Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: OBRIEN, JOHN JAMES
To: DIRECTOR, FBI
Document date: 10/11/68
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

' Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (11 USC 2107 Hote).

DATE: 11-11-2017

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD_NUMBER:

124-10214-10058

RECORD_SERIES:

HO

AGENCY FILE_ NUMBER:

45-10814-22

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM:

OBRIEN. JOHN JAMES

TO: DIRECTOR. FBI

TITLE:

DATE: 10/11/1968

PAGES: 95

SUBJECT:

OBA, SUSP, CUBAN POWER, EXPLOSION

DOCUMENT TYPE:

ORIGINAL

CLASSIFICATION:

PAPER. TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

Unclassified

REVIEW DATE:

02/02/1998

STATUS Redact

NEW

CLASSIFICATION:

UPDATE DATE:

COMMENTS:

RESTRICTIONS:

Consultation

REFERRED TO USCG

DocId: 32294782 Page 1

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Released under the John Fakennedy Assassination Records Collection Act or 1992 114 USc 2107 Hote).

DATE 04014-3917

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date_

6/14/68

Chief LUTHER BATSON, United States Coast

Guard, Tampa was furnished the following described evidence

which had been recovered by the United States Coast

Guard in the immediate explosion area aboard the Japanese

freighter the "Asaka Maru", diring the night hours of

May 30, 1968:

(1)

One metal pipe proximately three feet

in length.

(2)

Two pieces of related shell plating

bearing substance which appeared to

• be

black powder (this metal was shell

plating fragments which were severed

from shell plating in the immediate

area of the explosion).

The foregoing evidence was released to Chief

BATSON at approximately 8:45 à.m. on May

31, 1968.

On.

5/31/69

Tampa, Florida

_File #

TP 45-143

by-

SA HOWARD H. NEUBERT: bap

_Date dictated:

6/10/68

This document contains nelther recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. Ills the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency,

it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

DocId: 32294782 Page 2

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eleased under the Torn F.

Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Aot Of 1992 114 USC 2107 Note)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date_

6/14/68

Commander ROGER MADSON, United States Coast

Guard, Captain of the Port,

Tampa, Florida advised

that it was his opinion that the explosion aboard the

Japanese freighter, "Asaka Maru", moored at Port Sutton,

Tampa, Florida which explosion occurred at approximately

9:23 p.m. on the night of May 30, 1968 should be

investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

His opinion is based on the fact that it appears that the

explosion occurred as a result of someone placing a bomb

in the rudder post area of this vessel. The act is a

criminal act, further that his agency

is not equipped

to conduct a

criminal investigation as such.

Commander MADSON was informed that the facts

of this matter would be immediately discussed with the

United States Attorney, Tampa for his opinion as to the

section of

the Federal Statute under which this particular

violation would fall.

Shortly thereafter on this same date, May 31,

"1968, Commander MADSON was informed that Assistant United

States Attorney ROBERT H. MACKENZIEaat Tampa, Florida

had advised that the facts as known

to date in regard

to the explosion of the "Asaka Maru" would be covered

under section 2275, Title 18, United States Code with

regard to Crime on

the High Seas - Firing Or Tampering

With Vessel.

Commander MADSON was further advised that

the FBI would immediately undertake the investigation

in this matter.

i sit.

On.

5/31/6%.

Tampa, Florida

_File #

TP 45-143

by

SA HOWARD H, NEUBERT: bap

_ Date dictated 6/10/68

This document contains nether recommendalions nor conclusions of the FBl. ll is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency,

It and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

10

514-1702%

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## Page 4

Released under the John F.

Kennedy Assassination Records CoTTedtion Aot of 1992 (117U5C 2107 Hote).

DATD.3024v.1457917

•FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date

6/13/68

United States Coast

On May 31, 1968, W. K. ABERNATHY, Lieutenant,

Guard

turned over to SA JOHN E.

BUTENSCHOEN the following pieces of evidence that had

been gathered at the scene of an explosion that occurred

Japanese freighter

are herein described:

Bits of hemplike material.

Small amount granulated substance.

One Iron bar approximately 6".

•One piece of hemp 4*

Three pieces of wire approximately 12".

One rocklike piece of apparent insulation.

Five pieces of related metal substance.

On May 31, 1968, SA JOHN E. BUTENSCHOBN had

been in receipt of a

pipe

approximately three feet in

length that had been in possession of Commander ROGER

MADSON, U. S. Coast Guard, Captain of Port, Tampa,

Florida.

Commander MADSON advised that this pipe

had been part of

the evidence obtained at the scene

of the explosion as above described.

On_

6/1/68 t

Tampa, Flôotda

_File #_

TP 45-143

by»

SA JOHN E. BUTENSCHOEN: bap

. Date dictated_

6/7/68

This document contains reither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBl. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency,

it and Its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency..

11

514-1002.3

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## Page 5

Released under

they donn

DATE 0244-4452917

Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 744 USC 2107 Note)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date_

6/14/68

Lieutenant ROBERT GANICEK, United States Coast

Guard,

Tampa, Florida advised that when he initially

interviewed Captain S. TANINQ of the Japanese freighter

"Asaka Maru", it was the belief of the Captain that the

explosion aboard his vessel was caused by a mine or

some external force which blew into the ship while moored

at the pier of Port Sutton, Tampa, Florida on the night

of May 30, 1968.

Commander GANICER informed that he had

difficulty in the course of his interview with the

Captain in view of the language barrior and since the

Captain spoke very little English.

Commander GANECEK said it was his opinion

initally that the bomb caused

the explosion placed there

from within the vessel as opposed from being placed into

the rudder post area from the outside.

He said he

based this opinion initially on the fact that it had been

determined that the i7 or i8 nuts securing the hatch cover

in the rudder post area appeared to have been removed recently

as they were loosened in the presence of two of his

officers, with very little effort.

He said normally

removal of this hatch would require quite a bit of exertion

and one would normally have to have a hamner and wrench

to loosen the nuts.

He stated, however, that the possibility exists

that the bomb could have been placed through the aperture

around the rudder post as the aperture area on Japanese

vessels around the rudder post is from anywhere from

three to four

Commander GENECEK said it was his

opinion that aon American vessels when the rudder post

merely, approximately one hald inch to one inch, and

accordingly it would appear to be impossible for someone

to place a bomb outside the vessel.

On_

6/1/68 at.

Tampa, Florida

•File #

TP

45-143

by_

SA HOWARD H. NEUBERT: bap

„Date dictated

6/10/68

This document contains nelther recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agencyi

It and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

16

S14-\9523

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## Page 6

Released under.

the John

DA 16 30186 1452917

Kermedy Assassination Records CollectIon At 01: 1992 Y44 USC 2107 Hote).

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date_ 6/14/68

On June 4, 1968, Ensign W. R. ABERNATHY,

United States Coast Guard,

Tampa, Florida advised

that he in company withlieutenant RUSSEL JUHL, Chief

LUTHER BATSON, ROBERT LOCKLIN, BIZ and CARL RAMSDILL,

the Japt at a states cosst ward, bao try red a tard

explosion on the nght of Way 30, 1968, le salaiduring

his examination at the outset, it appeared that the

bomb might have been placed in the rudder section of

the vessel from within the vessel as opposed to being

attached

from the outside of the vessel.

Hẹ said he

based this belief initially on the fact

that he and

Chef BATSON were present when the Japanese crewman,

believed to.

be the engineer, removed a hatch cover

containing approximately 17

or 18 nuts which cover was

in the immediate vicinity of the explosion area.

He

said it was observed that the hatch cover was removed

with very little exertion required which indicated

to him

that the nuts on this hatch cover had been recently

removed.

"said nornally. one wonudilave to use a

wrench and a hammer to loosen the nuts on this

particular hatch cover inasmuch as one would not normally

have occasion to enter this particular area more than

twice a year.

#1.5

On June 3, 1968, ABERNATHY advised that

he had just received a call at approximately 11:15 a.m.

on this date from Lieutenant (J. G.) MILLER, United

States Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Galveston,

Texas who inforned his office that the Japanese fretghter

"Mikasegan Maru" moored at Galveston,

Texas bad suffered

an explosion at approximately 3:50 p.m. on Saturday,

June I, 1968, which explosion was similar to that

sutfered by the

"Asaka Maru" in Tampa on the night of

May 30, 1968.

He informed the explosion was in the

rudder

post area,

damages were not as severe

On

6/364/68°1

Tampa, Florida

_File #

TP 45-143

by_

SA HOWARD B. NEU RT: bap

Date dictated.

6/10/68

This document contains neittier recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. Il is the property of the FBI and is looned to your agency:

it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

19

519-1022%

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