Escape from Alcatraz
Fifty years ago this week, three locked-up criminals tried their luck at a nearly impossible feat—successfully breaking out of the world’s most secure prison. Mission accomplished…or was it? While the convicts were indeed able to make their way off “The Rock,” what happened to them after that remains a mystery to this day.
The Escape from Alcatraz photo gallery details the elaborate and innovative getaway plans of Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin
The Escape from Alcatraz photo gallery details the elaborate and innovative getaway plans of Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin
Profile of Dummy Head
On June 12, 1962, the routine early morning bed check at Alcatraz turned out to be anything but. Instead of finding Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin in their cells, guards found cleverly constructed “sleeping” dummy heads. This photo shows the profile of the dummy head found in Morris’ cell. It is made of cement, flesh-tone paint, and real hair. Note the broken nose, which resulted when the head rolled off the bed and struck the floor after a guard reached through the bars and pushed it.
On June 12, 1962, the routine early morning bed check at Alcatraz turned out to be anything but. Instead of finding Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin in their cells, guards found cleverly constructed “sleeping” dummy heads. This photo shows the profile of the dummy head found in Morris’ cell. It is made of cement, flesh-tone paint, and real hair. Note the broken nose, which resulted when the head rolled off the bed and struck the floor after a guard reached through the bars and pushed it.
Decoy in Jail Cell Bed
This photo, taken in Clarence Anglin’s cell, shows how the dummy heads were arranged to fool the guards into thinking the inmates were asleep.
This photo, taken in Clarence Anglin’s cell, shows how the dummy heads were arranged to fool the guards into thinking the inmates were asleep.
Human Hair Used in Constructing Dummy Heads
The mat and small swatches of human hair shown here were located under the bed of Clarence Anglin. Note the manner of tying the hair in swatches with fine thread, resulting in a “ponytail” effect, which enabled the inmates to glue the hair to the dummy heads in an overlapping fashion to give the appearance of a lifelike head of hair.
The mat and small swatches of human hair shown here were located under the bed of Clarence Anglin. Note the manner of tying the hair in swatches with fine thread, resulting in a “ponytail” effect, which enabled the inmates to glue the hair to the dummy heads in an overlapping fashion to give the appearance of a lifelike head of hair.
Rear View of Ventilator Grills Used in Escape from Cells
Using crude tools—including a homemade drill made from the motor of a broken vacuum cleaner—the inmates drilled closely spaced holes around the air vent covers in their cells so that the entire section of wall could be removed. This photo shows the rear view of three replicas of ventilator grills used by the men to replace the original grills in their cells. Note the wire hooks, which allowed the grill and surrounding surface area to be pulled back into place after the men exited their cells.
Using crude tools—including a homemade drill made from the motor of a broken vacuum cleaner—the inmates drilled closely spaced holes around the air vent covers in their cells so that the entire section of wall could be removed. This photo shows the rear view of three replicas of ventilator grills used by the men to replace the original grills in their cells. Note the wire hooks, which allowed the grill and surrounding surface area to be pulled back into place after the men exited their cells.
Dummy Heads Used in Escape Plan
From left to right are the dummy heads used by Clarence Anglin, John Anglin, and Frank Morris to conceal their absence from their beds. The head on the right was found under the bed of a fourth conspirator who was unable to get out of his cell on the night of the prison break.
From left to right are the dummy heads used by Clarence Anglin, John Anglin, and Frank Morris to conceal their absence from their beds. The head on the right was found under the bed of a fourth conspirator who was unable to get out of his cell on the night of the prison break.
Route to Roof of Cell Block
After escaping from their cells through the air vents, the inmates made their way down an unguarded utility Secret Workshop on Cell Block Roof
On the roof of their cell block, the inmates set up shop. They used a variety of stolen and donated materials to build and hide what they needed to escape. This view of their secret workshop shows evidence of their work.
After escaping from their cells through the air vents, the inmates made their way down an unguarded utility Secret Workshop on Cell Block Roof
On the roof of their cell block, the inmates set up shop. They used a variety of stolen and donated materials to build and hide what they needed to escape. This view of their secret workshop shows evidence of their work.
Periscope Used for Lookouts
While working on their escape plan from the roof of their cell block, the inmates took turns keeping watch for the guards in the evening using this homemade periscope.
While working on their escape plan from the roof of their cell block, the inmates took turns keeping watch for the guards in the evening using this homemade periscope.
Example of Raincoat Used in Raft and Life Preserver Construction
In the rooftop workshop, the inmates used more than 50 raincoats (shown above) that they had stolen or otherwise acquired to construct makeshift life vests and inflatable rafts for their venture into the forbidding waters of San Francisco Bay.
In the rooftop workshop, the inmates used more than 50 raincoats (shown above) that they had stolen or otherwise acquired to construct makeshift life vests and inflatable rafts for their venture into the forbidding waters of San Francisco Bay.
Life Preserver Made by Inmates
A close-up view of a life preserver made by the inmates out of raincoats. The seams appear to be vulcanized, or sealed with the application of heat and pressure. The heat was available from an exposed copper hot water pipe, and the pressure was applied with a large, heavy plank. The inmates may have gotten the idea to use vulcanization from magazines that were found in their cells.
A close-up view of a life preserver made by the inmates out of raincoats. The seams appear to be vulcanized, or sealed with the application of heat and pressure. The heat was available from an exposed copper hot water pipe, and the pressure was applied with a large, heavy plank. The inmates may have gotten the idea to use vulcanization from magazines that were found in their cells.
Raft Made by Inmates
This raft, constructed by the inmates out of raincoats, was apparently abandoned as impractical. The photo shows the wooden plug used as the valve to inflate the raft.
This raft, constructed by the inmates out of raincoats, was apparently abandoned as impractical. The photo shows the wooden plug used as the valve to inflate the raft.
Paddle Made by Inmates
The inmates also made wooden paddles to facilitate their escape. The brass bolts used in the construction of this paddle are identical to those used in a paddle that washed up on the shore of Angel Island, just over a mile from Alcatraz.
The inmates also made wooden paddles to facilitate their escape. The brass bolts used in the construction of this paddle are identical to those used in a paddle that washed up on the shore of Angel Island, just over a mile from Alcatraz.
Tools Used by Inmates
This photograph shows the various tools and equipment the inmates fashioned from readily available objects. The identifiable ones include: (lower center) sharpened spoon handles used in penetrating cell walls; (center) a motor removed from a vacuum cleaner and used as a drill; (top center) a housing to fit over the vacuum cleaner motor to mute its noise during use; (upper rig
This photograph shows the various tools and equipment the inmates fashioned from readily available objects. The identifiable ones include: (lower center) sharpened spoon handles used in penetrating cell walls; (center) a motor removed from a vacuum cleaner and used as a drill; (top center) a housing to fit over the vacuum cleaner motor to mute its noise during use; (upper rig
ht) pieces of electrical cord; (middle left) bolts with nuts, shafts, and sleeves that may have been used to apply pressure in spreading bars; (upper left) two-cell flashlight made from two penlight batteries. The other items appear to be tools for scraping, digging, cutting, and gouging. All of these objects had been discarded in a five-gallon paint bucket (found in the inmates’ workshop) that had been filled with cement in an effort to avoid protection.
Exit to Roof of Prison
While constructing rafts, life jackets, paddles, and dummy heads, the inmates were also looking for a way out of the building. The ceiling above their workshop was a good 30 feet high, but using a network of pipes, the men climbed up and eventually pried open this ventilator at the top of the shaft, which put them on the roof of the prison. To conceal their work from the guards and keep the cover in place before the big escape, they fashioned a fake bolt out of soap and shoe polish.
While constructing rafts, life jackets, paddles, and dummy heads, the inmates were also looking for a way out of the building. The ceiling above their workshop was a good 30 feet high, but using a network of pipes, the men climbed up and eventually pried open this ventilator at the top of the shaft, which put them on the roof of the prison. To conceal their work from the guards and keep the cover in place before the big escape, they fashioned a fake bolt out of soap and shoe polish.
Cut Barbed Wire
Once on the roof, the inmates made their way down to the water. In the lower left center of this photo, the barbed wire appears to have been cut and may have been the route the men used to make their escape.
Once on the roof, the inmates made their way down to the water. In the lower left center of this photo, the barbed wire appears to have been cut and may have been the route the men used to make their escape.
Launch Area
The area at the lower right of this photograph leads to the water line and is believed to be the way the men went to launch their raft. But that’s where what we know for sure ends. Did the men make it across the Bay, get to Angel Island, then cross Raccoon Strait into Marin County as planned? Or did the wind and waves get the better of them? Although our 17-year investigation led us to
The area at the lower right of this photograph leads to the water line and is believed to be the way the men went to launch their raft. But that’s where what we know for sure ends. Did the men make it across the Bay, get to Angel Island, then cross Raccoon Strait into Marin County as planned? Or did the wind and waves get the better of them? Although our 17-year investigation led us to
conclude the latter, the U.S. Marshals Service keeps this case open…in the unlikely event that any of the trio is still alive. For more details and information, including our 2007 story written for the 45th anniversary of the infamous prison break and related Freedom of Information Act records on the case
Route to Roof of Cell Block
After escaping from their cells through the air vents, the inmates made their way down an unguarded utility corridor and climbed to the roof of their cell block. This photograph was taken from the plank catwalk in the utility corridor looking up to the opening for the roof access.
After escaping from their cells through the air vents, the inmates made their way down an unguarded utility corridor and climbed to the roof of their cell block. This photograph was taken from the plank catwalk in the utility corridor looking up to the opening for the roof access.
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