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[Robert99]

Presumably he had amphetamine with him, for himself and the crew? Took the pills with him when he left? Any residue left in the bathroom? Was any of it collected at Reno or in a later canvas of the plane, and tested against known strains circulating in the US at the time ... ? Probably not. This case doesn't seem to have been big on SCIENCE in the early 1970s. Except that Cooper came prepared, with pharmacology being one of his tools he had some experience with.

I can't find the source at this moment, but at some point Cooper told Tina that he had pills that the crew could use if they got tired.  Presumably, this was a reference to amphetamines.  There was apparently no further discussion of these pills.

For the record, there was a mention in the media several years ago that military pilots flying by themselves on long flights, 16+ hours or so, were issued pills by the military to help them stay awake and alert.  The military would not issue pills like that unless they had thoroughly tested them and their effects on the specific pilots that were involved.  These pills were not described as "amphetamines" in those stories.

[georger]

Presumably he had amphetamine with him, for himself and the crew? Took the pills with him when he left? Any residue left in the bathroom? Was any of it collected at Reno or in a later canvas of the plane, and tested against known strains circulating in the US at the time ... ? Probably not. This case doesn't seem to have been big on SCIENCE in the early 1970s. Except that Cooper came prepared, with pharmacology being one of his tools he had some experience with.

I can't find the source at this moment, but at some point Cooper told Tina that he had pills that the crew could use if they got tired.  Presumably, this was a reference to amphetamines.  There was apparently no further discussion of these pills.

For the record, there was a mention in the media several years ago that military pilots flying by themselves on long flights, 16+ hours or so, were issued pills by the military to help them stay awake and alert.  The military would not issue pills like that unless they had thoroughly tested them and their effects on the specific pilots that were involved.  These pills were not described as "amphetamines" in those stories.

Drugs were in his arsenal to 'do the job' - did he have a long flight in mind but then bailed early? A little bourbon and a pill in the bathroom? Maybe it was him 'oscillating'?    Self medicating in his grudge to 'do the job'. ? Polite and calm.   

[Robert99]

Presumably he had amphetamine with him, for himself and the crew? Took the pills with him when he left? Any residue left in the bathroom? Was any of it collected at Reno or in a later canvas of the plane, and tested against known strains circulating in the US at the time ... ? Probably not. This case doesn't seem to have been big on SCIENCE in the early 1970s. Except that Cooper came prepared, with pharmacology being one of his tools he had some experience with.

I can't find the source at this moment, but at some point Cooper told Tina that he had pills that the crew could use if they got tired.  Presumably, this was a reference to amphetamines.  There was apparently no further discussion of these pills.

For the record, there was a mention in the media several years ago that military pilots flying by themselves on long flights, 16+ hours or so, were issued pills by the military to help them stay awake and alert.  The military would not issue pills like that unless they had thoroughly tested them and their effects on the specific pilots that were involved.  These pills were not described as "amphetamines" in those stories.

Drugs were in his arsenal to 'do the job' - did he have a long flight in mind but then bailed early? A little bourbon and a pill in the bathroom? Maybe it was him 'oscillating'?    Self medicating in his grudge to 'do the job'. ? Polite and calm. 

My guess is that Cooper intended to bail out early.  However, he did seem to have some knowledge and experience with "performance enhancing" drugs (not the muscle building type) just as he did with the 727 stairs.  Perhaps he had been involved in operations with some military or semi-military organization that regularly used such drugs.

[georger]

Presumably he had amphetamine with him, for himself and the crew? Took the pills with him when he left? Any residue left in the bathroom? Was any of it collected at Reno or in a later canvas of the plane, and tested against known strains circulating in the US at the time ... ? Probably not. This case doesn't seem to have been big on SCIENCE in the early 1970s. Except that Cooper came prepared, with pharmacology being one of his tools he had some experience with.

I can't find the source at this moment, but at some point Cooper told Tina that he had pills that the crew could use if they got tired.  Presumably, this was a reference to amphetamines.  There was apparently no further discussion of these pills.

For the record, there was a mention in the media several years ago that military pilots flying by themselves on long flights, 16+ hours or so, were issued pills by the military to help them stay awake and alert.  The military would not issue pills like that unless they had thoroughly tested them and their effects on the specific pilots that were involved.  These pills were not described as "amphetamines" in those stories.

Drugs were in his arsenal to 'do the job' - did he have a long flight in mind but then bailed early? A little bourbon and a pill in the bathroom? Maybe it was him 'oscillating'?    Self medicating in his grudge to 'do the job'. ? Polite and calm. 

My guess is that Cooper intended to bail out early.  However, he did seem to have some knowledge and experience with "performance enhancing" drugs (not the muscle building type) just as he did with the 727 stairs.  Perhaps he had been involved in operations with some military or semi-military organization that regularly used such drugs.

That's a possibility, or he was a truck driver, or part of a sub-culture where drugs were endemic. Drugs covered a lot of social and occupational categories. But he came prepared with drugs part of his tool kit. And he brought the issue forward as an option in his negotiating. Did he seriously think the crew would take his pills he was offering?  That sounds a little naive on his part. My feeling is there is probably more on this in some FBI file that explored the issue with the crew during debriefing ? It would be interesting to have one of his pills to examine _ foreign or domestic regional chemistry, if they even had a database for that back then ?

[Bruce A. Smith]

The role of amphetamines in combat is a very interesting study, and not widely documented, as far as I can tell. I'd love to know more.  It's my understanding that amphetamines have been used since WW II.

[EVickiW]

The role of amphetamines in combat is a very interesting study, and not widely documented, as far as I can tell. I'd love to know more.  It's my understanding that amphetamines have been used since WW II.

History of Meth and its use in combat.
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[Robert99]

The role of amphetamines in combat is a very interesting study, and not widely documented, as far as I can tell. I'd love to know more.  It's my understanding that amphetamines have been used since WW II.

History of Meth and its use in combat.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

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Back in the early 1960s, I was having problems with nasal congestion.  So I paid a visit to my ENT Doctor and he said that a new drug had just come on the market for my problem.  He said it was made from the poison that the South American natives put on their spear tips when they went hunting.  He gave me a prescription for this new wonder drug, I got it filled, went home and took one of those pills.

The reaction was so bad that I had to lie down, and even then I had to hold onto the bed because I thought I was going to float right up to the ceiling.  A few days later, I took another pill with the same results.  So I got back in touch with the Doctor and told him what about my reactions to the drug.  He told me not to use it again.  And it was apparently taken off the market because I never heard of it again.

Normally, I don't have any bad experiences with prescription drugs and I have never used illegal drugs.  So that specific drug was my worst experience ever and it was a legal prescription drug.

[377]

R99 wrote: "Normally, I don't have any bad experiences with prescription drugs and I have never used illegal drugs."

A drug virgin. Cool. Not too many in skydiving...

377

[Bruce A. Smith]

The use of meth in combat may play a role in Norjak, not only to keep the pilots awake, but to keep Danny sharp, as SOG troopers and others may have had it to enhance their capacities for surviving in the boonies.  Here is my distillation from the sources I read, via EVick (Thanks, E!)

From Foundation for a Drug-Free World and “meth-kills”.org:

Amphetamine was first made in 1887 in Germany and methamphetamine, more potent and easy to make, was developed in Japan in 1919. The crystalline powder was soluble in water, making it a perfect candidate for injection.

Methamphetamine went into wide use during World War II, when both sides used it to keep troops awake. High doses were given to Japanese Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. After World War II, intravenous meth abuse in Japan reached epidemic proportions due to the fact that the Japanese military had large amounts of meth stockpiled, and had made it available to the public.

The United States military has used amphetamine in every war since World War II. In the Vietnam War, American soldiers used more amphetamine than the rest of the world did during World War II.

[Robert99]

R99 wrote: "Normally, I don't have any bad experiences with prescription drugs and I have never used illegal drugs."

A drug virgin. Cool. Not too many in skydiving...

377

In fact, I have never even seen any illegal drugs.  Apparently, I have led a rather sheltered life.

[Bruce A. Smith]

Nor served in the US Army, or flew with the Japanese Imperial Air Force...

...oops, not too many retired Kamikaze pilots...

[Robert99]

Nor served in the US Army, or flew with the Japanese Imperial Air Force...

...oops, not too many retired Kamikaze pilots...

I did my tour with the Army, but didn't fly with the Japanese Imperial Air Force.

I am one of a relatively small number of people that did see a Japanese aircraft over the USA during WW2.  I saw it near Wenatchee, WA, being circled by a couple of P-38s that later shot it down.  It was one of those balloons that the Japanese sent our way in retaliation for Doolittle's raid on Japan in 1942.

I was very young when I saw that balloon but I still remember it.  And contrary to Jo Weber's claims, there was no panic whatsoever resulting from those balloon attacks.

[Parrotheadvol]

R99 wrote: "Normally, I don't have any bad experiences with prescription drugs and I have never used illegal drugs."

A drug virgin. Cool. Not too many in skydiving...

377

Not too many outside of skydiving either, but I am one. Of course, I've drank enough of a certain cold beverage that I am particularly fond of to make up for all the illegal drugs that I didn't do....

[Bruce A. Smith]

Am I really surrounded by a bunch of virgins?  WOW.

[377]

Nor served in the US Army, or flew with the Japanese Imperial Air Force...

...oops, not too many retired Kamikaze pilots...

I did my tour with the Army, but didn't fly with the Japanese Imperial Air Force.

I am one of a relatively small number of people that did see a Japanese aircraft over the USA during WW2.  I saw it near Wenatchee, WA, being circled by a couple of P-38s that later shot it down.  It was one of those balloons that the Japanese sent our way in retaliation for Doolittle's raid on Japan in 1942.

I was very young when I saw that balloon but I still remember it.  And contrary to Jo Weber's claims, there was no panic whatsoever resulting from those balloon attacks.

Those FUGO balloons were very sophisticated with altimeter controlled ballast drops. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Some had HF radio transmitters aboard.

Back then it was assumed that any long distance balloon that endured day night cycle changes needed ballast and a means to drop to maintain altitude.

Recent ham radio experimenters have showed that simple "super-pressure" balloons can circle the earth multiple times with zero ballast. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

I bet some FUGO balloons came down in Cooper territory.

377