Josh and Chuck find some really interesting history to share on their blog, and
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-stuff-you-should-know-26940277/episode/the-harveys-casino-bombing-of-1980-104019138 describes the complicated ransom note directions that the FBI had to deal with to attempt to make the money drop. Go to 23:10 on the linkBut the guy with the vendetta who came up with the ransom note forgot to finish the landing zone for the helicopter, for the ransom money drop, when he realized that in his rush to go get the money, he forgot the 12v motorcycle battery to power the landing area strobe light
He first tried breaking into a VW bug to steal one, but got chased off.
So, he went to the Placerville Shell gas station to buy a car battery, but couldn't get the guy there, Ken Dooley, to sell him a car battery that would work, the attendant was insistent on selling him a battery that would work in the Volvo he'd driven up with. The landing zone strobe would work with a common top post battery, and I'm guessing the Volvo used a side post battery where the battery cable gets bolted onto the battery.
"Working the night shift behind a pane of bulletproof glass, Dooley was used to trouble. He was also diligent about his work. He didn’t want to sell this man with the heavy accent just any kind of battery. He wanted to sell him one that would fit his car: Was it a Volvo? Maybe it was an Audi? He wasn’t sure he had that kind. He’d have to check in the back. Big John insisted he didn’t care. He just wanted a battery, quickly. Finally, the kid sold him a 12-volt Easycare 40 for $45, in cash."
Of course, some gas stations have had airplanes, even a squadron of planes, land nearby for gas, in WW2. Olympic gold medalist Duke Kahanamoku worked at a gas station, Mario Andretti worked at a gas station, Dizzy Deam bought one and used it for one publicity photo shoot, and Pres Roosevelt sent a letter to the oldest man operating a gas staiton,... I'm simply pointing out that a book of great stories could be told.
To this day, the Harvey’s bomb remains one of the most unique improvised explosives devices (IEDs) the Bureau has ever come across. “Today’s IEDs use more advanced electronics,” said Special Agent Thomas Mohnal, “but you still probably couldn’t build a bomb much tougher to defeat than Harvey’s.”
Today, a mockup of the Harvey’s bomb—built for Birges’ trial—with all its booby traps and fusing mechanisms, is used for training purposes by our Laboratory Division.
the incredible full length story is at https://magazine.atavist.com/a-thousand-pounds-of-dynamite/
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