Deep Kimchi
08-01-2006, 01:59
Posted in another thread, I think this deserves its own thread.
Here's the only problem I have with the Warren Commission report.
The first problem was to see whether Oswald could have fired three shots in 5.6 seconds. This time was determined from the film of the assassination. Because the assassin's view of the President was blocked by the oak tree until film frame 207, this was assumed to be the earliest point at which the President could have been shot. On film frame 313, the last shot is clearly discernable. Using frame 210 as the earliest point, as the Report does, a maximum of 103 film frames elapsed between the first and last shot, and, since the camera speed was 18.3 frames per second, the maximum times that elapsed was 5.6 seconds. Thus it remained to be seen whether Oswald was capable of accurately firing the rifle three times in 5.6 seconds.
The rifle tests held by the FBI and Army were an important part of the evidence. The first tests with Oswald's rifle were conducted on Nov 27, 1963, by the FBI. Each of three rifle experts fired three shots at a stationary target fifteen yards away (not a moving target up to 85 yards away). All the shots were high and to the right of the aiming point. The first shooter's firing time was 9 seconds. The second's was 8 seconds, and the last was 6 seconds. Thus none of the FBI experts equaled Oswald's time despite the fact that their target was stationary and only fifteen yards away, whereas Oswald's was moving and changing range from 60 to 85 yards.
Later the same day, the FBI experts fired two more series of shots to determine how fast the weapon could be fired without aiming. The first series of three shots was fired in 4.8 seconds, and the second in 4.6 seconds. They testified that firing in 4.6 seconds is "firing this weapon as fast as the bolt can be operated".
The final FBI tests were held at Quantico, Virginia, on March 16, 1964. The FBI fired three series of shots at a target 100 yards away. The time for the first series was 5.9 seconds; for the second series 6.2 seconds, and for the third 6.5 seconds. Not only did the FBI fail to equal the time, but all of the shots missed. The FBI explained in testimony that the inaccuracy was due to an uncorrectable mechanical deficiency in the scope sights - that is, the weapon could not be aimed accurately by anyone.
The Warren Commission was not happy with this answer, and so it arranged for the Army Ballistic Research Lab to conduct further tests on March 27, 1964. Three rifle experts, all of whom held Master rifle ratings from the National Rifle Association (about as good as it gets) fired at three silhouette targets located at distances matching the distances of the Presidential limousine from the source of the shots during the assassination.
Hendrix fired his first series of three shots in 8.25 seconds and missed the second target. He fired his second series in 7.0 seconds and missed the third target. Staley fired his first series in 6.75 seconds and his second series in 6.45 seconds - both times he missed the second target. Miller was the only expert to equal Oswald's time - he fired his first series in 4.6 seconds and his second series in 5.5 seconds, although he missed the second target both times. Miller later fired a third series, using the standard iron sights after removing the telescopic sights - he fired three shots in 4.45 seconds, but the third shot went wild.
Although the Army tests demonstrated that it was at least possible to fire three shots in 5.6 seconds, three factors must be taken into account in evaluating these tests - factors that were NEVER addressed by the Warren Commission.
1. Experts were timed only from the sound of the first shot to the sound of the last shot. This meant that they had unlimited time to aim at the first target and pull the trigger before they were timed. The assassin, however, only had 5.6 seconds for all three shots from the moment the car first became visible, and thus his aiming time has to be included in the total. This is a significant factor. For example, if it is assumed that it took the assassin one second to react, aim, and pull the trigger, he only had 4.6 seconds, not 5.6 seconds, to fire. Thus, in order to make comparisons, this aiming factor must be added to the expert's time.
2. The experts were firing at stationary targets, while the assassin was firing at a moving target. All experts testified that a moving target would have slowed down the shooting - at least 1 second per shot. This testimony was later dropped from the Warren Commission report for reasons unknown.
3. When the Army experts found that the sights on the rifle could not be accurately used or adjusted to get the rifle on target, they repaired the scope mounts by placing shims on the mount in order to get the rifle on target. That is, the rifle was completely inaccurate before testing, and only after major repairs was the rifle capable of hitting anything at all. Thus, the experts fired the rifles with accurate sights, whereas, so far as is known, the user of the rifle fired with inaccurate sights.
To date, no examination of the shooting, no recreation of the shooting, and no computer simulation of the shooting has addressed these issues: firing a inaccurately sighted rifle with the skill superior to most Master marksmen in less time than has been demonstrated.
Here's the only problem I have with the Warren Commission report.
The first problem was to see whether Oswald could have fired three shots in 5.6 seconds. This time was determined from the film of the assassination. Because the assassin's view of the President was blocked by the oak tree until film frame 207, this was assumed to be the earliest point at which the President could have been shot. On film frame 313, the last shot is clearly discernable. Using frame 210 as the earliest point, as the Report does, a maximum of 103 film frames elapsed between the first and last shot, and, since the camera speed was 18.3 frames per second, the maximum times that elapsed was 5.6 seconds. Thus it remained to be seen whether Oswald was capable of accurately firing the rifle three times in 5.6 seconds.
The rifle tests held by the FBI and Army were an important part of the evidence. The first tests with Oswald's rifle were conducted on Nov 27, 1963, by the FBI. Each of three rifle experts fired three shots at a stationary target fifteen yards away (not a moving target up to 85 yards away). All the shots were high and to the right of the aiming point. The first shooter's firing time was 9 seconds. The second's was 8 seconds, and the last was 6 seconds. Thus none of the FBI experts equaled Oswald's time despite the fact that their target was stationary and only fifteen yards away, whereas Oswald's was moving and changing range from 60 to 85 yards.
Later the same day, the FBI experts fired two more series of shots to determine how fast the weapon could be fired without aiming. The first series of three shots was fired in 4.8 seconds, and the second in 4.6 seconds. They testified that firing in 4.6 seconds is "firing this weapon as fast as the bolt can be operated".
The final FBI tests were held at Quantico, Virginia, on March 16, 1964. The FBI fired three series of shots at a target 100 yards away. The time for the first series was 5.9 seconds; for the second series 6.2 seconds, and for the third 6.5 seconds. Not only did the FBI fail to equal the time, but all of the shots missed. The FBI explained in testimony that the inaccuracy was due to an uncorrectable mechanical deficiency in the scope sights - that is, the weapon could not be aimed accurately by anyone.
The Warren Commission was not happy with this answer, and so it arranged for the Army Ballistic Research Lab to conduct further tests on March 27, 1964. Three rifle experts, all of whom held Master rifle ratings from the National Rifle Association (about as good as it gets) fired at three silhouette targets located at distances matching the distances of the Presidential limousine from the source of the shots during the assassination.
Hendrix fired his first series of three shots in 8.25 seconds and missed the second target. He fired his second series in 7.0 seconds and missed the third target. Staley fired his first series in 6.75 seconds and his second series in 6.45 seconds - both times he missed the second target. Miller was the only expert to equal Oswald's time - he fired his first series in 4.6 seconds and his second series in 5.5 seconds, although he missed the second target both times. Miller later fired a third series, using the standard iron sights after removing the telescopic sights - he fired three shots in 4.45 seconds, but the third shot went wild.
Although the Army tests demonstrated that it was at least possible to fire three shots in 5.6 seconds, three factors must be taken into account in evaluating these tests - factors that were NEVER addressed by the Warren Commission.
1. Experts were timed only from the sound of the first shot to the sound of the last shot. This meant that they had unlimited time to aim at the first target and pull the trigger before they were timed. The assassin, however, only had 5.6 seconds for all three shots from the moment the car first became visible, and thus his aiming time has to be included in the total. This is a significant factor. For example, if it is assumed that it took the assassin one second to react, aim, and pull the trigger, he only had 4.6 seconds, not 5.6 seconds, to fire. Thus, in order to make comparisons, this aiming factor must be added to the expert's time.
2. The experts were firing at stationary targets, while the assassin was firing at a moving target. All experts testified that a moving target would have slowed down the shooting - at least 1 second per shot. This testimony was later dropped from the Warren Commission report for reasons unknown.
3. When the Army experts found that the sights on the rifle could not be accurately used or adjusted to get the rifle on target, they repaired the scope mounts by placing shims on the mount in order to get the rifle on target. That is, the rifle was completely inaccurate before testing, and only after major repairs was the rifle capable of hitting anything at all. Thus, the experts fired the rifles with accurate sights, whereas, so far as is known, the user of the rifle fired with inaccurate sights.
To date, no examination of the shooting, no recreation of the shooting, and no computer simulation of the shooting has addressed these issues: firing a inaccurately sighted rifle with the skill superior to most Master marksmen in less time than has been demonstrated.