The Taking of K-129

by Josh Dean

  and SEC investigation, 359

  and security protocols for mission, 72, 85–86, 126

  and tax complications of project, 262

  Executive Committee, 83–84, 188

  Farr, William, 340–41, 343, 353–54

  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 258–60, 341

  Feldman, Ray, 154–55, 223, 284, 305, 314, 403

  Field, A. J., 79, 89, 96, 109, 321

  “fish” (towed sonar array), 31–32, 36–39, 44

  Flickinger, Don, 322, 377, 381

  Fonda, Jane, 340

  Fonda, Peter, 204

  Ford, Gerald, 318, 336, 364–68, 376–77, 383–84, 389

  40 Committee, 188–89, 243, 248, 252, 336–37, 351, 367, 375–76

  Freedom of Information Act requests, 389–91

  From the Shadows (Gates), 397

  Frosch, Robert, 84, 100–101, 295

  Fry, Tom, 303

  Gardner, Trevor, 51

  Gates, Robert M., v, 397–98

  Gay, Bill, 108, 170, 257, 259, 261, 400

  General Accounting Office, 165

  General Dynamics, 117, 118

  General Services Administration, 381

  Geneva Conventions, 240, 245

  Glenn, Kay, 257–58, 353

  Global Marine

  and Awa Maru salvage project, 393

  background, 1–2

  and black contracts, 108, 109–10

  and cancellation of Matador Project, 373, 378

  Cannon hired by, 160

  and construction of Explorer, 175, 177–78, 181

  and contracting accountability, 165–67

  and cover story for project, 94, 106–10, 115, 120–21, 144, 172

  and covert systems fit-out of Explorer, 204

  and crew selection for mission, 223, 266

  and delivery trip of Explorer, 194–96, 198, 200

  Global Marine Development split, 159

  and Graham’s illness and death, 216, 321

  and “grunt lift” concept, 100

  and hiring of project personnel, 96–98, 117–18, 185, 218

  and intelligence community awards, 399

  and labor disputes, 208

  and launching of Explorer, 182, 184

  and Matador Project, 338

  and mergers, 385

  and origin of Azorian, 3–5

  and Pasho’s role, 287

  and post-project life of Explorer, 381–82

  and preliminary engineering for project, 87–89

  as primary contractor, 102

  and Project Mohole, 79–81

  and recovery phase of mission, 302

  and seafloor mining concept, 90–91

  and sea trials, 191

  and SEC investigation, 355–57, 359–60

  and security protocols for mission, 103, 126–28

  and ship design, 99, 147

  and sources on Azorian Project, 412

  and tax complications of project, 261–63, 346, 348

  Global Marine Development, Inc. (GMDI), 159–61, 209

  GlobalSantaFe, 385, 399

  Glomar Challenger, 80–81, 94, 129

  Glomar Coral Sea, 369

  Glomar II

  and capture vehicle design, 156–57

  and cover story for project, 121, 164

  and design for Explorer, 130

  and Soviet surveillance of mission, 282

  and survey of wreck site, 135–38, 140–42, 146, 148, 297

  and Wetmore’s design background, 80, 129

  Glosten, Larry, 76, 149–50, 183

  Goedecke, Chuck, 261

  Goldwater, Barry, 204

  Golf-class subs, 7, 12, 23

  Graham, Jack, 172, 215

  Graham, John

  background, 94–96

  and construction of Explorer, 175–81

  and contracting accountability, 166–67

  and cover story for project, 94, 172

  and crew selection for mission, 223–24, 265–66

  and delivery trip of Explorer, 196

  failing health, 288–89

  and Global Marine Development split, 159–60

  and hiring of project personnel, 118–19, 185–86

  and Hughes Mining Barge 1, 150

  illness and death, 212–16, 319, 320–21

  and intelligence on wreck site, 131

  and launching of Explorer, 182–83

  and legacy of Azorian Project, 386–87, 401–2

  and news leaks of mission details, 345, 369

  and recovery phase of mission, 285, 302–3

  and sea trials, 191–92, 228, 230–31

  and security protocols for mission, 160–61

  and ship design, 96–100, 103–5, 113–14, 146–48

  and ship systems, 161–63, 190–91

  and Wetmore’s role, 128–29

  Graham, Nell, 94–95, 289

  Gresham, Tom, 263–64, 270, 275–76, 284, 292, 374

  “grunt lift” concept, 100–101, 153. See also capture vehicle; heavy-lift system

  Guzzetta, Chuck, 272

  Hadler, Jacques, 162–63, 228

  Haig, Alexander, 43

  Hall, Albert, 188, 253

  Hancock, Taylor, 89

  Harlfinger , Frederick “Fritz,” II, 40–43

  Harvey (secret staircase), 124–25, 288, 381

  Hatcher, Eric, 138–41

  Havenstrite, Russell E., 1

  heave-compensation system, 105, 161, 192, 199, 274, 293, 300, 303–4, 382

  heavy-lift system

  and arrival at target site, 271

  and construction of Explorer, 176–77

  and contractors for project, 102–3

  and crew selection for mission, 223

  film depictions of, 411

  and Glomar II, 130

  and mechanical failures, 279–80

  and political resistance to project, 189

  purpose of, 161

  and recovery phase of mission, 285, 298–300, 302–5, 310

  and rough sea conditions, 274

  and sea trials, 192, 226–27

  and ship design, 77, 99, 104–5

  testing, 290–91

  Hecker, Stanley, 27

  Helms, Richard, 44–45, 57, 63–65, 74, 188–89

  Henley, Nadine, 256, 258–59, 261

  Hersh, Seymour, 232, 340, 344, 363–64

  Hess, Harry, 78

  Hiller Helicopter, 154–55, 284

  HMS L55, 73

  Hodges, Duane, 41

  A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea (Bascom), 80

  Hollett, John, 185

  Holliday, Raymond, 108–9, 144–45, 170, 259, 353, 400

  Holzer, Alex, 3, 74, 133

  Holzer, John P., 133

  Honeywell, 102–3, 166, 189, 200, 203, 261, 272

  The Honolulu Advertiser, 324–25

  Hoover, J. Edgar, 111, 362

  Houston, Joe, 131–34, 146, 297

  Houston, Larry, 171, 262

  Howard, John, 350

  Hughes, Howard

  and approval process for mission, 254

  and cancellation of Matador Project, 372

  and conflict with Chile, 201

  and construction of Explorer, 175, 177

  and cover story for project, 106–7, 109, 113, 115, 144–45, 151, 164, 170, 193–94, 213

  and covert systems fit-out of Explorer, 204

  death, 382–83

  and launching of Explorer, 183

  and news leaks of mission details, 353, 399–400

  and SEC investigation,
355–59

  and security protocols for mission, 289

  and Summa Corporation break-in, 258–59

  and tax complications of project, 261, 346

  Hughes Mining Barge 1 (HMB-1)

  and cancellation of Matador Project, 373–74, 377, 379

  and capture vehicle design, 152–53

  and construction process, 149–50, 158

  and contracting accountability, 165

  and crew training, 239

  launching of, 151

  and launching of Explorer, 183

  and legacy of Azorian Project, 386

  and Matador Project, 335

  and news leaks of mission details, 339

  and sea trials, 227, 233–36

  and tax complications of project, 347

  Hughes Tool Company, 102, 106–10, 113, 144–45, 165, 167–68, 263, 356–58

  human remains in K-129, 203, 313, 315–16, 325–26, 331–33, 397

  hydrophones, 19–20, 23, 26, 157–58, 270

  Imamura, Howard, 162, 219, 238

  Inman, Bobby Ray, 292, 295

  Intelligence Medal of Merit, 403

  intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), 22, 42, 68, 255

  international law, 73–74, 92–93, 116, 245, 248–49, 275–76, 366

  Itek Corporation, 67–68, 131–32

  Ito, Paul, 160, 217–18, 223

  Jackson, Harry, 28, 225, 291, 370

  Jedburghs, 232–33

  Jennifer security system, 85–86, 123, 232, 345

  Jezebel Project, 20

  Johnson, Charlie, 99

  Johnson, Kelly, 50–51, 53, 56–57, 62, 74, 76, 127, 153, 189

  Johnson, Lyndon, 43, 64, 254–55

  Jordan, John, 193

  K-129

  age and configuration of, 9–10

  assessment of recovered materials, 311–16

  diving bell from, 39, 329, 397

  human remains in, 203, 313, 315–16, 325–26, 331–33, 397

  key personnel, 7–10

  location of wreck, 38–39, 270, 282, 399

  mission description, 11

  proposal for raising, 76–77

  and recovery phase of operation, 296–301, 302–10

  search for, 15–16

  section lost during recovery, 304–7, 311–12

  Kauderer, Bernard “Bud,” 15

  Kelly, Joseph P., 20, 32, 62–63

  Kemp, Steven, 161, 212–13, 224, 231, 369

  Kennedy, John F., 27, 80, 83

  Kenworthy, Chuck, 379

  Khruschev, Nikita, 364

  Killian, James R., Jr., 48–50, 53, 67–68

  Kingma, Louis, 196, 200

  Kissinger, Henry

  and approval process for mission, 243–44, 251–52, 254

  and cancellation of Matador Project, 375–76

  and cover story for project, 84, 108

  and Matador Project, 351–52

  and news leaks of mission details, 366–68, 389

  and Nixon’s foreign policy, 43–44

  and political resistance to project, 188–89

  and Project Matador, 336, 351

  and security protocols for mission, 287

  Knorr, Dayton, 105

  Kobzar, Vladimir, 7–8, 11, 13–14, 283

  Kostyushko, Vladimir, 332

  Kosygin, Aleksey, 255

  Krutein, Eva, 117

  Krutein, Manfred

  and assessment of recovered materials, 326

  and cover story for project, 120–21, 143–45, 172, 235

  and helicopter delivery of documents, 138–41

  and hiring of project personnel, 117–20

  and media reception, 164

  and security protocols for mission, 135–37, 141–43

  Kucera, George, 71, 109, 346, 360

  Lahaina, Hawaii, 301, 318

  Laird, Melvin, 77, 403–4

  Land, Edwin “Din,” 49–50, 53, 67–68

  LA Times, 258

  launch of the Hughes Glomar Explorer, 183–84, 191–92

  Law of the Sea Conference, 116, 320, 324, 367

  Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 203, 221, 240, 312, 402

  LeMay, Curtis, 204

  LeSage, Jim, 261

  Lesch, James, 108, 182

  Lesch, Zelma, 182

  Life magazine, 80

  Lindsay, Frank, 131

  Lloyd, Monte, 394

  Lloyd, Walt

  and approval process for mission, 244–45

  and Aquatone project, 54

  and B crew preparations, 324

  and cancellation of Matador Project, 377

  and capture vehicle design, 152, 154

  and cover story for project, 113–16, 121, 143, 169–74

  and helicopter delivery of documents, 139

  and hiring of project personnel, 111–13, 219

  and launching of Explorer, 184

  and legacy of Azorian Project, 403

  and news leaks of mission details, 234–35, 343, 345, 390

  post-mission years, 393–94

  and SEC investigation, 355–61

  and secrecy of project, 113

  and security protocols for mission, 70–72, 155

  and tax complications of project, 236, 261–63, 350

  Lockheed Corporation

  Advanced Development Programs, 52

  and cancellation of Matador Project, 381

  and capture vehicle construction, 150, 152–54

  and construction of Explorer, 178

  and contracting accountability, 165–66

  and covert systems fit-out of Explorer, 203

  and key engineering elements, 102

  and legacy of Azorian Project, 386, 403

  and political resistance to project, 189

  and seabed miner designs, 384–85

  and seafloor rescue program, 29

  and ship design, 99

  shipping company of, 335

  and tax complications of project, 261, 347–48

  Lokhof, Viktor, 332

  The London Observer, 193–94

  Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram, 378

  Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), 258–59, 341

  Los Angeles Times, 344–45, 353, 356, 364, 369, 375, 384

  Maheu, Robert, 107, 257

  manganese nodules, 90–92, 120–21, 131, 174, 184, 324, 327

  Manhattan Project, 48, 204

  Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), 208–9

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 29

  Matador Project, 335–37, 351, 364, 371–73, 376–77, 381, 383, 386, 390, 393

  Matthews, Jon, 175, 179, 386–87

  The Maui News, 323

  McCone, John, 68

  McNamara, Robert, 255, 310

  McNary, Jim, 99, 130, 161–62, 223, 310, 382, 402–3

  Mechanics Research Inc. (MRI), 76, 87–88, 103, 122, 320

  medals awarded to Azorian contributors, 394–95, 398, 403

  Mero, John, 91–92

  Midway Island, 301, 318

  The Mineral Resources of the Sea (Mero), 91

  Mohole Project, 78–79, 355

  Monroe, Paul, 166

  moon pool, viii–ix

  and arrival at target site, 273

  and assessment of recovered materials, 311, 312–14, 325, 326–27

  and cancellation of Matador Project, 379

  and covert systems fit-out of Explorer, 203

  and crew training, 241

  and delivery trip of Explorer, 194, 197

  and disposal of h
ull materials, 329

  and docking legs, 214

  and gimbaled platform, 161

  and Hadler’s work, 162–63

  and key engineering elements, 102

  and legacy of Azorian Project, 402

  and recovery phase of mission, 309, 310

  and rough sea conditions, 274–75

  and sea trials, 192, 227–28, 230, 235

  and security protocols for mission, 276, 295

  sharks attracted to, 374

  and ship design, 98–99, 114, 146–48, 162–63

  and station-keeping system, 270–71

  Moore, Edward, 34, 36, 39

  Moorer, Thomas H., 77, 188

  Morse, Clinton, 346, 349

  Munk, Walter, 78

  Murphy, Frank, 341

  Murrain, Lee, 257

  National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), 54

  National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), 82–84, 395

  National Science Foundation (NSF), 78–81

  National Security Agency (NSA), 31, 46, 85–86, 268–70, 292–94, 337

  National Security Council (NSC), 46, 83, 248, 318, 340

  National Security Medal, 394

  National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, 149, 150

  National Underwater Reconnaissance Office (NURO)

  and approval process for mission, 247

  and “grunt lift” concept, 100

  and inter-agency rivalries, 210

  and Matador Project, 335, 337

  and political resistance to project, 188

  and sea trials, 227, 230

  and security protocols for mission, 295

  structure of, 83–85

  Naval Intelligence, 291, 295, 339–40

  Navy reserve fleet, 384, 386

  Navy SEALS, 220, 229–30

  Nelson, Norm, 63, 74, 127, 247

  Newsweek, 345

  Newton, Fred, 302, 305

  New York Times, 232–33, 342–45, 402

  Nielsen, Dale

  and approval process for mission, 243

  and burial of human remains, 331

  and crew selection for mission, 221–22

  and departure for mission, 264

  and recovery phase of mission, 284, 297, 301, 306, 308, 318

  and Soviet surveillance of mission, 281, 292

  Nierenberg, William A., 399

  Nixon, Richard

  and approval process for mission, 254–55

  and conflict with Chile, 198

  and cover story for project, 84

  and development of ocean-mining, 92–93, 118

  inauguration, 43

  and news leaks of mission details, 353, 362

  and political resistance to project, 189

  resignation from office, 317

  speech at shipyard, 150

  North South California Company (NoSoCalCo), 335

  Nosachev, Valentin, 332

  nuclear weapons and materials, 42, 239–40, 251, 312–13, 401