c99acer

Don't think you can eliminate PNW candidates because they aren't hanging out on a beach or at more temperate climes in the fall. People that work outside during the winter are subject to skin-freezing windburns and radiation from snow reflected UV rays. Ever heard of 'glacier' glasses? Outdoor gear in the early 1970s wasn't the same as today!

Does any one think this "in Search Of" episode airing in December 1979 and the money find two months later as being more than a coincidence? I don't recall much discussion about the timeline of these events. Were there any rewards for money or information still being offered at the time?

Look to the family that discovered the money. Ingram (senior) told us how he became involved when the Colbert Team interviewed him. See the clue at the 60 minute mark of episode one on the 2016 History Channel "Case Closed" documentary. Diatoms, rubber band frags, and money tell some parts of story - now listen to those closest to the find for missing details.

The tie was a prop like the rest of his suit - part of his disguise. A disguised person wouldn't wear the same thing they wear in their daily life (sorry Tom: I don't think Cooper was that Engineer you mentioned in the video). Tremendous and very thorough research to find out the occupation of the tie donor, though!

Appreciate the information and discussion on flight path. It still seems strange that it took so long to produce the flight path map when everyone with radar was tracking the flight as it happened. Why would the folks back at NWA headquarters be involved in picking the path? Did they have an additional tracking system?

Do you know how many hours it took these people at the SAGE blockhouse to produce the accurate flight path?

I would only be annoyed by how long it took the FBI to declare - they have proven for 52 1/4 years it will not come from them. I do not have an interest in whoever is named. I am only following the Reca storyline as it flows straighter than the FBI story and NWA's flightpath. Sadly, I trust his information more than what our government agency lets out.

psst.... cubby. Which one of these is the "Blockhead with too wide of nose?"

That is a good point about avoiding involvement when you know something is going on at the time. But in this case, they didn't know there was a "train wreck". Nobody, but a few new of a hijacker being on the plane, so why would any passengers pay attention to one particular person? I give more weight to comments made by witnesses when they offer them up closer to the time of this hijack event.

How does your first sentence rule out a thrift shop? Is it the two holes, the dust, or cheap and dirty? Maybe the year?

How about this one?

Flyjack, Can you show flights that were below 12,000 feet on this map?

If all the groups you list were part of determining the path of Flight 305, then they should have done a better job. Even the posters here can't seem to agree on what the sketch shows or who created it. Why haven't we seen evidence of the raw radar data? Why don't we see the original data that made this zig-zag flight so definitive? If ATC "cleared" the traffic to Reno for the crew of 305 to fly as they see fit, then why are there redactions in the radio transcripts claiming it was just other aircraft communications? Why was another commercial craft piloted by Captain Bohan flying into Portland just after 305 passed above - weren't there supposed to be no other craft on this path? At least Reca had a witness for his flight path and answered other questions about the hijacking. Maybe that is why some people trust his story more than the FBI records.

Have you read the book, or at least the two chapters devoted to Briggs and the money find? How can you be sure it is made up? How many sets of rubber bands would have been wrapped around the packets over the 9 years until the find? I don't think the money bury would require the bands hold the money together. I think the bury expert could hold the mess together, while doing his task, except for the edges that broke off and were splayed around during the search. I don't recall the discovery notes reading that the bands were intact until Ingrams touched the packets. Seems they were stuck to wads of bills?

The Ron Carlson interview by Colbert's team uncovered the back story of the money find at Tena Bar. Ingram confirmed with his "two sticks" slip. Colbert chased the wrong rabbit. Any number of rabbits could have hung out with Dick Briggs and his party crowd. Can some analytics whiz run the probability of naturally finding a brick sized object (under the soil) somewhat outside of the DZ? What a conundrum for law enforcement and the airline!