WHEREABOUTS OF FIGURE IN B26 CASE 'UNKNOWN'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000300510045-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 19, 1999
• Sequence Number: 45
• Publication Date: October 3, 1966
• Content Type: NSPR

FOIAb3b
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP75-001
C wrier--Express; 3 Oct 66
CPYRGHT
Whereabouts of Figure
In B26 Lase ?lJnknown'
A Buffalo customs agent testi-
fied.in Federal Court Friday that
he has no knowledge of the
whereabouts of Gregory R. Board
and doesn't believe anybody else
in the government knows either.
Board, 45, is the Tucson, Ariz.,
businessman who was indicted in
all alleged conspiracy` to smuggle
World War II B26 bombers to
Portugal, but who fled the
country before he could be
arrested.
It is the contention of Edwin
Marger of Miami Beach, Fla.,
a defense lawyer in the trial,
that the Central Intelligence
Agency approved of the bomber
exports and the government
deliberately let Board, alleged
ringleader of the scheme, get
out of the country.
The Custom agent, Richard E.
Pyne, testified as the second
week of the trial ended. Judge
John 0. Henderson directed the
jury to return at 10 Tuesday
morning.
On trial are Henri M. F. de-
Marin deMontmarin, 58, a Paris
businessman; John R. Hawke, 28,
a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., pilot, and
Woodrow W. Roderick, 47, a
Winnipeg, Man., businessman.
Conspiracy Charges
All were indicted with Board
on charges of conspiring to violate
the Munitions Control Act, which
forbids the export of. certain weap-
ons of war without special State
Department license.
"Do you know if Board went
(to Jamaica, British West Indies)
with the knowledge of U.S. autho-
rities?" Marger asked Pyne.
"I don't know that, Pyne said.
"Do you know that all three
(Kawke, Board and DeMontmarin)
were under surveillance in Mi-
ami?" Marger Asked.
Pyne indicated he was aware
of this.
"Do you know that Board was
under surveillance until he left
for Jamaica?" the lawyer pur-
sued.
"It is my understanding he
bought a ticket for Pittsburgh.
I still don't know how he got out
of the country," Pyne replied.
Queried on Arrest
Marger also wanted to know
why Pyne didn't arrest Board
when the latter flew into Roches.
ter with a C46 cargo plane con-
taining spare parts for B26s.
Pyne maintained he couldn't ar-
rest Board or the others because
no crime had been committed. i
"At the time, I had only the
information that there was a
possibility the plane would leave
the country," Pyne said, add-
ing:
"I asked where he was going
and he said Pittsburgh, St. Louis
and Dallas."
The government maintains sev-
en bombers were sent to Portugal,
at least two of them via this area.
It also alleges that one C46 load-
ed with parts went to Portugal
before the arrests were made in
Miami and a C6. flight was stop.
ped.
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP75-00149R000300510045-7