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[MarkBennett]

According to Gunther, he contacted the FBI about the letter in the summer of 1972. The FBI agent suggested that they treated situations involving someone contacting a member of the media a hoax until proven otherwise.

So, the book was published, and Gunther tried to "prove otherwise" the FBI didn't appear to pay much attention to the book...

Gunther doesn't go into a great deal of detail, he only says that Himmelsbach wanted "positive proof" (something like one of the 20's, or even just a name). He also says the FBI took extensive notes on the story. And, sorry in advance for this, but in Into the B----, Himmelsbach is quoted saying he didn't like Gunther. So it's possible Gunther was seen as a sleazeball reporter trying to make a quick buck. I dunno... I'd love to see the FBI files on the interaction.

Gunther does describe a few things not public -- like the parachute being red and yellow.  If that were the real colors of the parachute, I think the FBI might have taken notice.

Gunther's book is a retelling of a second hand account of the hijacking.  That's exactly what Marla's was and she didn't have anywhere near the amount of detail Clara had.  But, she must have told them something that wasn't public.  Something that got and held the FBI's interest.    And comparing LD's fingerprints was the last thing the FBI did before closing the case according to the email Bruce got from Ayn Detriech-Williams.

[andrade1812]

On the Tektronix yearbook; it was originally available from the Tek museum for a small donation. Several retired Tek employees I've emailed have the yearbook, but none of them were willing to send me a copy. In fact, in the time it's taken me to talk to these guys, I could have gone through all the photos by now. There are about 18,000 employees in the yearbook. Most are not wearing ties, and the gender ratio is close to 50/50 from the sample pages I saw.

None of the Tektronix retirees believe DB Cooper could have worked there. The Cooper hijacking was a huge story and everyone "saw the sketch."

I got some interesting information about the phosphor particles, which I relayed to Tom.

[EVickiW]

According to Gunther, he contacted the FBI about the letter in the summer of 1972. The FBI agent suggested that they treated situations involving someone contacting a member of the media a hoax until proven otherwise.

So, the book was published, and Gunther tried to "prove otherwise" the FBI didn't appear to pay much attention to the book...

Gunther doesn't go into a great deal of detail, he only says that Himmelsbach wanted "positive proof" (something like one of the 20's, or even just a name). He also says the FBI took extensive notes on the story. And, sorry in advance for this, but in Into the B----, Himmelsbach is quoted saying he didn't like Gunther. So it's possible Gunther was seen as a sleazeball reporter trying to make a quick buck. I dunno... I'd love to see the FBI files on the interaction.

Gunther does describe a few things not public -- like the parachute being red and yellow.  If that were the real colors of the parachute, I think the FBI might have taken notice.

Gunther's book is a retelling of a second hand account of the hijacking.  That's exactly what Marla's was and she didn't have anywhere near the amount of detail Clara had.  But, she must have told them something that wasn't public.  Something that got and held the FBI's interest.    And comparing LD's fingerprints was the last thing the FBI did before closing the case according to the email Bruce got from Ayn Detriech-Williams.

Here is page 16 of Gunther's book. It states that Clara told Gunther that she helped Cotton/LeClair destroy the chute and it was bright red and yellow. As of yet, I have not seen any evidence of the parachute being these colors. 

[Shutter]

Back in those days I doubt they were "micro managing" everything. Cooper was still somewhat a hot topic for the FBI, so I'm guessing they acted a lot quicker then they have over the last decade or so...Carr explained to Jo that Duane had a rather large file, so they look into these things more than people think. people like Blevins wants you to believe they "glance' over things....

[Shutter]

Here is page 16 of Gunther's book. It states that Clara told Gunther that she helped Cotton/LeClair destroy the chute and it was bright red and yellow. As of yet, I have not seen any evidence of the parachute being these colors. 

Noted:  "This fact" ?

[377]

Here is page 16 of Gunther's book. It states that Clara told Gunther that she helped Cotton/LeClair destroy the chute and it was bright red and yellow. As of yet, I have not seen any evidence of the parachute being these colors. 

Noted:  "This fact" ?

No way was Cooper's canopy those colors if it was one of Norman's. Certain designated mil surplus canopies were approved as emergency parachutes but you can't do unauthorized modifications and still keep the FAA approval (TSO, Technical Standard Order). Neither 28 ft C-9s or 26 ft Navy Conicals were ever manufactured in those colors. Skydivers re-dyed mains all the time, but they didn't have to be FAA approved. The reserves and other emergency chutes did need FAA approval and that would be voided if you dyed the canopy. All you need is a low pH in the dye and you have SERIOUSLY weakened the canopy. All the old school jumpers will remember the ACID MESH debacle/recall of the 1980s, and it did not involve LSD. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

377

[andrade1812]

What colors were the c9s manufactured in?

[Shutter]

FBI records/files state both canopies were white...

[Shutter]

why do they list 3 chutes in the list of evidence?

[DanielP3]

If Himmelsbach was feeding false information to Gunther and Gunther believed him over Clara, that might explain some discrepancies and lack of details in his book.

Himmelsbach may have outsmarted himself.

[Robert99]

Here is page 16 of Gunther's book. It states that Clara told Gunther that she helped Cotton/LeClair destroy the chute and it was bright red and yellow. As of yet, I have not seen any evidence of the parachute being these colors. 

Noted:  "This fact" ?

No way was Cooper's canopy those colors if it was one of Norman's. Certain designated mil surplus canopies were approved as emergency parachutes but you can't do unauthorized modifications and still keep the FAA approval (TSO, Technical Standard Order). Neither 28 ft C-9s or 26 ft Navy Conicals were ever manufactured in those colors. Skydivers re-dyed mains all the time, but they didn't have to be FAA approved. The reserves and other emergency chutes did need FAA approval and that would be voided if you dyed the canopy. All you need is a low pH in the dye and you have SERIOUSLY weakened the canopy. All the old school jumpers will remember the ACID MESH debacle/recall of the 1980s, and it did not involve LSD. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

377

I was left holding a Security 350 in that dyed mesh matter.  I cut off the shroud lines and the canopy ended up as a play thing for some very young relatives.  I then bought a new chute from Manly Butler Parachutes and that lasted until I retired from flying.

[andrade1812]

SA Gary Tallis appears to have given the same "red/yellow" parachute color scheme to TJC and Co. in The Last Master Outlaw; so this stuff about parachute color might be one of the go-to lies the FBI was using to screen these stories. (it's particularly interesting in TJC's case, since the documents dealing with the parachutes have been around for many years.)

[georger]

SA Gary Tallis appears to have given the same "red/yellow" parachute color scheme to TJC and Co. in The Last Master Outlaw; so this stuff about parachute color might be one of the go-to lies the FBI was using to screen these stories. (it's particularly interesting in TJC's case, since the documents dealing with the parachutes have been around for many years.)

Or, it's genuine confusion .... just like after 8 long years people here seem to be totally confused with no more factual consensus than when this began being discussed/researched years ago ?  Cooper books by experts notwithstanding!

By the date you are suggesting all pretense by the FBI was long gone - nobody knew what the facts were, the case being closed and stuffed in the shredder, or files given to idiots to play with to make a name for themselves? It's a completely preposterous set of facts and arrangements behind closed doors with hardly anyone left in the case who knew anything about it! The system that beat the system!  It is entropy at work. No ulterior motives. No case even exists! It has no more to do with the "Cooper case" and secrets kept by the FBI than Pepsi Cola has to do with the Big Bang!  These conspiracy theories about the FBI are a misreading of the whole situation that came to develop with the Cooper case going back years.

[andrade1812]

I dunno, there appears to be a direct correlation between the big bang and the existence of Pepsi.

[georger]

I dunno, there appears to be a direct correlation between the big bang and the existence of Pepsi.

Only a conspiracy theorist would say that.  Go back to "I dunno".