Alcatraz – Famous 1962 Escape, & The Bird Man, Quiz 4/4/26

Background:
On March 21st, 1963, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary officially closed.

Alcatraz Island was a federal prison from 1934 to 1963. It held the most dangerous and uncontrollable prisoners in the U.S. It was considered escape-proof, mainly due to:
– Cold water (around 50–55°F)
– Strong currents in San Francisco Bay

There were 14 escape attempts involving 36 inmates
The Famous 1962 Escape by three inmates
They:
– Dug through walls with spoons
– Used dummy heads made of soap and hair
– Escaped via a homemade raft made from raincoats

o They were never found.
Officially presumed drowned—but it’s still debated.

The Quiz:
Question A: Name the three inmates who escaped in 1962.
Question B: The Birdman of Alcatraz got his name from studying and breeding birds while imprisoned. He wrote books on bird diseases, and became known outside prison as a self-taught bird expert.

** What type or kind of bird did Robert Stroud (The Birman of Alcatraz), keep & study at Alcatraz?**

The Answers:
Part A: The inmates that escaped during the famous 1962:
• Frank Morris
• John Anglin
• Clarence Anglin

– The FBI investigated for 17 years
– Conclusion:
They likely drowned in the bay
________________________________________
🤔 But… the Mystery Lives On
There are reasons people think they might have survived:
• No bodies were ever found
• Strong swimmers (especially the Anglin brothers)
• Later:
o Reported sightings
o Letters allegedly from one of the brothers (never confirmed)

Part B: The birdman, Robert Stroud, did not have birds at Alcatraz. He became famous for raising and studying birds while imprisoned at Leavenworth. He cared for canaries, studied bird diseases, and even wrote books on the subject. But he was considered violent and dangerous, so he was transferred to Alcatraz. Once there, prison officials would not allow birds because Alcatraz was a strict maximum-security prison.

The Winners:
Part A & Part B Winners:
K3WGS / Jerry

Part B Winners:
K8EA / Ed

Thanks, to all that participated in today’s Net!

-Ron/K4RJT