Back in 2003 9/11 researchers would often demand the release of videos showing what happened to the Pentagon. "Why aren't they available", they would ask: "surely that would clear everything up? What do they have to hide?"
The Pentagon security camera footage was then released at the Moussaoui trial, but of course cleared up nothing at all. The Citgo and Doubletree footage followed, but didn't show the impact site. End of the story? No, because some people have claimed there are far more videos that are still being suppressed:
As usual, however, these claims aren't entirely as they seem.
The Maguire Declaration
The 84/ 85 figure for videos came about as the result of a FOIA request for videos showing the Pentagon impact. FBI Special Agent Jacqueline Maguire responded with the following point:
...I subsequently searched a series of FBI evidence databases, including the FBI's Electronic Case File system and the FBI's Investigative Case Management System, and determined that the FBI possessed eighty-five (85) videotapes that might be potentially responsive to plaintiff's FOIA request. This determination was based on videotapes that had been submitted into FBI evidence, sent directly to the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, and/or obtained by the FBI's Washington Field Office.
(Source images below)
The FBI are talking about 85 videos, but this is just the result of an initial search that includes (for example) all videos obtained by the Washington Field Office. If we move on from that then the numbers begin to fall dramatically.
56 "of these videotapes did not show either the Pentagon building, the Pentagon crash site, or the impact of Flight 77 into the Pentagon on September 11."
Of the remaining 29 videotapes, 16 "did not show the Pentagon crash site and did not show the impact of Flight 77 into the Pentagon."
Of the 13 remaining tapes, 12 "only showed the Pentagon after the impact of Flight 77."
Only one tape showed the Pentagon impact: the Pentagon's own security camera footage, that would later be released.
The videos in detail
Flight77.info provided more information about what the videos actually show.
A list of all the videotapes is available, which shows many of these videotapes do not have footage of the Pentagon at all. Instead, many have footage of the WTC, some are security video tapes taken from a Kinko's in Florida, etc. Some that show the Pentagon were taken days after the attacks, and some in the evening of 9/11/2001.
The security camera footage taken from around the Pentagon included the Citgo, the Doubletree, and the Pentagon parking lot. There was also video from cameras at Reagan National Airport parking garage. Both video files show smoke in the distance coming from direction of Pentagon. Another video came from a DEA HQ security camera atop 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA. The camera was repositioned after attack to show post-crash footage of Pentagon.
Footage taken after the attack included home video filmed by a tourist traveling past Pentagon and then by AP photographer who borrowed the camera, and video taken by a NBC4 Washington reporter...
The list of 85 videos
Five videotapes were recovered from the post-attack Pentagon crime scene and submitted to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico.
13 videos were obtained by the Defense Protective Services (DPS) - Pentagon Police - on 9/25/2001 from individual filming Pentagon site from Boundary Channel Drive. These included footage from the WTC site in the days after the attcks.
- One (1) Beta video tape - interviews in NYC
- One (1) DVCAM tape labeled "Twin Towers, World Trade Center" - NYC/WTC
- One (1) DVCAM tape - suburban setting, unknown individuals, dated 9/12-13
- One (1) DVCAM tape - NYC/WTC, 9/21-22
- One (1) DVCAM tape - NYC/WTC, 9/22-23
- One (1) DVCAM tape - NYC 9/23
- One (1) DVCAM tape - interviews in NYC; 10 seconds of Pentagon footage, but not crash site
- One (1) DVCAM tape - no recorded video or audio information
- One (1) DVCAM tape - no recorded video or audio information
- One (1) DVCAM tape - no recorded video or audio information
- One (1) DVCAM tape - no recorded video or audio information
- One (1) DVCAM tape - no recorded video or audio information
- One (1) DVCAM tape - no recorded video or audio information
8 videos were received on 10/11/2001 at Quantico. These videos were collected during consent search of residence in Avanel, New Jersey. Pending case on subject.
- One (1) damaged Sony MP-120 8mm video tape
- One (1) Sony MP-120 8mm video tape
- One (1) Sony MP-120 8mm video tape
- One (1) Sony MP-120 8mm video tape
- One (1) Sony MP-120 8mm video tape
- One (1) Sony MP-120 8mm video tape
- One (1) Sony MP-120 8mm video tape
- One (1) Sony MP-120 8mm video tape
Videos received on 10/15/2001 at Quantico. These videos were collected from surveillance cameras at multiple Kinko's in South Florida.
- One (1) TDK 1-160 VHS video tape
- One (1) VHS video tape
- One (1) SONY T-160 VHS video tape
- One (1) SONY T-160 VHS video tape
- One (1) SONY T-160 VHS video tape
- One (1) SONY T-160 VHS video tape
- One (1) SONY T-160 VHS video tape
- One (1) SONY T-160 VHS video tape
Video received on 10/22/2001 at Quantico. This video was recovered from garbage at residenced in Neenah, Wisconsin by the Neenah Police Department. Investigation on suspect has been closed.
- One (1) damaged VHS video tape and housing
Received at Washington Field Office Command Post
These two video tapes included footage of post-crash Pentagon crime scene taken by DOD media pool photographers, and were obtained from Navy Rear Admiral Craig Quigley.
- One (1) Betacam BCT-30G video cassette, labeled "1 of 2" & "early 6pm 9/11/01"
- One (1) Betacam BCT-30G video cassette, labeled "2 of 2" & "early pm 9/11/01"
Also received at the Washington Field Office Command Post:
- One (1) VHS video cassette - witness interviews near Pentagon after the attack
- One (1) VHS video cassette, labeled "9/11/2001" - footage of post Pentagon crime scene, obtained from Chief Mastin, Prince William County
- One (1) TDK Hi8 MP 120 video casette, wrapped in Pentagon map and labeled on back "1/29/1952 Mohan Shresesa 8/2/2018 Todoroki Japan 9/17/01 3:00 hr Fern/So. Rotary" - Home video taken from car, dated 9/17/2001,showing post-crash Pentagon crime scene very briefly from road (~10 seconds)
- One (1) FujiFilm DP121 video cassette, labeled "WJLA-TV" - miscellaneous footage from news reporter, dated 9/18/2001
- One (1) Sony MP120 8mm video cassette - Home video, DC sightseeing
- One (1) TDK HG Ultimate TC-30 video cassette - Home video, unknown date, showing brief footage of Pentagon (not crash site)
- One (1) Maxell DVM60SE mini digital video cassette - Home video, dated 9/17/2001, showing brief footage of Pentagon (not crash site)
- One (1) Sony Hi8 video cassette - Home video obtained by DPS on 9/11/2001 showing ~6 seconds of Pentagon footage (not crash site)
- One (1) TDK Hi8 MP 120 video cassette - Home video obtained by DPS on 9/21/2001, showing post-crash Pentagon crime scene
- One (1) JVC MP120 8mm video cassette - Home video obtained by DPS on 9/21/2001, showing brief footage of Pentagon (not crash site)
Videos filmed on 9/26/2001 by FBI Forensic Audio-Visual Analysis Unit (FAVIAU) of post-crash Pentagon crime scene.
- One (1) original SONY 40 min. Digital Betacam video tape
- One (1) original SONY 40 min. Digital Betacam video tape
Videos submitted to FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, under cover of communication dated 2/19/2002, all depicting WTC footage.
- One (1) Betacam video tape
- One (1) HDCAM video tape
- One (1) Betacam SP video tape
- One (1) Betacam SP video tape
- One (1) Mini DV video tape maked in part Antonio M.
- One (1) DVC PRO video tape
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B1056 COPY 5A of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B1056 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B1471 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B1788 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B1729 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B1808 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B1813 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B530 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B729 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B1563 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B1051 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B1787 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B2406 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "1B1276 COPY 5 of 5"
- One VHS video tape marked in part "CNN RE: BURN VICTIM..."
- One VHS video tape marked in part "NIGHTLINE 2/15/2002"
Videos submitted to FBI Laboratory, Quantico, under communication dated 5/13/2002.
- One (1) Sony SDX1-25C video tape
- One (1) Sony SDX1-25C video tape
- One (1) TDK 8mm video tape
Video obtained by FBI on 9/28/2001 and submitted to FBI Laboratory, Quantico on 5/28/2002. Home video filmed on 9/11/2001 showing footage of WTC after attacks, obtained by Suffolk County, New York Police Department.
- One Hi 8mm video cassette tape from Eileen McMahon
Video obtained by FBI on 9/13/2001 and submitted to FBI Laboratory, Quantico on 5/28/2002. Home video filmed on 9/11/2001 showing footage of second plane hitting WTC and aftermath.
- One Mini DV 60 video cassette tape
Video submitted to FBI Laboratory, Quantico under cover of communication dated 9/22/2001. Obtained by FBI NK from Dime Savings Bank, Nutley, New Jersey
- One TDK T-160 VHS video tape
Home video filmed on 9/11/2001 by NBC4 Washington reporter, with footage of post-crash Pentagon crime scene shortly after attack. Provided to FBI on 9/12/2001.
- One (1) home Video of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon.
Video from DEA HQ security camera atop 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA. Camera repositioned after attack to show post-crash footage of Pentagon. Provided to FBI on 9/12/2001.
Home video filmed on 9/11/2001 by tourist traveling past Pentagon and then by AP photographer who borrowed the camera. Footage of post-crash Pentagon crime scene shortly after attack. Provided to FBI on 9/12/2001.
Copy of home video filmed on 9/11/2001 by AP photographer using camera borrowed from nearby motorist. Footage of post-crash Pentagon crime scene shortly after attack. Provided to FBI on 9/12/2001.
- One (1) duplicate video cassette tape dated 9/11/01
Video from cameras at Reagan National Airport parking garage. Both video files show smoke in the distance coming from direction of Pentagon. Obtained by FBI on 9/13/2001.
- One (1) CD containing 2 video files
Video from security camera at Citgo Gas Station, 801 S. Joyce Street, Arlington, Virginia. Submitted to FAVIAU to determine if video showed impact of plane into Pentagon. Determined not to show impact. Obtained by FBI on 9/11/2001.
- One (1) JVC EHG Hi-Fi videocassette, labeled Day 11 Quarters K
Video from security camera at Doubletree Hotel, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, Virginia. Security video showing rotating footage from different camera locations at hotel; no camera captures impact of plane into Pentagon.
- One (1) TDK video tape marked "11C"
Images captured by two separate cameras at the entrance to the Pentagon Mall Terrace parkinng lot. Images capture the impact of the plane into the Pentagon from two different cameras. Obtained from the Pentagon Force Protection Agency via USA/EDVA.
Maguire Declaration source documents
Here's the Maguire Declaration as it appeared on flight77.info.
Video list source documents
Here's the FBI video list as it appeared on flight77.info.