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[georger]

Elsinore was a wild DZ back then. They had this large encampment of rusty RVs and broken down trailers called The Ghetto. One of the residents was an MD who got hooked on skydiving and quit practicing medicine. Lots of drugs, sex, and some skydiving too. I earned my SCR patch at Elsinore, awarded for being in a formation of 8 or more jumpers which was still considered an accomplishment in the early 70s.  I got mine for being in a 13 person formation launched out of a decrepit oil slinging DC 3. West coast dropzones in the 60 and 70s were crazy places. Like Burning Man, Woodstock and Altamont all rolled into one.

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Some recruiters & Judges offered a choice?: Elsinore or Vietnam or ..   

[georger]

Been evaluating the timeline of events again - what Cooper did, when he did it, times elapsed. Carr opined Cooper intended to bail early close to Seattle. I guess Carr bases that on Cooper starting to examine and prep the chutes after passengers were gone. (what were his other options? sit and have more drinks?) ... Carr is making an assessment according to his interpretation of Tactics and the hijacking as a tactical operation. The actual timeline and events which occurred make this hijacking as sloppy as almost any other hijacking that occurred, perhaps less tactical in nature ... and I dont see Cooper's performance as necessarily a tactical operation at all. I dont see tactical training at work in the strict sense. All I see is a guy hijacking an airplane with a lose agenda in mind bailing anywhere far enough out of Seattle and before the Columbia River, in order not to get caught and maximise his chances of escape on a dark, rainy, foggy night! Mother Nature arranged most of the tactics at work!

Lets examine the timeline and actual events as they occurred in further detail . . . in this tactical operation? 

 

[Robert99]

Been evaluating the timeline of events again - what Cooper did, when he did it, times elapsed. Carr opined Cooper intended to bail early close to Seattle. I guess Carr bases that on Cooper starting to examine and prep the chutes after passengers were gone. (what were his other options? sit and have more drinks?) ... Carr is making an assessment according to his interpretation of Tactics and the hijacking as a tactical operation. The actual timeline and events which occurred make this hijacking as sloppy as almost any other hijacking that occurred, perhaps less tactical in nature ... and I dont see Cooper's performance as necessarily a tactical operation at all. I dont see tactical training at work in the strict sense. All I see is a guy hijacking an airplane with a lose agenda in mind bailing anywhere far enough out of Seattle and before the Columbia River, in order not to get caught and maximise his chances of escape on a dark, rainy, foggy night! Mother Nature arranged most of the tactics at work!

Lets examine the timeline and actual events as they occurred in further detail . . . in this tactical operation? 

Nothing tactical involved here or else Cooper would have spent some time prior to the hijacking just learning how to lower the aft stairs by himself.  Instead, he had to keep a flight attendant on board just to show him how to operate those stairs.  And either Tina was a poor teacher or Cooper was a lousy student since he didn't learn much from her instructions.

And there wasn't anything strategic here either.  Just saying he wanted to go to Mexico doesn't indicate much planning.

There are plenty of other things to suggest that this was a real sloppy hijacking.

[georger]

Been evaluating the timeline of events again - what Cooper did, when he did it, times elapsed. Carr opined Cooper intended to bail early close to Seattle. I guess Carr bases that on Cooper starting to examine and prep the chutes after passengers were gone. (what were his other options? sit and have more drinks?) ... Carr is making an assessment according to his interpretation of Tactics and the hijacking as a tactical operation. The actual timeline and events which occurred make this hijacking as sloppy as almost any other hijacking that occurred, perhaps less tactical in nature ... and I dont see Cooper's performance as necessarily a tactical operation at all. I dont see tactical training at work in the strict sense. All I see is a guy hijacking an airplane with a lose agenda in mind bailing anywhere far enough out of Seattle and before the Columbia River, in order not to get caught and maximise his chances of escape on a dark, rainy, foggy night! Mother Nature arranged most of the tactics at work!

Lets examine the timeline and actual events as they occurred in further detail . . . in this tactical operation? 

Nothing tactical involved here or else Cooper would have spent some time prior to the hijacking just learning how to lower the aft stairs by himself.  Instead, he had to keep a flight attendant on board just to show him how to operate those stairs.  And either Tina was a poor teacher or Cooper was a lousy student since he didn't learn much from her instructions.

And there wasn't anything strategic here either.  Just saying he wanted to go to Mexico doesn't indicate much planning.

There are plenty of other things to suggest that this was a real sloppy hijacking.

I would just say: not overwhelming proof of a tactically trained person executing a tactical mission.

That may rue out all of the SOG, MOG, GOG, MAGOG, and Elsinore experts. Special Forces, Army Rangers, Cuban tactical, Irgun, Flotilla 13 – Shayetet 13, Adventure Books & Duane Weber tactical force members.     

[Bruce A. Smith]

The 14th Foot Washes up in British Columbia

Re: Our discussion of tides, reverse tides, unreported mini tsunamis, currents and river flows.

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[Shutter]

The location where this occurs is much different...the ocean is right where the feet are being found..

"Since 2007, 14 human feet clad in running shoes have been found on the shores of British Columbia, from Jedediah Island to Botanical Beach"

Then the share of pranksters..

“We’ve had people put dog foot skeletons in runners and leave them on the beach,” Barb McLintock, who works at the coroner’s office, told the Guardian in 2016. “And somebody even used old chicken bones.”

[FLYJACK]

The location where this occurs is much different...the ocean is right where the feet are being found..

"Since 2007, 14 human feet clad in running shoes have been found on the shores of British Columbia, from Jedediah Island to Botanical Beach"

Then the share of pranksters..

“We’ve had people put dog foot skeletons in runners and leave them on the beach,” Barb McLintock, who works at the coroner’s office, told the Guardian in 2016. “And somebody even used old chicken bones.”

This is my hood, most of the feet are from suicides who jumped into the Fraser River. The Fraser is a significant river that runs through metro Vancouver to the Ocean and has many crossing bridges..

[Shutter]

Here's a first..I had someone that used the "contact" page complaining about the book they bought about Reca..

I cannot contact seller of this book(mail returned on two emails provided on my receipt)
sorry, but I have been "burnt" on scams before
I just wanted info on when book will be sent and/or tracking info

Regards

[377]

So how do we monetize all the competing Coopers? Giant mud wrestling match? Monster Truck destruction derby? Night tandem jumps onto T Bar?

Who will represent the deceased? For LD it's Marla for sure, but what about Ted Braden?

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[Bruce A. Smith]

Interview with Vern Jones on the Walter Reca Flap


I just wrote up my account of the Walter Reca saga at the MN. I spoke with Vern Jones, the publisher, and he is an interesting guy. Unflappable about Reca, but he sure does bend in the wind. He agrees that he has inconsistencies up the ying-yang, but he's not going to do anything about them.

He's got his story and he's sticking to it.

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Unfortunately, he never really answers the question: if Reca was not Cooper, then what the hell was he doing in Cle Elum in a black suit, in the rain, on the night of the skyjacking???

[377]

Bruce wrote: “Unfortunately, he never really answers the question: if Reca was not Cooper, then what the hell was he doing in Cle Elum in a black suit, in the rain, on the night of the skyjacking???”

What makes you think that part of Reca’s made up story is actually true? The eye witness may be recalling an unrelated event or was interrogated in a way that shaped a foggy memory into a clear but false recollection that fit the interviewer’s needs. Do I think Reca made a night jump into Cle Elum on Thanksgiving eve 1971? Nope.

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[Bruce A. Smith]

True, Jeff, the "eye witness" may be recalling events from another time. But his story seems to hold up to initial scrutiny. I'll have to go check for myself, I suppose. Road Trip, coming up!!!

Cle Elum is so pretty this time of year, too, as the avalanche danger slowly passes, and flooding from spring melt-off gradually subsides, and the WSDOT launches its 3-month sprint for road repairs..... sigh.

Let's look at the total package of Reca veracity:

1. DB Cooper - ixnay, ipsnay.

2. Contract killer - maybe, because who would go to all that trouble to buy LOTS of fake passports, vaccination certificates, and multiple diaries written in different inks, pens, etc. Not even Blevs would do that! Can you buy a KGB Identity Card on E-Bay? Shutter, can you help here???

But then, of course, if you were a KGB contract killer would you save your ID badge? If so, why???

3. Wander into Cle Elum, WA at 9 pm for a cup of coffee on 11. 24. 71. Oh, walk in the rain first. Then ask the other patron in the diner to call your getaway driver / accomplice for you. Also, tell the patron where your accomplice lives so that he can estimate driving time for you. Extra points if you ask a cop to make the call....

But, if you were an MKULTRA guy, drugged, mind-fucked by the feds, etc., you might do all of the above, especially if they held prison over your head...

Multiple rabbit holes at this crossroad. Which one you gonna take, if any? Imagine if Jeff Osiadacz tells me that he meets guys like Reca coming out of the woods all the time in Cle Elum. Woo-whoo, eh?

[fcastle866]

I think it is possible for the Gunther book to be real.  The FBI never got their man.  If any of these suspects were the guy, then the FBI would have gotten a confession, unless it was McCoy, which I don't believe it was.  So maybe it was someone who was never on their radar, a guy like LeClair from Gunther's book.  So go ahead and add me to the list of Martin Andrade supporters here about the book.  And I'll go a step further to say I could see a connection to the railroads, as I had mentioned before.  Until the next suspect (flavor of the month) comes up, I'm with LeClair and the railroads.

By the way, is Rob Heady still alive?  He jumped from higher up and going faster.  That's a story that would make a great movie.

[georger]

True, Jeff, the "eye witness" may be recalling events from another time. But his story seems to hold up to initial scrutiny. I'll have to go check for myself, I suppose. Road Trip, coming up!!!

Cle Elum is so pretty this time of year, too, as the avalanche danger slowly passes, and flooding from spring melt-off gradually subsides, and the WSDOT launches its 3-month sprint for road repairs..... sigh.

Let's look at the total package of Reca veracity:

1. DB Cooper - ixnay, ipsnay.

2. Contract killer - maybe, because who would go to all that trouble to buy LOTS of fake passports, vaccination certificates, and multiple diaries written in different inks, pens, etc. Not even Blevs would do that! Can you buy a KGB Identity Card on E-Bay? Shutter, can you help here???

But then, of course, if you were a KGB contract killer would you save your ID badge? If so, why???

3. Wander into Cle Elum, WA at 9 pm for a cup of coffee on 11. 24. 71. Oh, walk in the rain first. Then ask the other patron in the diner to call your getaway driver / accomplice for you. Also, tell the patron where your accomplice lives so that he can estimate driving time for you. Extra points if you ask a cop to make the call....

But, if you were an MKULTRA guy, drugged, mind-fucked by the feds, etc., you might do all of the above, especially if they held prison over your head...

Multiple rabbit holes at this crossroad. Which one you gonna take, if any? Imagine if Jeff Osiadacz tells me that he meets guys like Reca coming out of the woods all the time in Cle Elum. Woo-whoo, eh?

 mind-fucked by the feds ?

oyay ipsay uyay. your code is meaningless. are uyay awareyay of atthey?

[377]

I think it is possible for the Gunther book to be real.  The FBI never got their man.  If any of these suspects were the guy, then the FBI would have gotten a confession, unless it was McCoy, which I don't believe it was.  So maybe it was someone who was never on their radar, a guy like LeClair from Gunther's book.  So go ahead and add me to the list of Martin Andrade supporters here about the book.  And I'll go a step further to say I could see a connection to the railroads, as I had mentioned before.  Until the next suspect (flavor of the month) comes up, I'm with LeClair and the railroads.

By the way, is Rob Heady still alive?  He jumped from higher up and going faster.  That's a story that would make a great movie.

Cooper's use of railroads is entirely speculative, as is his use of radios. It's actually quite difficult and dangerous to board a moving freight car unless it is going really slow. Would be interesting to know average train speeds in the areas where you think Cooper might have boarded. Being a train fan and a radio nut, I'd be in heaven if he carried two-way radio gear and hopped a freight. But can't let my prejudices manufacture facts.

Rob Heady is still alive AFIK. I spoke with him, skydiver to skydiver, jet jumper to jet jumper. It was a very interesting conversation. His jet jump, of course, was much riskier and more difficult than mine.

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