Western Flight Path
During one of my conversations with Cliff Ammerman he mentioned that the Oregon National Guard T-33 departed PDX heading WNW. It then turned north over Sauvie Island, then finally made a U-turn to the east (presumably around the northern part of Sauvie Island) and pulled in behind 305 some five miles back.
Additionally, I know from the ATC transcripts that Ammerman (R4) took over 305 at 7:59:15 from R2. This handoff would have been at the moment that 305 was turning around the Maylay Intersection.
Ammerman told me that he was having to toggle the radio back and forth as he communicated with the F-106's so as not to be heard over the radio in 305's cockpit just in case DBC happened to be listening in on the communications.
Ammerman told me that this was labor intensive and therefore he opted to hand over 305 to ATC controller R5 because his work load was too great handling 305, the two F-106's and the T-33.
The ATC transcripts show that this handoff to R5 took place at 8:13:14.
I believe the handover to R5 was precipitated by the T-33 entering the theater. Meaning, the T-33 pulled in behind 305 at approximately 8:13:14.
The 8:13:14 time stamp is also notable because it happens to be at the same time DBC jumped--assuming, of course, that 8:13 is the jump time as I have suggested.
In my mind this all makes sense because we know that the T-33 pulled in behind 305 five miles back. Therefore, if the T-33 made the U-turn in the northern part of Sauvie Island as mentioned earlier, this would put 305 five miles further down the track and, once again, very near Tena Bar at 8:13.
Needless to say, it also makes a lot of sense when you consider that the money was found at Tena Bar which is a place not at all easy to walk to from off the Tena Bar "island" considering DBC would be lugging 25 - 80 lbs worth of money, parachutes and/or attache' case.
