In a letter from Ken Thorneycroft, Chairman of the CASB to Humphrey Dawson, attorney for Arrow Air, the Chairman admitted that weapons were in fact on board the DC-8 on that ill-fated December 12, 1985 flight. Mr. Thorneycroft is here responding to Mr. Dawson's request for information about weapons. Mr. Thorneycroft said: "Arrow Air personnel who were present in Gander during the field phase (immediately after the crash) of the investigation were aware that weapons had been carried on board the aircraft, and that weapons had been recovered from the accident site. Counsel for Arrow Air had the opportunity to question Sgt. Fraser (RCMP) on the matter of weapons recovered from the accident site, but did not do so". (see Exhibit 19)

Furthermore, according to a May 7, 1988 report in the Ottawa Citizen, a federal report states that the RCMP recovered "large shell cases and grenade launchers, in addition to M-16 rifles and automatic pistols". (see Exhibit 44)

Moreover, a report by Julius Graber, an Arrow Air official says the following in section 15: "Cabin loaded in hat racks under seats between seats with personal belongings of troops and their weapons. This detail however is routine on that series of missions". (see Exhibit 20) Graber is her [sic] referring to loading procedures in Cairo on December 11, 1985.

We now have three references to "weapons" on board the aircraft. We have no reference to ammunition or other dangerous products. But if we hold to Mr. Graber's reference to "routine", we have a detailed analysis of what went on board a Transamerica f1ight carrying an MF0 battalion back to the U.S. approximately one week before the Gander crash.

On December 4, 1985 an MFO battalion was transferred out of the Sinai to Cairo en route to the U.S. Based on a report signed by Major Ronald Carpenter, these soldiers brought back everything but the kitchen sink -- sniper rifles, at least a dozen, hand carried green metal ammunition boxes, oversized, heavy hand baggage, large laundry bags of unknown content and night sticks (better known as flares), (see Exhibit 1).

A U.S. military report claimed that the only weapons on board the ill-fated DC-8 were two side arms carried by the battalion commander and an inspector required tp carry an arm because he was transporting evidence to be used in a criminal trial (see Exhibit.21). However, judging from the precedent expressed in the battalion movement of December 4, 1985, the reference by Mr. Graber about weapons on board being "routine and the evidence contained in Mr. Thorneycraft's letter, it seems that several weapons of all kinds as well as ammunition were on board the DC-8.

Also, according to the report prepared by Captain Arthur Schoppaul of Arrow Air, 4 wooden boxes, each weighing approximately 160 pounds, were loaded into the cabin bin. These boxes were sealed and were loaded on orders from Colonel Marvin Jeffcoat of the MF0, in charge of the batallion unit. Although the contents were unknown, their dimensions being 6' x 2' x 14" combined with their weight lead to the possibility of many types of weapons being stored inside. (see Exhibit 3)

Finally, an internal FBI teletype dated April 5, 1986 from the Washington field office to the fugitive and government crimes unit of the criminal investigative division, regarding a request by Arrow Air attorneys to be informed about FBI agents having interrogated Arrow Air pilots in Miami says the following: "These individuals (the 3 pilots) were questioned regarding access to cargo areas, information regarding any explosives aboard aircraft and aircraft hydraulic systems". (see Exhibit 22)

The letter also reveals that Arrow's attorneys were informed by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board that they had received "numerous reports of explosives being carried aboard the aircraft" and that the FBI had been informed of these reports. (see Exhibit 22)