Carter Roy

In the yard, armed guards patrolled high catwalks so nothing would go unnoticed. The surrounding fence, topped with barbed wire, was almost unnecessary because anyone who climbed it faced the San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz is an island, and that's how it got its nickname, The Rock. On all sides, freezing cold water crashes and roils.

Even if a prisoner evaded the headcounts, gun towers, and barbed wire, they'd still need to swim a mile and a half minimum to shore. All this to say, it was shocking when three prisoners went missing. It started early morning on Tuesday, June 12, 1962, as a patrolman walked through B Block doing his head count. When Frank Morris didn't emerge from his cell, the guards shouted to wake him up.

Even if a prisoner evaded the headcounts, gun towers, and barbed wire, they'd still need to swim a mile and a half minimum to shore. All this to say, it was shocking when three prisoners went missing. It started early morning on Tuesday, June 12, 1962, as a patrolman walked through B Block doing his head count. When Frank Morris didn't emerge from his cell, the guards shouted to wake him up.

Even if a prisoner evaded the headcounts, gun towers, and barbed wire, they'd still need to swim a mile and a half minimum to shore. All this to say, it was shocking when three prisoners went missing. It started early morning on Tuesday, June 12, 1962, as a patrolman walked through B Block doing his head count. When Frank Morris didn't emerge from his cell, the guards shouted to wake him up.

But Frank didn't move. This was strange. Inmates knew to be up for inspection or risk punishment. The guard repeated his orders. He wouldn't give them again. No response. Angry, the patrolman opened the cell and nudged Frank. Frank's head moved. Then it clattered on the floor, disembodied. The patrolman yelped. He looked at the decapitated head and...

But Frank didn't move. This was strange. Inmates knew to be up for inspection or risk punishment. The guard repeated his orders. He wouldn't give them again. No response. Angry, the patrolman opened the cell and nudged Frank. Frank's head moved. Then it clattered on the floor, disembodied. The patrolman yelped. He looked at the decapitated head and...

But Frank didn't move. This was strange. Inmates knew to be up for inspection or risk punishment. The guard repeated his orders. He wouldn't give them again. No response. Angry, the patrolman opened the cell and nudged Frank. Frank's head moved. Then it clattered on the floor, disembodied. The patrolman yelped. He looked at the decapitated head and...

Anne realized it was made of papier-mâché and paint. It had cracked when it hit the hard floor. Within minutes, patrolmen found two more papier-mâché heads in cells normally occupied by brothers John and Clarence Anglin. Further inspection revealed loose ventilation grates in all three cells, with holes leading to an underused utility corridor.

Anne realized it was made of papier-mâché and paint. It had cracked when it hit the hard floor. Within minutes, patrolmen found two more papier-mâché heads in cells normally occupied by brothers John and Clarence Anglin. Further inspection revealed loose ventilation grates in all three cells, with holes leading to an underused utility corridor.

Anne realized it was made of papier-mâché and paint. It had cracked when it hit the hard floor. Within minutes, patrolmen found two more papier-mâché heads in cells normally occupied by brothers John and Clarence Anglin. Further inspection revealed loose ventilation grates in all three cells, with holes leading to an underused utility corridor.

Inside the corridor, they found a workshop with glues, screws, wrenches, and raincoat scraps scattered about. Records showed 52 raincoats had gone missing over the past few months. A ventilation shaft hung high above the utility corridor, and sure enough, it opened to the roof. On the roof, they found footprints. At that, they sounded the escape siren.

Inside the corridor, they found a workshop with glues, screws, wrenches, and raincoat scraps scattered about. Records showed 52 raincoats had gone missing over the past few months. A ventilation shaft hung high above the utility corridor, and sure enough, it opened to the roof. On the roof, they found footprints. At that, they sounded the escape siren.

Inside the corridor, they found a workshop with glues, screws, wrenches, and raincoat scraps scattered about. Records showed 52 raincoats had gone missing over the past few months. A ventilation shaft hung high above the utility corridor, and sure enough, it opened to the roof. On the roof, they found footprints. At that, they sounded the escape siren.

Guards immediately canvassed the island and alerted the FBI, Coast Guard, Highway Patrol, Army, and Bay Area Police. The Coast Guard patrolled the waters looking for the men. Military helicopters joined. Not knowing how quickly the men could be traveling, FBI agents knocked on doors in towns across the bay, like Sausalito and Tiburon. They warned locals to be on high alert for escaped prisoners.

Guards immediately canvassed the island and alerted the FBI, Coast Guard, Highway Patrol, Army, and Bay Area Police. The Coast Guard patrolled the waters looking for the men. Military helicopters joined. Not knowing how quickly the men could be traveling, FBI agents knocked on doors in towns across the bay, like Sausalito and Tiburon. They warned locals to be on high alert for escaped prisoners.

Guards immediately canvassed the island and alerted the FBI, Coast Guard, Highway Patrol, Army, and Bay Area Police. The Coast Guard patrolled the waters looking for the men. Military helicopters joined. Not knowing how quickly the men could be traveling, FBI agents knocked on doors in towns across the bay, like Sausalito and Tiburon. They warned locals to be on high alert for escaped prisoners.

With the three inmates gone, questions ran wild. Had the men had any visitors lately? Suspicious letters, conversations. In interviews, the remaining inmates didn't provide answers. They hadn't heard, seen, or noticed anything, really. Except for one. Alan West. A career criminal, Allen West's years of burglary, larceny, and car theft had put him behind bars repeatedly.

With the three inmates gone, questions ran wild. Had the men had any visitors lately? Suspicious letters, conversations. In interviews, the remaining inmates didn't provide answers. They hadn't heard, seen, or noticed anything, really. Except for one. Alan West. A career criminal, Allen West's years of burglary, larceny, and car theft had put him behind bars repeatedly.

With the three inmates gone, questions ran wild. Had the men had any visitors lately? Suspicious letters, conversations. In interviews, the remaining inmates didn't provide answers. They hadn't heard, seen, or noticed anything, really. Except for one. Alan West. A career criminal, Allen West's years of burglary, larceny, and car theft had put him behind bars repeatedly.

Multiple escape attempts and numerous assaults on fellow prisoners landed him on Alcatraz for the second time in 1958. In his interview, Allen West dripped smugness and oozed information. His account is the primary source for what we know about the escape. Because as Alan told it, he was in on the plan. Alan's story starts a year and a half prior, in January 1961.