At 2:10 p.m. on December 5, 1945, five U.S. Navy Avenger
torpedo-bombers comprising Flight 19 took off from the Ft.
Lauderdale Naval Air Station in Florida on a routine three-
hour training mission.

After having completed their objective, the flight was to go
due east for an additional 67 miles, then turn north for 73
miles, and back to the air station after that, totaling a
distance of 120 miles. They never returned.

Two hours after the flight began, the leader of the squadron,
who had been flying in the area for more than six months,
reported that his compass and backup compass had failed
and that his position was unknown.

After two more hours of confused messages from the fliers,
a distorted radio transmission from the squadron leader was
heard at 6:20 p.m., apparently calling for his men to prepare
to ditch their aircraft simultaneously because of lack of fuel.

Sketches of the mysterious DB Cooper compiled from descriptions by passengers and crew from the hijacked
flight. (FBI)

A hijacker who became known as D.B. Cooper parachuted from
a Northwest Orient Airlines 727 into a raging thunderstorm over Washington State. He had $200,000 in ransom money in his
possession. His brazen crime still stands as one of the most
mysterious in history.

Most authorities have assumed he died during his seemingly
suicidal jump. No trace of Cooper was ever found after a massive 
search. 
       
Cooper’s true identity has never been determined conclusively.

Cooper commandeered the aircraft shortly after takeoff, showing
a flight attendant something that looked like a bomb and informing
the crew that he wanted $200,000, four parachutes, and “no funny
stuff.” The plane landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport,
where authorities met Cooper’s demands and evacuated most of
the passengers.

N467US, the Northwest aircraft involved in the hijacking.         
          
         

Crew of Flight 305 upon landing in Reno: (left to right)
Captain William Scott, Co-pilot Bill Rataczak, Flight
Attendant Tina Mucklow, Flight Engineer Harold E.
Anderson.

CARLATA BRADLEY

FROM LEFT: JOHN ALLEN MUHAMMAD, LEE BOYD MALVO