319. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Dominican Republic1
281. Following brief summary FBI report January 28 indicating Murphy link with disappearance Galindez:
March 6 Murphy rented twin-engine Beechcraft plane Linden, New Jersey, paying $1500 cash one-month rental. About 10th Murphy flew plane Staten Island where removed two seats and installed four gasoline drums inside cabin as auxiliary tanks. Then moved plane Newark. March 12 Murphy took plane to another airport near Amityville, Long Island. Same night about 11:30 two men brought immobile man in collapsible wheelchair to airport where he was loaded plane which took off piloted by Murphy. Early hours March 13 plane landed airport near Miami refueled both regular tanks and those inside cabin and departed. During refueling airport attendant who not allowed into cabin observed inside what appeared to be person lying on something with at least one other person sitting in corner. Noted also peculiar unpleasant stench from cabin. Late same afternoon Murphy landed plane at another small airport Miami area where remained 10 days. Seats Murphy had removed March 10 were shipped Miami where he picked up March 23 and reinstalled. After several other hops Bahamas and Ohio Murphy returned plane to owner in Linden April 2.
Intensive investigation failed to disclose any record plane having landed anywhere in US from early March 13 until late afternoon. FBI has calculated using Murphy’s charts and other sources he flew to Monte Cristi, landed his passengers there and returned alone [Page 905] Florida. Also noted de la Maza reportedly made secret flight from Ciudad Trujillo to airport Monte Cristi carrying two armed guards about time Galindez disappearance.
Above summary is only for information Ambassador and Embassy officers he feels should be apprised contents. No part summary should be divulged unauthorized persons.
(FYI) Time-Life teams of reporters developed their facts independently of FBI investigation.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 239.1122–Murphy, Gerald Lester/2–1957. Secret; Limit Distribution.↩