"Alan C. Logan’s book also cites a vague remark by Mr Turska that Spears was “not alone” when he showed up in Arizona after the crash. "I asked him if anything had been done to plane and he said no". I do think Taylor took Spears spot on the plane last minute (hence only the briefcase, no luggage), but I don't think Taylor nor Spears intended to blow up the plane.So why the stories from Spears?
The man was a con artist. National Airlines did not maintain its own meteorology department, as was standard among airlines at the time, and its pilots were not informed of the strength of the storm into which they were flying. He heard about the Flight 967 disaster along the way, and although he was devastated to think his old pal had perished, Spears simply decided it was an opportunity for a fresh start. Without an aircraft, this was no easy task.Investigators determined that the flight crew was competent and experienced. Not only was it different from the ordinary “murder, kidnapping, missing” scenarios posted every day here but the write-up most definitely drew me in, wanting more! She contacted his work--they knew nothing. Al Taylor asked him to drive the Plymouth to Dallas where they were scheduled to meet up. Frank E. Todd of Miami, the pilot, radioed his last message at 12:44 a.m. Nearly every comment is just a "great job, best ever", and nearly all of the questions posited have no answers or discussions below them. The autopsies of the bodies, all of which were identified by fingerprints, indicated that all had received traumatic injuries:injuries indicated that all nine persons had been seated at the time the aircraft struck the water. And that they happened to know a seedy lawyer who (allegedly) blew himself up a month later? The prosecutor in Spears’s abortion case pointed out they already had sworn affidavits from the abortion witnesses, which they could simply have read out in court. But this investigation led nowhere.Among the 42 names of the dead--there was a passenger named Dr Robert Vernon Spears--a distinguished naturopath from Dallas, Texas.There was nothing immediately remarkable about Dr Spears. She had never liked Spears. He reported a "smooth flight" and unlimited visibility, but said he could see a solid overcast of fog ahead. ]With this information, Mrs Taylor's lawyer called the Tampa police department and the newspapers. This air traffic control instruction/clearance was issued through National Airlines' radio station/office at It continued on a track of 296 degrees magnetic for a few minutes, then turned right to a heading of approximately 010 degrees and disappeared from the scope at 12:51 AM. The flight had been on its way from Tampa, Florida, to New Orleans. A “mystery woman” told a local Tampa newspaper that she had had a relationship with Taylor shortly before his disappearance, and did not believe he was dead. Taylor also wanted to go to Dallas, to see a doctor about a neck injury, and to get away from his irritating ex-wife. The “other” plane crash remains unexplained despite the apparent presence of dynamite and that it happened over land where, presumably, most or all of the wreckage was recovered.On January 6, 1960 (less than two months after Flight 967) Frank was on board a National Airlines flight which was Probably one of the most intriguing cases I’ve read here, what a great write up OP!Great post! She received a court order to open his post office box. Taylor apparently then he called his boss at the tire company and asked for the next day off work.Though no longer married to Al Taylor, Alice later told reporters they had been amicably divorced, and were still close. After he left, he phoned again three times, again asking for Junior. Dec 4, 2015 - LOUISIANA 16 November 1959 - National Airlines Flight 967 disappeared over the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans, with 42 passengers and crew on board. He also had convictions for drunk driving and drug possession.
Or was it all a freak accident?Here are the names of the people from the flight manifest.JACK ATKINSON, Miami Springs, an inspector for the Federal Aviation Agency“Self-Styled: Chasing Dr Robert Vernon Spears” by Alan C. Logan“Robert Spears, 1959 bomb suspect, dies in Dallas". Dr Spears lived in an affluent suburb of Dallas, and he and his wife were relatively well-known in the city’s social circles.For weeks Dr Spears was mourned along with the rest of the victims. WOW!What an intriguing case - how have I never heard of this before?OP, thank you for your work on this, especially noting the numerous sources you cited.I want to mention one thing; you are a class act for the ending. Recently, she said, Al Taylor had been strangely depressed and withdrawn, but his mood only lifted when he talked to Spears. At that time there was also very little airport security.Clearly, Dr Spears had not been on that plane. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. Who hatched the plot--Spears? Mrs Spears? The weather conditions were good. National Airlines Flight 967 took off from Tampa (TPA) at 23:32 for a flight to New Orleans (MSY) at FL140. She told them all about her missing husband and his missing pink Plymouth, which sparked a nationwide search.