[Editor’s notes: This document was released both as a State Department cable as part of its 1981 FOIA release, and as Serial 15 of the FBI’s RYMUR release.
[The State Department FOIA release of 1981 made several deletions in this cable. They are denoted below in red type.]
UNCLASSIFIED
[Listing of agencies receiving informational copies on pdf]
0 192046Z NOV 78 FF4
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN NIACT IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS STATE 293771
E.O. 11652: NA
TAGS: AFSP, GY
SUBJ: SPECIAL MILITARY AIRCRAFT
1. TO FACILITATE ARRANGING EMERGENCY CLEARANCE FOR C-130 AIRCRAFT WHICH DEPARTS PANAMA AT 1330 HOURS AND SCHEDULED ARRIVE GEORGETOWN APPROXIMATELY 2000 HOURS, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON AIR CREW IS PROVIDED.
2. AIRCRAFT COMMANDER – RUSSELL C. BURNHAM, SSN [522-44-4274]
CO-PILOT – 2ND LT. WILLAM S. LAGLE, SSN [500-62-3311]
NAVIGATOR – MAJOR CHARLES J. HOLLER, SSN [508-42-6879]
FLIGHT ENGINEER – M/SGT. LAWRENCE G. HALTER, SSN [434-34-83(blank)4]
LOGMASTER – T/SGT. RONALD L. DOWDEN, SSN [490-34-7792]
CREWMAN T/SGT. D.R. SHEPPARD, SSN [440-50-5831]
CREWMAN S/SGT. S.G. SHEPLER, SSN [447-42-5849]
COMMUNICATIONS CAPTAIN MICHAEL MASSINGALE, SSN [226-56-4257]
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 STATE 293771
COMMUNICATIONS M/SGT. ALVIN HUDDELSTON, SSN [539-30-6440]
COMMUNICATIONS T/SGT. W.D. DALTON, SSN [235-68-2298]
COMMUNICATIONS SGT. D.P. METTERVILLE, SSN [587-42-2595]
FLIGHT SURGEON LT. COL. B. POITRAS, SSN [031-28-2249]
3. DEPENDING ON SPACE REQUIRED FOR SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS GEAR, THE C-130 IS EXPECTED TO HAVE BETWEEN 45 AND 65 SEATS AVAILABLE FOR EVACUATION PURPOSES.
4. THE C-130 AIRCRAFT IS IDENTIFIED AS USAF FLIGHT MAC 60468.
5. DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED YOUR 8070 CONCERNING FONMIN JACKSON’S [GUYANA FOREIGN MINISTER RASHLEIGH JACKSON] REQUEST THAT AIRCRAFT DEPLANE ITS PASSENGERS AND LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN PASSED TO THE AIRCRAFT WHICH IS ALREADY EN ROUTE. IF IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE INDEED ESSENTIAL, THEN IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR ANYONE SEEKING EVACUATION VIA MILITARY AIRCRAFT TO BE AT THE AIRPORT READY FOR IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE.
VANCE [CYRUS VANCE, SECRETARY OF STATE]