Silly. It took them several months. As late as April 27, 1964 the WC
theory was that JFK was hit at frame 210, Connally hit at frame 230 and
the head shot at frame 313.
April 27, 1964
MEMORANDUM
TO: J. Lee Rankin
FROM: Norman Redlich
The purpose of this memorandum is to explain the reasons why certain
members of the staff feel that it is important to take certain on-site
photographs in connection with the location of the approximate points at
which the three bullets struck the occupants of the Presidential
limousine.
Our report presumably will state that the President was hit by the first
bullet, Governor Connally by the second, and the President by the third
and fatal bullet. The report will also conclude that the bullets were
fired by one person located in the sixth floor southeast corner window
of the TSBD building.
As our investigation now stands, however, we have not shown that these
events could possibly have occurred in the manner suggested above. All
we have is a reasonable hypothesis which appears to be supported by the
medical testimony but which has not been checked out against the
physical facts at the scene of the assassination.
Our examination of the Zapruder films shows that the fatal third shot
struck the President at a point which we can locate with reasonable
accuracy on the ground. We can do this because we know the exact frame
(no. 313) in the film at which the third shot hit the President and we
know the location of the photographer. By lining up fixed objects in the
movie frame where this shot occurs we feel that we have determined the
approximate location of this shot. This can be verified by a photo of
the same spot from the point where Zapruder was standing.
We have the testimony of Governor and Mrs. Connally that the Governor
was hit with the second bullet at a point which we probably cannot fix
with precision. We feel we have established, however, with the help of
medical testimony, that the shot which hit the Governor did not come
after frame 240 on the Zapruder film. The governor feels that it came
around 230, which is certainly consistent with our observations of the
film and with the doctor's testimony. Since the President was shot at
frame 313, this would leave a time of at least 4 seconds between the two
shots, certainly ample for even an inexperienced marksman.
Prior to our last viewing of the films with Governor Connally we had
assumed that the President was hit while he was concealed behind the
sign which occurs between frames 215-225. We have expert testimony to
the effect that a skilled marksman would require a minimum 2 seconds
between shots with this rifle. Since the camera operates at 18 1/3
frames per second, there would have to be a minimum of 40 frames between
shots.
It is apparent, therefore, that if Governor Connally was hit even as
late as frame 240, the President would have to have been hit no later
than frame 190 and probably even earlier. We have not yet examined the
assassination scene to determine whether the assassin in fact could have
shot the President prior to frame 190. We could locate the position on
the ground which corresponds to this frame and it would then be our
intent to establish by photography that the assassin could have fired
the first shot at the President prior to this point. Our intention is
not to establish the point with complete accuracy, but merely to
substantiate the hypothesis which underlies the conclusions that Oswald
was the sole assassin.
> David Emerling
> Memphis, TN
>