The following is an excerpt from the September 1976 (page 7) edition of Tigereview
While most of the freight traveling on a recent Flying Tigers’ flight 071 from New York to Tokyo was loaded in the usual way, one item of “cargo” sat in the upperdeck lounge area of the 747 munching a roast beef sandwich, sipping orange juice and dealing with members of the news media.
a sandwich to Oliver prior to departure
The special shipment was “Oliver,” a stocky, humanoid creature theorized by some to be anthropology’s long-sought “missing link,” on his way to Tokyo to be studied by a panel of scientists and anthropologists. Oliver stands four feet six inches tall and weighs in at 120 pounds, and at present is generally regarded by informed scientists as a hybrid between an ape and a chimpanzee. However, owner Michael Miller, a New York attorney, believes there may be something more to a number of decidedly man-like characteristics displayed by the creature. He continually walks upright, Miller says, with posture more like a man than an ape, appears to possess a higher degree of intelligence than the usual primate and has distinct bone structure unlike that of chimps and other primates. Oliver is also inexplicably bald, adding to his mystique. Miller himself assembled the panel of experts from various scientific and anthropological disciplines to assist in tracing the animal’s origin and perhaps answer such questions as to why the ape-like creature is exclusively bi-pedal (walks only on two legs, never on four) and is able to walk in the lock-knee position characteristic of man and unheard of in apes. The animal also exhibits a physical characteristic — a particular opening in the skull through which the nerves are connected to the brain —generally considered to differentiate man and his forebears from apes.
During his five week stay in the Orient, Oliver took part in a series of experiments, television shows and the filming of a documentary, before climbing back on board a Flying Tigers jet for his return to the United States. Oliver, now seven years old, came into the public spotlight earlier this year when he was purchased by Miller from a South African explorer who toured amusement parks, carnivals and similar attractions with trained chimpanzee and dog acts. “I heard that during performances he sometimes would bring out this strange looking creature which he kept as a pet,” Miller remarked. Intrigued by the description Miller went to see the man’s show and wound up parting with $8000.00 to become the animal’s new owner. Miller believes Oliver comes from the Congo River region of Africa. Oliver’s diet includes fruit, vegetables, cheese and lean meats.
His roast beef sandwich and orange juice meal, served to him by JFK secretary Barbara Berkey, was only part of the special pre-flight arrangements necessary for the journey. At JFK special accomodations were provided on board the aircraft, and in Tokyo officials pondered over what entry procedures should apply for the celebrity-creature. Both his U.S. departure and TYO arrival brought out the news media, including television, and more than 40 newspapers in Japan carried a photo and story.