Tonight’s Round One on mysterious persons featured a question on D.B. Cooper

Who is D.B. Cooper, you ask?

Well, that is part of the mystery of only unsolved case of air piracy in American aviation history. Let me fill you in on this fantastic crime. In November of 1971, a man using the alias Dan Cooper (which became D.B. Cooper in a media miscommunication) buys a ticket for a plane from Portland to Seattle.  He was wearing a black lightweight raincoat, loafers, a dark suit, a neatly pressed white collared shirt, a black necktie, and a mother of pearl tie pin (So imagine Don Draper about to hijack a plane). He gets on and orders a bourbon and water and politely informed the stewardess via a note that he had bomb and was hijacking the plane. The flight attendants describe him as calm, polite, and well-spoken and that "he wasn't nervous. He seemed rather nice. He was never cruel or nasty. He was thoughtful and calm all the time."

He had the pilot radio his demands to Seattle, which were: $200,000 in "negotiable American currency", four parachutes (two primary and two reserve), and a fuel truck standing by in Seattle to refuel the aircraft upon arrival. His demands were met and the plane landed in Seattle.  During refueling, he ordered a second drink and paid his tab, insisting that the stewardess keep the change. After receiving the money and parachutes, Cooper let the passengers and most of the crew leave. He then worked out a new flight plan with the pilot to head toward Reno, Nevada.  At some point during this flight, D.B. Copper strapped on a parachute, took the money and jumped out of the plane.

He was never seen or heard from again. No body, the parachutes, or the money were ever found.

The FBI maintains that he did not survive the jump. I, however, like to think D.B. made it and lived a long happy life. Perhaps he started a legitimate business with the money. Perhaps he left the country for a life of Mai Tais and Caribbean sunsets. Perhaps he threw the money away, being interested only in the art of the crime.  So, here’s to you D.B. Cooper: air pirate, man of mystery, hide and go seek champion, and possibly one of the last great gentleman criminals.

James’ Funniest Team Name Award: Murdoc (my favorite A-Team member).

James’ Funniest Answer Award goes to I Prefer My Women Double-Sided and Collated for their answer to Round 7 Question 1 of Fear Mountain (Correct Answer: Dante’s Peak).  Why there isn’t a movie already called Fear Mountain is beyond me.