# Letter from R. H. Colvin, Oklahoma City, to J. Edgar Hoover, 25 June 1933, asking for a submachine gun, rifles and pistols

Canonical: https://mobfiles.org/items/fbi-vault-kcm-colvin-arms-request-1933-06-25/

Eight days after the Kansas City Union Station shootings, the Oklahoma City agent in charge writes that agents have "only the small light pistols furnished by the Bureau" and asks for a Thompson submachine gun, rifles, .45 Colt automatics and ammunition.

Part 03 of the FBI Vault's Kansas City Massacre file, page 94 of the viewer; Bureau serial 62-28915-115. R. H. Colvin writes eight days after the Kansas City Union Station shootings that agents have "only the small light pistols furnished by the Bureau and which are entirely inadequate." He asks for "one Thompson sub-machine gun, a couple of high-power rifles and about four 45 calibre Colts Automatic pistols and plenty of ammmition [sic] for each," adding that "a sawed-off shotgun or two would also be useful."

The letter also discusses paying an informant under an assumed name and a private reward fund. Those parts are left out here. The Director's reply is filed separately.

**Object:** Typed letter, one page  
**Maker:** R. H. Colvin, Oklahoma City  
**Date:** 25 June 1933  
**Provenance:** Bureau serial 62-28915-115, released in the FBI Vault  
**Appears in:** FBI Vault, Kansas City Massacre, Part 03, page 94

## Sources

- FBI Records: The Vault: https://vault.fbi.gov/Kansas%20City%20Massacre/Kansas%20City%20Massacre%20Part%2003/view