</s>44 1609 Volume Number CLASSIFICATION NO. Serials 481-600 - Rue 7/10/20 #-3 FRON OR ADDED TO THIS FILED BUREAU ft of Matter FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER NY - NEW YORK CITY Class / Case # Sub Vol. Serial # 00414 1609 4 481 600 INVESTIGATION Bureau Fie Number 44-3886/ 12/13/1146348 BureauFie File Number 47-3866/ RRP0050MAYV See the Note. Pro-date (fert. 4:45:00) 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations in May 1968 focused on James Earl Ray’s activities linked to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Key efforts included tracking Ray’s movements via flight manifests, postal records, and witness identifications. American Airlines Flight 338 (April 6, 1968) from Dallas to Philadelphia was scrutinized for potential sightings of a subject resembling Ray, with passengers Robert Kelly (military personnel) and Timothy John Taylor (U.S. Army private) under review. The FBI coordinated with offices in Memphis, New York, and Knoxville to verify Ray’s connections, including his correspondence with Modern Photo Bookstore in Birmingham, Alabama, where he ordered and later canceled a photography book. Witnesses such as Earl Morrison (Flight 338 passenger) and Sister Mary Andrew (Atlantic City sighting) described individuals matching Ray’s physical traits. Ray was repeatedly labeled “ARMED AND DANGEROUS” across communications, with inquiries into car rental records, bank robberies, and fingerprint analysis conducted by the Latent Fingerprint Section.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK Jr.’s assassination)  
- Robert Kelly (military personnel linked to Flight 338)  
- Timothy John Taylor (U.S. Army private, passenger on Flight 338)  
- Marvin Sperling (Pan Am employee in Bermuda, resembled Ray)  
- Earl Morrison (witness identifying a suspect on Flight 338)  
- Sister Mary Andrew (nun who described a suspect resembling Ray)  
- Eric S. Galt (individual linked to Modern Photo Bookstore via correspondence)  
- Ruth Koenig (Manager of Amphoto, Modern Photo Bookstore)  
- Jeanette Mason (individual contacted by FBI)  
- Richard Piperino (Pan Am public relations representative)  

Key Locations  
- Dallas, Texas (origin of Flight 338)  
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (destination of Flight 338)  
- Birmingham, Alabama (Modern Photo Bookstore, 2608 Highland Avenue)  
- Bermuda (Hamilton Airport, Sperling’s employment)  
- Atlantic City, New Jersey (sighting described by Sister Mary Andrew)  
- Fort Sill, Oklahoma (military base linked to Robert Kelly)  
- Fort Eustis, Virginia (location of Timothy Taylor’s training)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (FBI office)  
- New York City (Amphoto operations, 166 Avenue)  
- Knoxville, Tennessee (FBI office)  

Key Events  
- Investigation into passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 338 for potential sightings of Subject RAY.  
- Ray’s order and cancellation of a photography book from Modern Photo Bookstore in Birmingham.  
- FBI coordination to verify Ray’s connections via postal records, phone numbers, and flight data.  
- Witness identification of a suspect on Flight 338 matching Ray’s physical description.  
- Sighting of an individual resembling Ray in Atlantic City (1962/1968).  
- Distribution of newspaper clippings about James Earl Ray to law enforcement agencies.  
- Inquiry into Robert Kelly’s military service and connection to Flight 338.  
- Request for verification of Timothy John Taylor’s movements and potential sightings of Subject RAY.  
- Latent Fingerprint Section instructed to analyze documents for Ray’s fingerprints.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Memphis, New York, Knoxville offices  
- American Airlines (airline involved in Flight 338 investigation)  
- Pan Am Airways (employee Marvin Sperling’s employment location)  
- Postal Inspection Service – Chattanooga, Tennessee; New York City  
- Modern Photo Bookstore (Amphoto division) – Birmingham, Alabama  
- Avis-Rent-A-Car (car rental company referenced in a separate inquiry)

MLK Declassified Files

44-ny-1609_sec_004_ser_481-600-part_1_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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