Here is a description of a poi.
How close do you think he is to Cooper.
Poi:
Looks like the composite drawing
Has a turkey gobble neck re Bill Mitchell
Has a lower lip pout re Tina Mucklow
Smoked Raleigh cigarettes
Drank bourbon
5'10" tall
Soft voice
Brown eyes
Parachuting experience
Survivalist experience
Military experience
Caucasian with swarthy like complexion
In his 40's
Approx 180lbs
Ics matchbook on plane, this poi known to take an ics course (International Correspondence School)
Tie- JC Penny's, this poi known to shop at jc Pennys
This poi was stationed overseas where Dan Cooper comic books were distributed
Battery from 'bomb', he was known to have these in his workshop
Dynamite/possible road flares, he was known to have a fascination with road flares.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, a small complimentary package of four cigarettes came with most meals served on the airlines. ICS matchbooks were free everywhere but most meals came with a small matchbook from the same company that provided the meals. Its name was Magic Chef or some such thing. So the matchbooks are not really a good clue.
The ics matchbook was empty and as Tina was going to throw it out, Cooper snatched it back from her before she could throw it out.
This shows that this particular "ics" matchbook had a personal meaning and connection for Cooper.
Therefore, I believe it is one of the most undervalued pieces of evidence in this case.
Jmo.
Not sure about meaning and/or connection, (although perhaps possible), but a good guess is that he didn't want them to have his finger prints which may have been on the match book.
Let's address the "worried about fingerprints " issue:
He wasn't worried about the bourbon drink glass
He wasn't worried about the cigarette butts
He wasn't worried about the tie
He wasn't worried about the time in the bathroom
He wasn't worried about his seat area
He wasn't worried about the parachute pack he opened to cut the cords
He wasn't worried about the railings on the aft door he probably touched on the way out.
He wasn't worried about the plane ticket
He wasn't worried about the $20 bill he gave the counter for the ticket
He wasn't worried about the $20 bill he gave for the drink
But he was worried about a single empty matchbook that the flight attendant had manhandled for who knows how long lighting him cigarettes?
Cooper's actions dictate that he wasn't concerned about fingerprints rather that he has a compulsive personality towards inanimate objects that he feels personally connected to.
And this personality trait would be identifiable by those who spend any amount of time around him.
Jmo.