had posessions. He had friends and relatives. Somebody somewhere has a valuable clue that has not yet been processed in the investigation. It could be a vehicle that was deemed abandoned and towed, a person who went missing right after Norjack but escaped FBI attention, etc. All this digging, even by Jo, widens the net. It doesnt guarantee that we will solve the case but it ups the odds as more people are contacted and are asked about events that occured around that time and in that area.
I do think the Norjack case will be solved in my lifetime and that Amelia E's plane will be found as well. Just hunches from an optimistic jumper and aviation nut.
377
2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.
Georger chill: Watch your Blood Pressure - what side of the bed did you get up on today and what are you referring to?
Duane was angry in 1995 because I didn't understand who Dan Cooper was and what he was talking about. If he had intended to take this to his death he would NOT have told me. If "others" had been forthcoming when I did learn who DAN COOPER was - perhaps I would have STOPPED, had they provided me with a valid reason to do so...but, I was lied to so I went public.
Georger, what really bothers you about my claim and why do you not get our of sorts when it is other suspects being talked about? Duane Weber is the only suspect that upsets you!
Wrong again!
Duane has never upset me as a suspect. Duane never announced to the world he was DB Cooper.
YOu are the Duane Weber case, not Duane Weber!
Go figure.
Bring your experts out of the closet, Jo. All kinds
of people would love to talk to them IF THEY EXIST AT ALL which everyone doubts? Again it's all your words which always prove to be empty.
Otherwise, go peddle it here at Dropzone and at the Senior Centre.
Dont get your blood pressure up!
Is there any real difference betwene you and Jerry Thomas?
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