1970 UW bombing records released

1970 UW bombing records released

by SCOTT BAUER, greenbaypressgazette.com
April 12th 2011

MADISON — Newly released documents show the urgency and breadth of the FBI's effort to quickly identify and apprehend those responsible for the deadly bombing of Sterling Hall on the University of Wisconsin campus in 1970.

The files were released to The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act following the death last year of one of the bombers, Dwight Armstrong. Two of the other bombers, his brother Karl Armstrong and friend David Fine, were convicted and served short prison sentences. A fourth suspect, Leo Burt, remains on the run.

Armstrong and the others pulled off the bombing by igniting 1,700 pounds of ammonium nitrate and jet fuel packed inside a stolen van parked near the Army Math Research Center housed in Sterling Hall. The blast killed 33-year-old researcher Robert Fassnacht, injured several others and caused millions of dollars in damage.

"In view of seriousness of this case, and possibility this bombing could trigger similar tragic consequences elsewhere, it is imperative that early solution be made in this case," said a memo sent from the FBI director's office to all field staff one week after the Aug. 24, 1970, bombing. "New Left extremists have previously announced their targets include Federal buildings, FBI offices, and other law enforcement facilities."

Just a day later, another memo updating the investigation identifies Dwight Armstrong and others, whose names were edited out, as "strong suspects" in the bombing. The memo expresses optimism for a quick resolution, which wasn't to be.

"This matter appears to be drawing to conclusive point and aggressive prosecutive steps appear warranted," the memo said. The message notes that the FBI special agent in charge, Joseph Sullivan, wanted to act aggressively "bearing in mind the deterrent aspects of a speedy solution … and the need to apprehend guilty parties before they flee the country."

But that's exactly what happened. All four suspects were able to evade escape, even though they were pulled over by a sheriff's deputy about 40 miles from Madison the night of the bombing. The Armstrong brothers were also stopped by police in New York as they made their way to Canada in the days after the bombing.

The Sept. 1, 1970, memo from FBI headquarters instructs FBI agents to immediately contact all informants and other sources who could help identify suspects, and cautions that informants should be aware the bombers may not be from Wisconsin because "most radical extremists of the New Left have a great deal of mobility."

A Sept. 2 memo cites FBI sources from Minneapolis who identified the Armstrong brothers as members of the "New Years Gang," which was also responsible for dropping homemade bombs that did not explode on the Badger Army Ammunition Depot in Baraboo on Jan. 1, 1970.

More than a year after the bombing, in a Feb. 10, 1972, memo, the FBI updates the investigation to indicate that it appears the suspects were hiding in Canada and the greatest chance of finding them rested with "penetration of Canadian apparatus furnishing sanctuary to deserter and other so-called political criminals."

Less than a week later, on Feb. 16, Karl Armstrong was arrested in Toronto. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison but served just seven.

Dwight Armstrong wasn't arrested until five years later in Toronto. He pleaded guilty to the bombing, was sentenced to seven years in prison, but served only three. He died of lung cancer in Madison in June 2010.

Fine was arrested in California in 1976. Burt has yet to be caught.



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