Charles Kenworthy vs. the CIA and Howard Hughes

[gollum]

Hey Folks,

I don't post much in this section because most of my treasure hunting is land based.

There is very little around regarding this story, so I thought I'd post what I know and see what you guys can add.

The Story:

Charles Kenworthy was a millionaire real estate mogul in Southern California in the late 1960s-1970s. He was also an avid Treasure Hunter. He used his money to get information from archivists all over the world. IOn one caae he received the location of a Manilla Galleon that had been wrecked just off the coast of Santa Catalina Island in Southern California. His research showed that it had never been recovered.

He took his information to the State of California and received Exploration Permits. He got his friend Dr. Lambert Dolphin (Chief Physicist for the Stanford Research Institute and father of modern ground penetrating radar) and a few others from SRI to go along. He then approached John Wayne to see if he would rent them his yacht (The Wild Goose). When he explained all the details and showed him the evidence, John Wayne signed on as a partner.

In the September 1976 issue of Playboy, there was an article entitled "Puppets and Puppet Masters". It was a story about the secret story of the CIA involvement in Watergate. A part of the larger story was the story of Chuck Kenworthy. I will post the entire story here:

PLAYBOY’S “SHALLOW THROAT”​

With disaffected agents spilling their stories and Congressional committees announcing new exposés every few weeks, the penetration of CIA secrecy has become almost commonplace. But breaching security at Summa Corporation is another matter.
It is one of the most secretive companies in the world.

For this reason, one of PLAYBOY’s sources of corroboration for The Puppet and the Puppetmasters, Charles Kenworthy, is in a unique position. He has breached Summa security and far from seeking the anonymity of “Deep Throat” status, he has been rather eager to let Summa know about it. The story of how he got into this cold war is an interesting one.

Kenworthy is a flamboyant Los Angeles millionaire who made his fortune in real estate. His favorite pastime is hunting for lost treasures. In 1974, he formed a company called Quest and persuaded the initially skeptical Stanford Research Institute to work with him applying sophisticated technology to the task of finding ancient treasures. Using radar, lasers, sonar and electronic gear from it’s radiophysics lab, Kenworthy has turned an adventurous old art into a lucrative new science.

Shipping records from the 16th century indicate that a Spanish galleon carrying treasure now worth $30,000,000, sank off the coast of Catalina Island, near Los Angeles. Last year, Kenworthy, after finding evidence of the galleon’s location, got a permit from the State of California for sole search rights. His crew then began the time consuming process of zeroing in on the sunken ship.

Then along came the Glomar Explorer.

On August 20, 1975, she arrived, anchored a quarter mile off the coast, over the very area from which Kenworthy planned to raise the galleon, and remained there for nine days. During that time, a perimeter of half a mile was drawn around the Glomar to keep private ships away.

Kenworthy thought it odd for the Glomar to show up within 1400 feet of a populated area to perform a “secret mission.” But when he set out to investigate, he drew a complete blank. And Summa, in a one-paragraph note, simply assured him that the Glomar’s activity off Catalina “involves no ocean-bottom exploration or salvage operations” and ignored demands for proof.

So Kenworthy took matters into his own hands. Using his own connections with ex-investigative and intelligence agents, he penetrated Summa's security system and began compiling a dossier of Summa documents. He has not yet been able to prove his case, but he has acquired a rather remarkable array of documents, ranging from the star­tling to the ridiculous. He has, for example, part of Bill Gay's personal phone book, which lists R. Spencer Oliver and Robert R, Mullen & Com­pany. The minutes of the June 6, 1975, Hughes Air Corporation board of directors meeting note that Robert F. Bennett, who leaked stories to Bob Woodward that helped bring down Nixon, was "present by invitation." Bennett was president of the CIA front Robert R. Mullen & Company. He is now director of public relations for Summa. Other documents show the massive losses sustained by Hughes-Nevada casinos. The Desert Inn, for example, lost $5,702,000 last year. The Summa color codes are among Kenworthy's treasure chest of papers. Sum­ma executives, depending on their rank, have emblems on their company cars that show by the colors how impor­tant they are. And one executive's note to himself says, "Get CIA clearance"' on "mining operations." Yet another directive shows that Richard Danner— who passed $IOO.OOO of Hughes's money to Bebe Rebozo and is now general manager of the Sands—can't spend over $1000 without clearing it through _ Steve Savoldelli, now manager of Hughes-Nevada Operations. Kenworthy also discovered, evidence that suggests that Summa has committed "Watergate like break-ins against its own staff.

Jean E. Clary, food-and-beverage director of the Landmark Hotel, on April 23. 1976, wrote a letter to Summa saying that the Summa security men had broken into his home in an at­tempt to prove he was accepting kickbacks.

Summa has so far only threatened legal action and Kenworthy has failed to inspire an official Governmental in­vestigation to determine the truth about whether or not the Glomar is the pirate ship that stole his treasure. PLAYBOY's own investigation of his charges has turned up two sources who claim that the Glomar did remove that treasure from off the coast of Catalina. In the meantime, playboy and Kenworthy are continuing to gather evidence to prove or disprove the story.

I'm sure you all know about the Hughes Glomar Explorer. In case you don't, here is a link to a good description of the ship and its' mission:

http://files.asme.org/asmeorg/Communities/History/Landmarks/12708.pdf

I don't believe Kenworthy ever saw any of that $30,000,000. Anything you all can add would be greatly appreciated.

Best-Mike

 

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[SEAHUNTER]

Hello Mike
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Scott

 

[Reef Dawg]

I was totally unaware of this story. Wow, this was some really good stuff. And what a "booty."

Thanks so much for bringing this to light. I guess we can all learn something new each day.

Reef Dawg

 

[Goldminer]

This should be interesting to some of you 1715 divers. When I was prospecting for gold in Arizona back in the late 1990's, there was a mining equipment store in Apache Junction... Pro Mack South. I frequented this place when I was in the area. There were Spanish coins in a display case that the owner told me belonged to Chuck Kenworthy. The owner and Kenworthy were good friends. When I asked about the coins, I was told that Chuck had found them in Florida. You guessed it, they were coins from the 1715 fleet.

 

[Panfilo]

Mike, If you’re interested in the work of Chuck Kenworthy, you might want to read some of his books: Treasure Signs, Symbols, Shadow and Sun Signs (Prospecting and Treasure Hunting), Spanish Monuments and Trailmarkers to Treasure in the United States or Unfound Treasures of Mexico, I believe you can find them in Amazon.com.


On the other hand Dr. Lambert Dolphin has this webpage you might want to look at but I get the impression he is presently heavily involved in religious subjects:
http://ldolphin.org
At the bottom he states: “I am now retired from Geophysical Work. Contact International Radar Consulnatnts, Inc. for expert geophysical help.

He, Dr Dolphin, was very active as you can see from a portion of the projects he worked in:
Caballo Mountains, New Mexico, Radar surveys, 5 trips.
Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, Archaeological survey using GPR
Mission Santa Cruz, California, Archaeological Geophysical Survey and Mapping.
Mission Santa Clara, California, Archaeological Geophysical Survey and Mapping.
Mission San Jose, California, Archaeological Geophysical Survey and Mapping.
Mission Santa Cruz, California, Archaeological Geophysical Survey and Mapping.
C.B. DeMille Ten Commandments Film Site, Santa Maria, California, Radar survey.
Radar Feasibility Study at Original 16-to-1 Gold Mine, Alleghany, California.
Fort Huachuca, Arizona, search for legendary Sgt. Jones Treasure.
Tumacacori, Arizona, search for legendary Father Kino treasure.
Search for Manila Galleon at Catalina Island with John Wayne and Charles Kenworthy.
Superstition Mountains and vicinity, search for Lost Dutchman Mine, 15 trips.
Philippine Islands, search for Matsushita World War Two Japanese treasure, 3 trips.
Airborne GPR surveys in snow, ice, glaciers and frozen ground.
Best of luck,
Panfilo

 

[gollum]

Thanks Panfilo,

I have all of Chuck Kenworthy's Books and I am fairly close friends with Dr. Dolphin. We have corresponded several times regarding Ground Penetrating Radar work he has done on several treasure sites in Az, Tx, Ca, and NM.

Maybe I should have been a little clearer initially about a couple of things. I know all the story up to the start of Kenworthy's fight against the Summa Corp. That's the part where the only people remaining alive drop out of the picture. What I'm trying to do is tie up all the loose ends of the story and get more details from people who might have known something that never made it into any newspaper clippings or articles.

I even have a lot of the original exploration permits Kenworthy had from the State of California.

Thanks again-Mike

 

[truckinbutch]

I not only remember reading the Playboy story, I have a cousin that was TDY from his duties
as a Navy submariner ; detached to the Glomar Explorer during that time period .
Don't ask , cause he won't tell
I'd never have mentioned it if you hadn't brought it up and got questioned , Mike .
Jim

 

[signumops]

Who owned Chuck's Steakhouse?

 

[gollum]

I not only remember reading the Playboy story, I have a cousin that was TDY from his duties
as a Navy submariner ; detached to the Glomar Explorer during that time period .
Don't ask , cause he won't tell
I'd never have mentioned it if you hadn't brought it up and got questioned , Mike .
Jim

Come on Jim,

Its' been 35 years! Give up some info, buuuuuuuuuuddy! HAHAHA

Best-Mike

 

[FISHEYE]

Terry,

Charles(chuck)Rolles and his partner Ken Williams owned the chucks steakhouses.I know both of them,i met chuck in hawaii when i lived there and later met Ken here in florida when they built a new chucks in altamonte springs.I did all the a/c work in that resturant plus did all the repair work at the tampa chucks.Only 2 chucks are still in biz in florida now,both in ft laudy.

 

[truckinbutch]

I not only remember reading the Playboy story, I have a cousin that was TDY from his duties
as a Navy submariner ; detached to the Glomar Explorer during that time period .
Don't ask , cause he won't tell
I'd never have mentioned it if you hadn't brought it up and got questioned , Mike .
Jim

Come on Jim,

Its' been 35 years! Give up some info, buuuuuuuuuuddy! HAHAHA

Best-Mike

Best I could do , Mike . That cat's still cool and he ain't sayin a mumblin word .
Ya know the end of the story ...... Kenworthy got robbed and the CIA got more secret funds .
H.H. did it for fun , cause he din't need the munny . Wadn't the only fun he had with that secret sub

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

Just a little more:

B

 

[truckinbutch]

It happened , Mrs O . They also snatched a sunken Russkie nuke sub amongst other things .
That bottom feeder had to be fed and it didn't care what it ate

 

[gollum]

It was built by Hughes with CIA $$$ for the express purpose of grabbing that Soviet Sub that sank in 1968. The galleon was just a money grab by the CIA, like Victorio Peak.

Best-Mike

 

[truckinbutch]

It was built by Hughes with CIA $$$ for the express purpose of grabbing that Soviet Sub that sank in 1968. The galleon was just a money grab by the CIA, like Victorio Peak.

Best-Mike

You been readin my mail again , aintcha . So you know how much I can't say .
I wasn't part of it , Mike , but family tended to talk a bit at family gatherings when the white liquor was being dispensed freely .........Back in the day ...........
Best to you too-Jim

 

[ivan salis]

the seamans union I was with --the SIU--seafarers international union AFL - CIO ( who had CIA links via "the death merchant" aka EDWIN P WILSON *) HELPED CREW THE GLOMAR EXPLORER . ( this was during my dads era as a merchant seaman --I joint the "union" in 1980)--it was a top secert ( its cover was it that it was a deep water treasure hunting vessel)-- its real mission -- finding and recovering a deep water lost "russain" sub , basically it was spy vessel --it was to be used to recover a lost russain sub , so the us govt would to be able examine it without the russian knowledge of them doing so.

The SIU also helped out with SOLIDARTY * ( which helped break the back of the russians) and LECH WALESA ( AS 1 OF 10 AFL -CIO VOLLENTEERS * FROM THE SIU--- I DID " CLOSE" BODY GUARD DUTY WHEN LECH WALESA VISITED WASHINGTON , D.C. TO VISIT THE AFL-CIO BI ANNUAL MEETING OF ALL THE "PRESIDENTS" OF THE UNIONS (OR THE "MOB FEST" AS INSIDERS CALL IT . )--HE ALSO WENT TO ADDRESS THE JOINT HOUSE /SENATE MEETING --A EXTREMELY RARE HONOR -- ONLY ONE OTHER "PERSON" HAD DONE THAT BEFORE .-- EVERYONE "KNEW" HE WOULD BE THE PRESIDENT OF POLAND WHEN THE ELECTIONS WERE HELD IN POLAND BUT AT THE TIME OF HIS VISIT "OFFICALLY" HE WAS JUST THE "PRESIDENT" OF A POLISH TRADE UNION -- THUS HE COULD NOT BE GIVEN THE "OFFICALLY" SECURITY NORMALLY GIVEN A HEAD OF STATE --THATS WHERE --THE "10" SIU VOLLUNTEERS (OF WHICH I WAS ONE--STEPPED "IN")

 

[truckinbutch]

the seamans union I was with --the SIU--seafarers international union AFL - CIO ( who had CIA links via "the death merchant" aka EDWIN P WILSON *) HELPED CREW THE GLOMAR EXPLORER . ( this was during my dads era as a merchant seaman --I joint the "union" in 1980)--it was a top secert ( its cover was it that it was a deep water treasure hunting vessel)-- its real mission -- finding and recovering a deep water lost "russain" sub , basically it was spy vessel --it was to be used to recover a lost russain sub , so the us govt would to be able examine it without the russian knowledge of them doing so.

The SIU also helped out with SOLIDARTY * ( which helped break the back of the russians) and LECH WALESA ( AS 1 OF 10 AFL -CIO VOLLENTEERS * FROM THE SIU--- I DID " CLOSE" BODY GUARD DUTY WHEN LECH WALESA VISITED WASHINGTON , D.C. TO VISIT THE AFL-CIO BI ANNUAL MEETING OF ALL THE "PRESIDENTS" OF THE UNIONS (OR THE "MOB FEST" AS INSIDERS CALL IT . )--HE ALSO WENT TO ADDRESS THE JOINT HOUSE /SENATE MEETING --A EXTREMELY RARE HONOR -- ONLY ONE OTHER "PERSON" HAD DONE THAT BEFORE .-- EVERYONE "KNEW" HE WOULD BE THE PRESIDENT OF POLAND WHEN THE ELECTIONS WERE HELD IN POLAND BUT AT THE TIME OF HIS VISIT "OFFICALLY" HE WAS JUST THE "PRESIDENT" OF A POLISH TRADE UNION -- THUS HE COULD NOT BE GIVEN THE "OFFICALLY" SECURITY NORMALLY GIVEN A HEAD OF STATE --THATS WHERE --THE "10" SIU VOLLUNTEERS (OF WHICH I WAS ONE--STEPPED "IN")

Small world . I bodyguarded Rich Trumpka and Cecil Roberts of the UMW .

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

Truckinbutch,

I know it happened - I followed Kenworthy's efforts for a long time - back when he was looking for investors - and I followed his efforts very carefully for a long time - years. I have dozens and dozens of newspaper clippings about it. (it was in all the papers)

And, I agree wholeheartedly - it was a deal just like Victorio Peak - someone got paid through the back door.

I was able to track it until 1975, then, in the early 80's (I think), it was brought to court, and was dismissed. (of course - more back door deals).
IMO.

Beth

 

[truckinbutch]

Truckinbutch,

I know it happened - I followed Kenworthy's efforts for a long time - back when he was looking for investors - and I followed his efforts very carefully for a long time - years. I have dozens and dozens of newspaper clippings about it. (it was in all the papers)

And, I agree wholeheartedly - it was a deal just like Victorio Peak - someone got paid through the back door.

I was able to track it until 1975, then, in the early 80's (I think), it was brought to court, and was dismissed. (of course - more back door deals).
IMO.

Beth

Uhhuh . I followed it the same way on the start . Then one night at a family gathering a
whizzin contest started between a Recon Gunny , a bronco officer/aviator/embassy guard , and their lowly squid 'pigboat' brotherinlaw . When he unzipped and started making foam on the ground they got back on the porch and stopped barking .

 

[ivan salis]

theres a lot of stuff joe adverage american citizen has not got a clue about --the wheeling and dealing done "in their name" -- oh yah --"the grubbermint" or "" the powers that be" is alive and well and "in control" as has been for a long long time.