Post by Michael Capasse on Aug 5, 2019 12:08:02 GMT -5
Memorandum
January 28, 1964
To: Mr Callahan
From : L J Gauther
Assassination of Pres. Kennedy and the killing of Lee Harvey Oswald visual aids
The Commission's legal staff , Messers. Joseph Ball , David Belin , Melvin Eisenberg, and Norm Redlich visually examined the Zapruder and Nix movies from 10 AM until 6:30 PM on January 27, 1964. Present were Secret Service agents John J Howlett, who visually fixed the position of the shots in Dallas, and Secret Service inspector Thomas Kelley. Special agent Shanyfelt of the FBI laboratory was available to answer questions concerning the frame count appearing in the Zapruder film. The results of the first days examination by the staff is as follows:
SHOT ONE:
The FBI and Secret Service’s approximations were accepted tentatively as being within several feet of each other behind the road sign moments before the president’s head emerged at the right edge of the sign as viewed by Zapruder. Staff members agree that this position appears to be firm subject to a -/+ of 6 feet in either direction.
SHOT TWO
Approximately ¾ second separates the FBI’s and Secret Service’s estimated position. This represents a difference of about 13 frames. Staff has individual views concerning where Connally was shot. They are not sure where the governor was hit, feeling this may have occurred between frames 56 tru 73. They desire to narrow this approximation down to a -/+ factor of about 6 feet in either direction. The staff is arranging to obtain a layman’s report of the medical account describing the governors wounds in order that the turning action of the governor as viewed in the movie can be used to more nearly fix the position he was in the time the bullet struck him in the back. Fixing the governor’s position at the time the bullet struck, according to the staff, may make it possible to determine the frame wherein shot to occurred.
SHOT THREE
The FBI and Secret Service’s approximations differ between one second (18 frames) and 1.5 seconds (29 frames). Staff members are endeavoring to pinpoint the third shot (frame 89) on the Parkway. The Nix film of the third shot clearly locates Zapruder router across the roadway. An approximation which occurs 1.2 seconds before the FBI’s approximation is being considered as a tentative location for shot three, as reenacted on the scale model again, with a plus or minus factor of 1/3 (6 feet) in either direction.
Staff members are using the model extensively in the visual examination of the movies mentioned. The model is considered by them to be as accurate as a visual aid could possibly be, constructed to a scale of 1/4 inch to the foot, which is 48 times smaller than the actual measurement. The staff realizing the many variables that exists in a model reenactment is considering eventually having a surveyor plot on site data now being obtained scale model reenactments. This they feel will more nearly approximate the shooting sequence with the speed of the Presidential car may be fixed in so far as acceleration, if any between shots in the range of gun fire.
January 28, 1964
To: Mr Callahan
From : L J Gauther
Assassination of Pres. Kennedy and the killing of Lee Harvey Oswald visual aids
The Commission's legal staff , Messers. Joseph Ball , David Belin , Melvin Eisenberg, and Norm Redlich visually examined the Zapruder and Nix movies from 10 AM until 6:30 PM on January 27, 1964. Present were Secret Service agents John J Howlett, who visually fixed the position of the shots in Dallas, and Secret Service inspector Thomas Kelley. Special agent Shanyfelt of the FBI laboratory was available to answer questions concerning the frame count appearing in the Zapruder film. The results of the first days examination by the staff is as follows:
SHOT ONE:
The FBI and Secret Service’s approximations were accepted tentatively as being within several feet of each other behind the road sign moments before the president’s head emerged at the right edge of the sign as viewed by Zapruder. Staff members agree that this position appears to be firm subject to a -/+ of 6 feet in either direction.
SHOT TWO
Approximately ¾ second separates the FBI’s and Secret Service’s estimated position. This represents a difference of about 13 frames. Staff has individual views concerning where Connally was shot. They are not sure where the governor was hit, feeling this may have occurred between frames 56 tru 73. They desire to narrow this approximation down to a -/+ factor of about 6 feet in either direction. The staff is arranging to obtain a layman’s report of the medical account describing the governors wounds in order that the turning action of the governor as viewed in the movie can be used to more nearly fix the position he was in the time the bullet struck him in the back. Fixing the governor’s position at the time the bullet struck, according to the staff, may make it possible to determine the frame wherein shot to occurred.
One staff member, according to inspector Kelley, quietly spoke about the outside possibility of a shot going through the President with sufficient velocity remaining to penetrate Connally’s body, wrist, and leg. Inspector Kelley mentioned this to me confidentially. He was of the opinion that this was a personal remark made on the spur of the moment. Shot two, under those ridiculous facts, would have "gone completely wild," according to Kelley.
SHOT THREE
The FBI and Secret Service’s approximations differ between one second (18 frames) and 1.5 seconds (29 frames). Staff members are endeavoring to pinpoint the third shot (frame 89) on the Parkway. The Nix film of the third shot clearly locates Zapruder router across the roadway. An approximation which occurs 1.2 seconds before the FBI’s approximation is being considered as a tentative location for shot three, as reenacted on the scale model again, with a plus or minus factor of 1/3 (6 feet) in either direction.
Attorney Norman Redlich asked Secret Service to determine from Orville Nix, the exact position at the time he made the movies, especially whether he was moving at the time he photographed the Presidential car. Redlich also inquired of me at the time we adjourned at 6:30 PM, whether the FBI’s laboratory had determined the true speed of the Nix camera, and if not, the FBI would obtain the camera and conduct necessary examination. This information was discussed Mr. Conrad, who will be in touch with Redlich.
Staff members are using the model extensively in the visual examination of the movies mentioned. The model is considered by them to be as accurate as a visual aid could possibly be, constructed to a scale of 1/4 inch to the foot, which is 48 times smaller than the actual measurement. The staff realizing the many variables that exists in a model reenactment is considering eventually having a surveyor plot on site data now being obtained scale model reenactments. This they feel will more nearly approximate the shooting sequence with the speed of the Presidential car may be fixed in so far as acceleration, if any between shots in the range of gun fire.
