Alcatraz was the most secure prison in the world.
Sharks. Freezing waters. Guards who swore no one could ever break out.
But on the night of June 11, 1962, three prisoners did the impossible.
Here’s the real story behind one of history’s greatest prison escapes:
Sharks. Freezing waters. Guards who swore no one could ever break out.
But on the night of June 11, 1962, three prisoners did the impossible.
Here’s the real story behind one of history’s greatest prison escapes:
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary sat on a lonely island in San Francisco Bay.
It housed America’s most dangerous criminals—Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and Robert Stroud.
With strong ocean currents, freezing waters, and no land in sight, Alcatraz was considered inescapable.
It housed America’s most dangerous criminals—Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and Robert Stroud.
With strong ocean currents, freezing waters, and no land in sight, Alcatraz was considered inescapable.
But they underestimated three men:
Frank Morris – A genius with an IQ of 133, known for escaping prisons.
John Anglin – A skilled swimmer.
Clarence Anglin – John's younger brother, equally good in the water.
They weren’t just prisoners. They were escape artists.
Frank Morris – A genius with an IQ of 133, known for escaping prisons.
John Anglin – A skilled swimmer.
Clarence Anglin – John's younger brother, equally good in the water.
They weren’t just prisoners. They were escape artists.
The plan wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment idea.
Morris, the mastermind, spent over a year designing the escape.
With the help of Allen West (who ultimately got left behind), they devised a plan:
Morris, the mastermind, spent over a year designing the escape.
With the help of Allen West (who ultimately got left behind), they devised a plan:
1. Dig their way out – Using stolen spoons, they chipped away at the vents in their cells for months.
2. Create decoys – They built fake heads from soap, cement dust, and real human hair (stolen from the barbershop).
2. Create decoys – They built fake heads from soap, cement dust, and real human hair (stolen from the barbershop).
3. Make a raft – They stitched together 50+ raincoats and sealed them with steam pipes to make a waterproof raft.
4. Find the perfect exit – They discovered a ventilation shaft that led to the roof.
4. Find the perfect exit – They discovered a ventilation shaft that led to the roof.
At 9:30 PM every night, the men used “Happy Hour” (music hour) to hide the noise of their digging.
Over time, they cleared a hole big enough to crawl through, leading to an unguarded utility corridor.
Over time, they cleared a hole big enough to crawl through, leading to an unguarded utility corridor.
June 11, 1962—9:30 PM:
Morris and the Anglin brothers crawled through their cell vents and climbed up pipes to the roof.
They used a wrench made from a bed frame clasp to unscrew the vent cover.
Morris and the Anglin brothers crawled through their cell vents and climbed up pipes to the roof.
They used a wrench made from a bed frame clasp to unscrew the vent cover.
Then, they scaled down a 45-foot pipe, ran across the prison yard, climbed a 15-foot fence, and reached the shoreline.
By 11:00 PM, they inflated their raft and disappeared.
But Allen West's hole was too small. By the time he got out, the others were gone.
By 11:00 PM, they inflated their raft and disappeared.
But Allen West's hole was too small. By the time he got out, the others were gone.
At 7:15 AM, the guards discovered the dummy heads in their beds.
Alcatraz was in chaos.
But the escapees were already gone.
Or were they?
The FBI, U.S. Marshals, and Coast Guard launched an all-out search.
Alcatraz was in chaos.
But the escapees were already gone.
Or were they?
The FBI, U.S. Marshals, and Coast Guard launched an all-out search.
What they found was chilling:
June 12 – A homemade paddle was found floating near Angel Island (the escapees’ likely destination).
June 14 – A waterproof bag containing family photos, phone numbers, and a letter to Clarence Anglin washed ashore.
June 12 – A homemade paddle was found floating near Angel Island (the escapees’ likely destination).
June 14 – A waterproof bag containing family photos, phone numbers, and a letter to Clarence Anglin washed ashore.
June 22 – A life vest with bite marks on the inflation tube was found 100 yards off Alcatraz.
July 1962 – A Norwegian ship spotted a body in a prison uniform 20 miles off the Golden Gate Bridge. But it was never recovered.
July 1962 – A Norwegian ship spotted a body in a prison uniform 20 miles off the Golden Gate Bridge. But it was never recovered.
The FBI officially closed the case in 1979, declaring the men “presumed drowned.”
For decades, rumors, clues, and theories suggested they survived.
For decades, rumors, clues, and theories suggested they survived.
Theory 1: They Died in the Water
The current was strong, and without proper navigation, they could have been swept out to sea.
But this theory has one major flaw:
Bodies that drown in San Francisco Bay usually surface within days.
No bodies were ever found.
The current was strong, and without proper navigation, they could have been swept out to sea.
But this theory has one major flaw:
Bodies that drown in San Francisco Bay usually surface within days.
No bodies were ever found.
Theory 2: They Survived & Escaped to South America
The Anglins were expert swimmers, used to icy waters.
Their mother received roses for years—sent with no name.
1973 – The Anglin brothers allegedly attended their mother’s funeral in disguise.
The Anglins were expert swimmers, used to icy waters.
Their mother received roses for years—sent with no name.
1973 – The Anglin brothers allegedly attended their mother’s funeral in disguise.
2015 – A photo surfaced showing two men in Brazil who strongly resembled the Anglin brothers.
2018 – The FBI received a letter allegedly written by John Anglin, claiming they survived but that Frank Morris had died in 2005.
The letter was tested for fingerprints—but the results were inconclusive.
2018 – The FBI received a letter allegedly written by John Anglin, claiming they survived but that Frank Morris had died in 2005.
The letter was tested for fingerprints—but the results were inconclusive.
In 2003, the TV show MythBusters attempted the escape:
- They built a raft using the same raincoat method.
- They paddled across the bay successfully.
- They made it to shore.
Their conclusion?
The escape was 100% possible.
- They built a raft using the same raincoat method.
- They paddled across the bay successfully.
- They made it to shore.
Their conclusion?
The escape was 100% possible.
The U.S. Marshals still list the escapees as wanted men.
If alive today, they’d be in their 90s.
The case remains open until they are proven dead or turn 99 years old.
Alcatraz closed in 1963, just a year after the escape.
To this day, no one knows for sure if they survived.
If alive today, they’d be in their 90s.
The case remains open until they are proven dead or turn 99 years old.
Alcatraz closed in 1963, just a year after the escape.
To this day, no one knows for sure if they survived.
What do you think?
Did they make it? Or did they drown in the cold waters of the bay?
Did they make it? Or did they drown in the cold waters of the bay?
If you like this thread, help me on my mission:
"The school and the media failed to teach you history.
My mission is to help you learn more about history and the key moments that defined our existence."
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"The school and the media failed to teach you history.
My mission is to help you learn more about history and the key moments that defined our existence."
Follow me @_HistoryNerd for more...
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