Cuban Coordinating Committee

http://jfkcountercoup.blogspot.com/2008/11/valkarie-at-dealey-plaza.html

On April Fools Day, April 1, 1963, the Cuban Coordinating Committee – Covert Operations in Cuba (CCC-COC) met, the subject of an April 3 memo from Gordon Chase of the National Security Council to McGeorge Bundy, the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs. It included a still classified agenda and matters discussed by the Cottrell Committee, which White identifies as “An interdepartmental committee, chaired by Sterling J. Cottrell, in early 1963 to coordinate the administration’s covert and overt Cuban policies.”

Among those in the CCC-COC meeting were Secretary Vance, Joe Califano, Dick Helms, Dez FitzGerald and Bob Hurwitch, who discussed “Balloon Operations Over Havana, a plan that was “well under way,” given favorable winds, that would release balloons containing hundreds of thousands of leaflets designed by the CIA propaganda shop, which “attack Castro’s henchmen and contain cartoons illustrating sabotage techniques.” Another review is scheduled before this is put into operation.

Also on the agenda of this meeting was finding appropriate installations for the “Training of CIA-Sponsored Cuban Exiles on Military Reservations – CIA and the Army,” and “The Russian Language Programs – The Committee decided in favor of instituting three programs (Radio Liberty, Radio Caribe, and an intrusion program…”

In summary, Gordon Chase notes, “In approving the three programs for Special Group considerations, the committee recognized that they will probably be of marginal value only: however, they will cost us very little, financial or otherwise.”

Under agenda item number four, “Sabotage of Cuban Shipping – The Committee…will recommend to the Special Group the incendiaries which would be timed to go off in international waters and the abrasives in the machinery. While the propaganda boost might be nil, they are easier to effect than limpets and could really hurt Castro.”

Then Chase tells McBundy, “The Committee gave the CIA the option of using its own Cubans or of using DRE as a cut-out.”

The DRE are the anti-Castro Cuban Student Revolutionary Directorate, whose members interacted with Oswald before the assassination.

Then the meeting briefly discussed “The Redirection of Cuban Exile Group Operations,” asking themselves the question of “what is an acceptable target?”

In response, “Dick Helms pointed out that although these groups may start out to get a non-Soviet target, once you let them go, you can never really be sure what they will do.”

Let me repeat that: “DICK HELMS POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THESE GROUPS MAY START OUT TO GET A NON-SOVIET TARGET, ONCE YOU LET THEM GO, YOU CAN NEVER REALLY BE SURE WHAT THEY WILL DO.”

Bob Hurwitch, the memo mentions, “seemed to favor the approach that attacks and sabotage should appear to come from inside rather than outside Cuba.”

Rather incredulously, Chase concludes, “The Committee came to no decision on this one. More thinking is needed.” Indeed.

On the same April 3rd day Gordon Chase wrote that memo to McBundy, RFK met with his Russian ambassador Dobrynin and reported to the President that, “We exchanged pleasantries. He told me that Norman Cousins had asked to see Khrushchev and he had arranged it…Another point that was made was a sharp and bitter criticism about the raids that had taken place against Russian ships.”

It is noted that, “[3. On March 26, anti-Castro group L-66 sunk the Baku, a Russian vessel, at the Cuban harbor of Caibarien only a week after another Soviet ship had been attacked in a Cuban port.]”

“These were piratical acts and the United States must take responsibility for them. It isn’t possible,” RFK quoted Dobrynin, “to believe that if we really wanted to stop these raids that we could not do so. They were glad to hear of the steps that are being taken lately but in the last analysis the specific acts, namely, the arrests that we made would be the criteria by which they would judge our sincerity. The Soviet Union questions whether in fact we wish to end these attacks for our criticism of them has been not that they were wrong but they were ineffective. The clear implication was that if the raids had been effective they would have had our approval.”

About a week later, on April 9, 1963, Joseph A. Califano, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army wrote a memo to his boss, Cyrus R. Vance, which White describes as, “JFK decides which of the covert operations proposed him (See previous docs) would be carried out.”

Under the Subject, “President Action on Special Group Items Concerning Cuba,” Califano checks off the items, beginning with, “1. The President rejected the balloon item on the recommendations of Ed Morrow,” so the project that was “well underway,” was scuttled before it could get off the ground because JFK talked about it with Ed Morrow.

“The President approved the propaganda item (inciting Cubans to harass, attack and sabotage Soviet military personnel in Cuba) provided every precaution is taken to prevent attribution.”

“The President approved the sabotage of cargos on Cuban ships and the crippling of ships (through sand in the gears, etc.); With respect to Russian language broadcasts, the President (a) rejected such broadcasts by exile groups over Radio Caribe in the Domincian Republic, ( rejected black intrusion on the use of such broadcasts on Radio Liberty from North Carolina, pending consultation with Lleweellyn Thompson.”

“We have also agreed with CIA that we would spot about 20 inductees now in training at Fort Jackson whom we consider to have the necessary characteristics for CIA operations inside Cuba. These personnel, along with those given jump training under 5 above, would also be used in advance of the introduction of Special Forces, should there be a decision to invade Cuba.”

Sterling J. Cottrell, the Coordinator of Cuban Affairs to the Special Group, wrote a memo on April 18, 1963, which White says, “reviews current covert actions against Castro and poses the question whether these actions should be intensified.”

Under SUBJECT: “Proposed New Covert Policy and Program Toward Cuba,” Cottrell wrote, “A. The following guidelines are being used in our present covert policy towards Cuba: 1. Producing comprehensive intelligence related to our basic policy objectives….2. Intensifying covert collection of intelligence within Cuba, especially within the regime. 3. Supporting the efforts of certain Cuban exiles, who are associated with the original aims of the 26 of July Movement [1. A reference to the original effort to spark a revolution in Cuba when Castro and his cohorts tried to seize the Moncada military barracks in 1953.] and who believe that the Castro regime can be overthrown from within in order that they may: 1) cause a split in the leadership of the retime… create a political base of opposition…4) The use of a variety of propaganda media to stimulate passive resistance….5) The placing of incendiary devices and/or explosives with suitable time delay within the hull or cargo to disable or sink Cuban vessels and/or damage their cargos while on the high seas…6) Introduce abrasives and other damaging material….”

Cottrell then poses the questions, “1) Should the U.S. move beyond the above policy to a program of sabotage, harassment and resistance activities? 2) What kind of effective action can be taken? 3) What capabilities do we possess? 4) What repercussions can we expect?”

In this memo, Cottrell also says, “Surface attacks by maritime assets firing on Cuban ships in Cuban waters. When the maritime asset cannot reach the target, shore based attacks on shipping in port or passing the offshore keys will be undertaken ….

Considerations: Attack craft from the sea would be manned by Cubans. Shore based attacks by paramilitary trained Cubans firing on ships with recoilless rifles, rocket launchers or 20mm cannon. First sea attack in May and once monthly thereafter. First shore based attack in June. These operations would disrupt coastal commerce. US would probably be blamed. Cuban reprisal measures possible. Soviets likely allege US culpability….Externally mounted hit and run attacks against land targets. Examples: molasses tanker, petroleum storage dumps, naval refueling base, refineries, power plants.”

Under “Considerations,” Cottrell notes, “Operations conducted by Cubans with paramilitary training. High possibilities of complex operations going awry. First attack in April, with one per month thereafter. Effects would be increased exile morale, some economic disruption. Repercussions would include charges of US sponsorship and increased Cuban security force activities…”

Cottrell includes an attachment on the subject of “A Covert Harassment/Sabotage Program against Cuba,” which states, “This paper presents a covert Harassment/Sabotage program targeted against Cuba: including are those sabotage plans which have previously been approved as well as new proposals…Loses in men and equipment with the attendant adverse publicity must be expected. Even without such loses, US attribution would be claimed. When policy and guidelines of the overall sabotage program are established, it will be possible progressively to develop up to a limit additional covert assets and support capabilities. However, materially to increase the pace of operations, a period of four to six months is required. Ultimate limiting factors are weather, length of ‘dark of the moon’ period each month and appropriate targets. A source of additional agent personnel is from Cuban personnel trained by the US Military Forces under the recent programs, but released to civilian status….”

That April 29th 1963, RFK and members of the Standing Group of the National Security Council met in Washington at 5pm, but the memo prepared by McGeorge Bundy has yet to be declassified and released, other than its title: “A Sketch o

Mae, Judge and Don Norton

Posted by John Judge July 31 2000

Bill Kelly requested that I relate the meeting I had with a man using the name Don Norton at the University of Dayton in Ohio in the 1970’s. I had helped to make arrangements for researcher Mae Brussell to speak on campus. Kelly was also going to school there at the time, and attended her talk. After the crowd broke, I headed home with Mae and two roommates at our off campus house. Coming out of the Student Union, I noticed a man handing back, but following us down the hallway, and into the elevator. Mae was surrounded by a small group, including Bill Kelly, who were asking her questions. The man held back while she stopped outside in the dark to finish talking to them. Then Mae, myself and my roommates began to head toward home and stepped into the light of street laps at the edge of campus.

At this point, the man ran out of the shadows from behind us and came up to Mae, saying, “Mae, don’t you know who I am?” Mae turned, looked at him for a moment and said, “You look like Lee Harvey Oswald.” And to my amazement, he did. Add ten years to his life, some receding hairline, but the resemblance was clearly there. He looked at his feet and said, “A lot of people tell me that. I’m Don Norton.” At this Mae became effusive. “Oh Don, I’m so glad you come. John, this is Don Norton. He wrote to me to say he was going to drive down from Columbus to hear the talk. He’s the only researcher in the country who sends me money to do my work.” Again, the man looked at his feet and said, “It’s my conscience money.” I was still flabbergasted at his resemblance to Oswald and intrigued about who he was, so I invited him to come down to the house and visit with Mae and have a cup of coffee. He followed us there.

Inside, the resemblance was even clearer to me. He looked like the round, cherubic faced Oswald who was in the Soviet Union photos and on the passport photo, but not like the Oswald killed in Dallas. I expected him to ask questions of Mae, but instead he began a long recitation about Marxism and communist ideology. Finally, Mae got up from knitting and said, “I’m going to bed.” I offered to send my research writings to the man, and he told me to write to him at “General Delivery, Columbus, Ohio.” He bid goodnight to my two roommakes and myself and left.

The next day, on the way to visit a correspondent in a state prison in Ohio, Mae turned to me in the car and said, “Don’t you think that was Oswald who visited us last night?” And I said, “Well, it sure looked like Oswald,” Mae, but Oswald is dead.”  

“Not according to his mother,” Mae responded, “she told me that the man shot in the basement of the Dallas jail was not her son.” I was astounded. “Didn’t you notice what he was doing last night?”

I said, “Well, I thought it strange that he didn’t ask any questions or really talk to us.” 

“He was reciting verbatim the speech Oswald gave on the radio in New Orleans about communism and Marxism,” she explained. I had never heard the text of the speech, so it had not run a bell for me.

“I’m going to go home and check his signature on his letters to me. I have a whole collection of Oswald signatures, and they re not all the same person.” Mae said. She was clearly excited that she had met a living Oswald.

Resemblance.

I have now repeated this story to many researchers. Jack White and others took a special interest in it and followed down leads on a Don Norton in Columbus, but the early photo they showed me of that man did not resemble the person I saw. Later, I saw a photo of a man that lived in Florida and used the name Don Norton, and it was clearly the same person. I am convinced that the man I met that night was either the Oswald who lived with Marina in the Soviet Union, or a dead ringer for him. I do not know if his real name was Don Norton, of course, that is just the name he gave us. District Attorney Jim Garrison believed that someone using that name was involved in the Kennedy assassination conspiracy.

I later was a custodian of Mae Brussell’s library and correspondence files for a period. I never found the Norton letters, but they may still exist in her collection. Mae died in 1988. Bill Kelly and my old roommates sill recall the incident, but no additional details. Bill never saw the man calling himself Norton, he had parted from us before the man ran up to Mae. I, of course, will never forget the incident.

Lee Harvey Oswald had been a key in my work to understand who killed Kennedy and who set him up to take the blame. I realized early on that there was more than one Oswald, that a “double” operation was going on prior to the assassination. I believe the man I met was Marguritte’s son, the real Oswald, back from the Soviet Union at some point. But until that night, Oswald had been a ghost to me, a name and a set of facts, not a person. Until the specials released about Oswald in the 1990s, I had never heard Oswald’s voice, save in the few stressed moments he is interviewed in the Dallas jail, his voice is terse and angry. Finally, he is heard in one documentary on tapes preserved by an English speaking teacher in the Soviet Union who befriended Lee, laughing and dramatizing a reading, and his persona comes through in a completely different way. These two voices are not the same in my view.

I also relayed this story to the Cuban intelligence officers who COPA arranged for researchers to meet in the Bahamas a few years ago, and Felix Rodriguez was intrigued. He told me a story of his own, from the days when he was trained in the 1950s by the KGB in Moscow. He said their officers were behind a clothing store just off Red Square, and that you entered in the back room by way of a concealed elevator, Like Maxwell Smart,” he joked. He said that his key KGB trainer had told him that Lee Harvey Oswald was still living in the Soviet Union, years after the Kennedy assassination had occurred. I wondered if this was the man I me so many years ago.

Did the “defector” Oswald stay in the Soviet Union and a double “Return” to the US? Is there still a living Oswald? Could he tell us anything about those who set him up as the patsy? Is Don Norton still alive? Others have done much more research than work on Norton than I have, an it’s worth studying. I live with this small piece of history. Ever since I began my work on the JFK assassination, it has created a web of synchronicity and serendipity for me, chance meetings with key individuals who know a piece of the puzzle.

For my purposes, the case is solved, but not yet finally proven. I point the finger at the Joint Chiefs of Staff and at the Office of Naval Intelligence, who ran the young Marine “defector” , Lee Harvey Oswald, and those were among the last forthcoming agencies approached by the Review Board for the JFK assassination files. In the e early 1990s, before Oliver Stone’s film, Bill Kelly and I started the Committee for an Open Archives to press for the full release of the government files. We actually had found sponsors to introduce the bills and for a full and immediate release, among them Rep.  Henry Gonzales, who had been in the motorcade that day. Stone’s film created the groundswell of public outcry that led to the passage of the JFK Records Act of 1992. And the Committee for an Open Archives was one of the founding groups of the Coalition on Political Assassinations.

DONALD P. NORTON – By William E. Kelly, Jr.

As summarized from interview notes taken by investigators (Charles Ward/R. Billings) for the New Orleans District Attorney (NODA) and newspaper clips, released by the NARA under the JFK Act.

Born on January 23, 1932, a native of Columbus, Georgia, Donald P. Norton was raised and educated in Georgia before entering the U.S. Air Force in October, 1949. A musician who played the organ and self-described TV personality, Norton enlisted with the understanding he would play in the Air Force Band, which he did until 1952 when he was discharged over what he described as a "personal involvement" and an "indiscretion" that led to him being sentenced to six months in a federal prison.

Returning to Georgia he continued his musical education at a conservatory where he earned a bachelor and master degrees and in 1957 a job playing at the officers club at Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia, where he performed for and met generals and other officers and officals. While there he was approached by a man representing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who told him "we want to know who does what to whom," which the NODA investigator surmised, "the obvious implication being that it would his duty to ferret out homosexuals in high military places." The money, Norton said, was good, $500 a month, and Norton continued what he called his "witch hunting" assignment until 1958, when the colonel who employed him was charged with embezzlement.

Norton then moved to Atlanta where he performed on weekends at the officers club, whose secretary Norton was convinced, was also a government agent, continuing to turn over information about homosexuals, proof "based on experience."

In early 1958 he received a phone call from his contact who asked him if he would like to take a trip to Cuba. He met "Hugh Pharris" at the Easter Airline ticket counter at the Atlanta Airport. "Pharris" gave him a case of phonograph records, saying "it is in the jackts," samples of which he was to take to Carlo Media, a Cuban television personality, who was also working for the CIA at the time. "Pharris" was described as a man who wore sun glasses and a very sloppy wig, who Norton is convinced was David Ferrie. A young lady was with him, Carlotta Roth, a dancer at the Domino Lounge in Atlanta. After traveling to Cuba, Norton returned to Georgia via Miami and New York and reported to his CIA contact in Atlanta.

Norton said his next assignment was to infiltrate the Fulton County jail, where he was placed in the same cell with Robert Bolling, accused of dynamiting a synagogue. Other assignments were more his specialty, to determine the existence of homosexuals in government jobs.

In 1960, while on a pleasure trip to New Orleans, Norton said he went to the My-O-My Club, a homosexual hangout, where he saw "Hugh Pharris" (aka David Ferrie), though he didn't break operational security and talk to him.

According to the NODA investigation report of the interview with Norton, "…it should be noted that the man's (Norton's) physical appearance and his behavior indicate at a glance his sexual nature. A man of rather delicate features, slightly overweight, he is extremely nervous, a chain smoker, which may well be explained by the fact that he is indeed frightened. On the other hand, he is a fast-talking, well rehearsed witness, although his testimony is often confusing due to his penchant for inconsequential gossip. He has a very inflated ego about his musical talents and his ability to decipher weaknesses of others. He describes himself as a passive homosexual who is really a bisexual, although the latter terminology must be considered doubtful. On observation it must be stated that it seems unlikely that a man of such homosexual tendencies would be employed by the intelligence agency, but, as he described the nature of his work, this was exactly the reason they hired him. He described the reason for going to work for the agency as two-fold. One, 'they had something on me,' he says, and two, 'the money was good.'"

Norton said he was paid on an assignment-by-assignment basis, received his orders by phone from a man who was only identified as "the Captain," and never heard the term "CIA" by the initials used to describe the agency, and the first reference was the last reference to the company. He was tightly insulated from other CIA operatives and only knows of a few others who have worked for the agency.

In September, 1962, Norton said he was given the assignment of delivering $50,000 to the Hotel Yamajel, in Monterray, Mexico. Driving in his own 1956 Buick, he registered under his own name.

According to the NODA investigator's report, "It should be noted here that Norton's knowledge of Cuban policy of this country is extremely vague. He is able to theorize as if it were some revelation that the United States or CIA was behind the overthrow of Batista, but then when Castro threw out the CIA, it in turn, and the U.S. government turned against Castro. He does however say that Carlo Media, the CIA-employed Cuban is now in a Castro prison, so he thinks. He says that after the Castro overthrow his only assignment involving Cuba was this courier trip to Monterray to turn over $50,000 to Harvey Lee…"

After registering at the Yamajel Hotel, Norton said he was met by "Harvey Lee" before he could even get to his room. They went into the bar and had a few beers. Norton described "Harvey Lee" as "a man of slight build who dressed casually, who appeared identical to Oswald except for the fact that his hair was not as thin as the hair of the man he saw in pictures identified as Lee Harvey Oswald."

Norton also noted that "Harvey Lee" refused to look him in the eye. When asked where he was from, Norton recalled the answer, he thinks, was New Orleans. In return for the case of money, in return Norton was given a case of documents in manila envelops, "the nature of which he does not know."

From Monterray, Norton said he then drove to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where he became a television personality and played at the bar of the Georgian Terrace restaurant. "There he was met by a man he can only describe as resembling Oral Roberts, the evangelist, and says this man came to him and used the code identification 'the weather is very warm in Tulsa," and Norton turned over the documents to him in the parking lot, where the man was driving a Volkswagon.

Returning to the United States, Norton was arrested at the behest of Albert Penn of Five Points, Alabama, who Norton knew as a homosexual, and from whom he received some of his instructions. Penn accused Norton of stealing checks, but he was acquitted of the charge and released.

In 1965 Norton went to Albany, Georgia, where he was contacted by "the Captain," who may be also known as "Del Merton." In Albany in 1966 he saw a man he now knows to be Clay Shaw with James A. Gray, an extreme right-wing political power, talking together at the Double Gate Country Club. Gray then offered to help establish Norton in Albany with a $6,000 loan, which was ostensibly and surreptitiously repaid by the CIA. Norton described Gary as a dangerous person and moneyman behind the Continental Room, where Gordon Leonard was the front man. Norton later crossed paths with Clay Shaw once again at the Domino Bar in Atlanta.

In Albany, Norton was told to recruit the services of an ex-Marine police officer, John Stickler, and a friend, Jack C. White, Jr., but failed to follow through on the assignment.

In late November 1966 Norton was instructed to go to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, where he was to get the names of the homosexuals working at the missile tracking station on Grand Bahama, his last assignment for the CIA. After a week he returned to Miami where he called his contact, a "Mr. Green," who informed him that "something was brewing in New Orleans and…he should take a long, quiet vacation."

According to the NODA report, "Norton claims he had no idea as to the nature of the New Orleans development, and that he had no idea why he was being told to take this vacation. It worried him a great deal, so he went on a long circuitous trip attempting to find out what was happening, shy he had been summarily dismissed, so to speak. He suspected that he had done something wrong but did not know the nature of the misdeed. He first went o Key West to contact a CIA friend there, but was unsuccessful. He returned to Miami but was unable to reach Green again. He then drove to Savannna, and by this time was really frightened. He got in a plane and flew to Dallas and tried to contact a man named Stanley Walsh, who he had known in Houston, a man he describes as a former trapeze artist, a former paratrooper who had been working for the agency…"

Flying to Honolulu, Norton contacted a retired naval captain, a doctor then in private practice, who told Norton to forget the problem. Another CIA contact, Bill Rusk, came from Texas, an alcoholic with Mafia connections who ran a liquor store in the Pioneer Hotel, who told him, "Join the party or get out."

From there Norton went to Canada to hide out, but inexplicitly talked to a reporter, John Taylor of the British Columbia Vancover Sun, requesting that Taylor put him in contact with the New Orleans District Attorney's office. On August 5, 1967, the headline read: "AMERICAN, 'NOWHERE ELSE TO GO' COMES HERE TO TELL FANTASTIC TALE LINKS CIA WITH OSWALD, CLAY SHAW."

"A link between Lee Harvey Oswald, Clay Shaw, David Ferrie and the Central Intelligence Agency is claimed by a man now in Vancover. Donald P. Norton, 35, told The Sun he encountered all three while he was on the payroll of the CIA, the U.S. espionage agency."

"Norton has been interviewed here and in New Orleans by officials of the New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrision, whose investigation has been questioned by many sources, alleged a conspiracy between Shaw and Oswald in the assassination of former U.S. president John F. Kennedy."

"…Norton first came to see The Sun, July 8. Since then many details of Norton's story have been confirmed. But the authenticity of his central claims defy verification by normal newspaper investigation…"

BK NOTES -

Donald O. Norton of Stowe, Ohio was born in 1949 

Here's a third Donald Norton.

Donald J. Norton, author of "Larry" a biography of Larry Bell, founder of Bell Aircraft, and patron of Arthur Young, designer of the Bell Helicopter.

http://www.biblio.co...8342119&aid=frg

Here's an article about Larry Bell with credit at the end to Norton, Donald J.

http://www.airportjo...Midwest/0707006

BK 

Official Air Force One radio traffic transcript

BK Notes: This appears to be a combination of the original LBJ Library transcript of the edited Air Force One radio transmission tapes of 11/22/63 that were released by the LBJ Library in the late 1970s and an independently transcribed version by Kathleen Cunningham. Neither correctly describe “Liberty” station and some conversations appear to be in the wrong order. In any case, we have learned a lot since the release of these transcripts, and the more recent and complete versions should be cited and these used for reference and research purposes only. Many thanks to Kathleen Cunningham for recognizing the significance of these tapes and making the effort to transcribe them correctly and sharing her work.

Air Force One radio traffic transcript 11/22/63.

All files Transcribed by Kathy Cunningham from tapes Dr. Randy Robertson

had gotten from the LBJ Library. Deanie Richards

Transcript

Radio Traffic

November 22, 1963

Air Force-1 and Plane Carrying US Cabinet

                                   ---

This is the official AF-1 transcript  as obtained from the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library under the Freedom of Information Act.

                                                                         

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

                                     

CODE NAME USED

      

WAYSIDE                  Pierre Salinger

VOLUNTEER             Lyndon B. Johnson

CROWN                     White House

WATCHMAN             General Clifton

WITNESS                   Captain Shephard

LACE                          Mrs. Kennedy

DAGGER                    Rufus Youngblood

VALLEY                     The Elms - 4040 52nd St., N.W.

VENUS                       Luci - however, believe it

VICTORIA                  Mrs. Lyndon Johnson

WING                         General McHugh

SLUGGER                   Captain Stoughton

WARRIOR                  Mr. Kilduff

WINNER                    Mr. Hatch

TANKER                    Colonel Cook

TIGER                         Colonel Swindall

     

                                ---------

      gopher://freenet.akron.oh.us:70/11/SIGS/JFK/Alphabet/Gov-files/AF1/

                                    

                                    

                    RADIO TRAFFIC - November 22, 1963

                                    

     

WAYSIDE: Give me all available information on President.

      

SIT. ROOM:    All information on President follows:

                                    "President John F. Kennedy and Governor

                                    Connally of Texas have been hit in the car in

                                    which they were riding.  We do not know how

                                    serious the situation is.  We have no

                                    information.  Mr. Bromley Smith is back here

                                    in the Situation Room now.  We are getting our

                                    information over the tickers."

      

WAYSIDE:      That is affirmative.  Please listen hard--this

                                    plane on which Secretary of State Rusk and

                                    other Cabinet members headed for Japan is

                                    turning around and returning to Honolulu--Will

                                    arrive there in approximately 2 hours.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Understand.  Those departing Honolulu are

                                    turning around will be back there in 2 hours.

                                    Is that correct?

      

WAYSIDE:      That is affirmative.  Will read all

                                    information and decide whether some of party

                                    should go to Dallas.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Do you wish information as to whether some of

                                    members of that party should go to Dallas?

      

WAYSIDE:      That is affirmative.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Do you have anything else?

      

WAYSIDE:      No.  Any other information, please get ahold

                                    as quickly as possible.

      

SIT. ROOM:    The AP is coming out now to the effect that

                                    they believe the President was hit in the

                                    head.  That just came in.

      

WAYSIDE:      Hit in the head?

      

SIT. ROOM:    Roger, will pass on any additional information

                                    we get as soon as we hear it.

      

WAYSIDE:      Will standby for your call.

                                           

                                                ----

      

SIT. ROOM:    Wayside, I read from the AP bulletin--"Kennedy

                                    apparently shot in head.  He fell face down in

                                    the back seat of his car.  Blood was on his

                                    head.  Mrs. Kennedy cried, "oh no," and tried

                                    to hold up his head.  Connally remained

                                    half-seated, slumped to the left.  There was

                                    blood on his face and forehead.  The President

                                    and the Governor were rushed to Parkland

                                    Hospital near the Dallas Trade Mart where

                                    Kennedy was to have made a speech."

      

WAYSIDE:      Have that.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Have nothing else for you.  Will contact when

                                    we have further information.

      

                                   ---

      

MURRAY JACKSON: (Speaking to aircraft returning from Japan)

                                    Colonel, this is Murray Jackson.  The

                                    President of the United States has been shot

                                    and seriously wounded in Dallas, Texas.

                                    (Repeating)  The President of the United

                                    States, John F. Kennedy, has been shot and

                                    seriously wounded in Dallas, Texas.  Governor

                                    Connally was also shot at the same time.

                                    Would you please get this message to Secretary

                                    of State Rusk and I will standby.

      

SAM 86972:    We have already received that news.  We have

                                    UPI on.  We have turned around.  We are

                                    returning to Hawaii.  We are estimating Hawaii

                                    in 1 hour and 20 minutes.  Will be on the

                                    ground in Hawaii in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

                                    Will be returning to Washington or Dallas,

                                    Texas.  We have one other aircraft alerted to

                                    take some of the party to Dallas and we will

                                    be returning to Washington.

      

MURRAY JACKSON:           Thank you very much, Colonel.  I will

                                    relay this to Mr. Ball right away.

      

SAM 86972:    The Secretary (Rusk) has talked to his office

                                    in Washington, I believe, and also Pierre

                                    Salinger has been in contact with the White

                                    House from the aircraft.

      

MURRAY JACKSON:           Ok.  Thank you very much.

      

                                   ---

STRANGER:   Kilduff asked that all Cabinet members return

                                    to Washington immediately.

      

WAYSIDE:      We are heading for Honolulu.

      

STRANGER:   Will they notify us at time of arrival and

                                    location?

WAYSIDE:      Correct.  Some are going to Dallas.

      

STRANGER:   We do not have anything firm down there as to

                                    the exact status.  I'll get that information

                                    to Hawaii.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Wayside, I'll read you latest bulletin.

                                    "President Kennedy has been given blood

                                    transfusions today at Parkland Hospital in a

                                    effort to save his life after he and Governor

                                    John Connally of Texas were shot in an

                                    assassination attempt."  Over the TV we have

                                    the information that the Governor has been

                                    moved to the operating room.  The President is

                                    still in the emergency room at Parkland

                                    Hospital.  Are you getting coverage or do you

                                    want us to continue to relay it to you.

WAYSIDE:      Continue to relay.

SIT. ROOM:    New subject: We will have information for you

                                    on whether to proceed to Dallas by the time

                                    you land at Honolulu.

      

WAYSIDE:      Also tell us whether Secretary of State Rusk

                                    should also go to Dallas.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Will do.  Get determination whether Secretary

                                    of State should also go to Dallas.

      

                                   ---

                                    

SIT. ROOM:    Wayside, we have some conflicting reports now

                                    so were getting no confirmation.  We will call

                                    you again.  I have relayed your intentions and

                                    your present position to the front office.

                                    Your office has the word.  We will call you       

                                    again when we get confirmation.

      

                                   ---

                                    

MURRAY JACKSON: I'd like a patch with SAM 86972.

      

OPERATOR:   They are talking with the Situation Room now.

      

MR. JACKSON:         What we want to tell the pane is that Under

                                    Secretary Ball requests that the Secretary and

                                    all the passengers return to Washington

                                    instead of going to Dallas.

      

OPERATOR:   They received that message.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: One other thing--the Secretary is supposed

                                    to call Mr. Ball when he gets on the ground in

                                    Honolulu.

OPERATOR:   Will relay.

      

                                   ---

                                     

      

SIT. ROOM:    (To SAM 86972)  Relay following to Wayside:

                                    "We have report quoting Mr. Kilduff in Dallas

                                    that the President is dead, that he died about

                                    35 minutes ago."  Do you have that?

      

SAM 86972:    Is dead?

       

SIT. ROOM:    Correct.  New subject: Front office desires

                                    plane return to Washington, no stop Dallas.

      

                                   ---

                                    

SAM 86972:    (Wayside)  Would like to know the whereabouts

                                    of the Vice President.

      

SIT. ROOM:    The Vice President is in the hospital building

                                    --Parkland Hospital in Dallas.  He is not

                                    injured.  Repeat, not injured.

      

                                   ---

                                     

      

KELLERMAN:            We're at the airport now.

      

BEHN:                         Ok, go ahead.

      

KELLERMAN:            We're waiting for the swearing-in before

                                    takeoff.

      

BEHN:             That of Volunteer?

      

KELLERMAN:            We're waiting for Judge for swearing-in.

      

BEHN:             That is for Volunteer, is that right?

      

KELLERMAN:            Yes, we're having it done before we take-off.

BEHN:             Do you have any idea what Lace wants to do and

                                    Volunteer wants to do upon arrival here?

      

KELLERMAN:            No, I will call you back.  We have a 2 hour 15

                                    minute flight into Andrews.  We have a full

                                    plane, about 40.

      

BEHN:             Yes, go ahead.

      

 KELLERMAN:           I'll have to call you back.  Get a couple of

                                    men, rather the Volunteer boys to go over his

                                    car and so forth.  We'll also need hers and

                                    several others.

      

BEHN:             Let me know what Volunteer wants to do--if

                                    they want to come in to Crown by helicopter?

      

                                   ---

                                    

      

AF COMMAND POST: What is your estimated time of departure?

      

AF-1:               In a few minutes.

      

AF COMMAND POST: Do you have any passengers aboard?

      

AF-1:               Full load, 40 plus.

      

AF COMMAND POST: Is Mrs. Kennedy aboard?

      

AF-1:               Affirmative.

      

                                   ---

      

SAM COMMAND POST: We have request from the Chief of Staff's

                                    office, is Mr. Johnson and Mr. Kennedy's body

                                    aboard?

       

AF-1:               Affirmative on all of those questions.

      

SAM COMMAND POST: Are you airborne?

      

AF-1:               Airborne at 2047Z.  Estimated block time

                                    Andrews 2305Z.         

      

                                   ---

                                     

AF-1:               We want a patch with General Heaton, Surgeon

                                    General of the Army.

      

                                   ---

                                    

KELLERMAN:            Arriving Andrews 6:05.  The body will go to

                                    Walter Reed.  Have an ambulance from Walter

                                    Reed to take the body there.

      

BEHN:             Arrangements have been made for a helicopter

                                    to take the body to Bethesda Medical Center.

      

KELLERMAN:            Standby, Jerry.  I'll get Burkley here.

      

DR. BURKLEY: This is Dr. Burkley.  What arrangements have

                                    been made?

      

BEHN:             Everybody aboard AF-1 with the exception of

                                    the body will be choppered into the South

                                    Grounds.  The body will be choppered to the

                                    Naval Medical Center at Bethesda.

      

BURKLEY:     It will be choppered to go by ambulance to the

                                    Naval Medical Center?

      

BEHN:             Will be choppered.

BURKLEY:     I have called General Heaton and asked him to

                                    call the Military District of Washington

                                    regarding military arrangements.  The body is

                                    in a casket and will have to be taken by

                                    ambulance and not by chopper.

BEHN:             I'll tell Captain Shephard that.

      

                                   ---

      

BURKLEY:     General Heaton, this is Admiral Burkley.  Did

                                    you contact MDW in regards to taking care of

                                    the remains of President Kennedy taking him

                                    directly to Walter Reed?  Probably Mrs.

                                    Kennedy will also be going out there.  We will

                                    clarify that later.

      

HEATON:                   All right.

      

BURKLEY:     Just a minute.  General Clifton is here.

      

CLIFTON:       This is General Clifton.  We do not want a

                                    helicopter to go to Bethesda Medical Center.

                                    We do want an ambulance and a ground return

                                    from Andrews to Walter Reed, and we want the

                                    regular post-mortem that has to be done by law

                                    under guard performed at Walter Reed.  Is that

                                    clear?

      

HEATON:                   That is clear, General Clifton.  An ambulance

                                    and another limousine at Andrews and we want

                                    the regular post-mortem by law done at Walter

                                    Reed.

      

CLIFTON:       Correct.

      

BURKLEY:     What arrangements have you made?  (I believe

                                    here Dr. Burkley at first thought he was

                                    speaking to Behn.)

      

HEATON:                   We have made no arrangements so far, but I

                                    will follow through on what you just told

                                    me--have an ambulance and a limousine at

                                    Andrews and arrangements in regards to

                                    post-mortem studies.

      

BURKLEY:     Some arrangements have already been made.

                                    (Here realizing that General Heaton was on the

                                    line.)  We will have to clear that before we

                                    can go further.

       

                                   ---

                                    

CLIFTON:       (To Behn)  This is Watchman.  I understand

                                    that you have arranged for an ambulance to

                                    take President Kennedy to Bethesda.  Is this

                                    correct?

      

BEHN:             It has been arranged to helicopter the body to

                                    Bethesda.

      

CLIFTON:       Ok, if it isn't too dark.  What about the

                                    First Lady?

      

BEHN:             Everyone else will be helicoptered into the

                                    South Grounds.

       

CLIFTON:       Are you sure that the helicopter operation

                                    will work?  We have a very heavy casket.

      

BEHN:             According to Witness, yes.

      

CLIFTON:       Don't take a chance on that.  Also have a

                                    mortuary-type ambulance standby in case the

                                    helicopter doesn't work.

      

BEHN:             Affirmative.

      

CLIFTON:       Now, some other instruction: Listen

                                    carefully.  We need a ramp put at the front of

                                    the aircraft on the right hand side just

                                    behind the pilot's cabin in the galley.  We

                                    are going to take the First Lady off by that

                                    route.

      

BEHN:             Understand.

CLIFTON:       Also, at the left rear--at the rear of the

                                    aircraft where we usually dismount, we may

                                    need a fork-lift rather than a ramp.  A

                                    platform to walk out on and a fork-lift to put

                                    it on.  The casket is in the rear compartments

                                    and because it is so heavy we should have a

                                    fork-lift there to remove the casket.  If this

                                    is too awkward we can go along with a normal

                                    ramp and several men.

      

BEHN:             Affirmative.  We will try for the fork-lift.

      

CLIFTON:       Next item.  There is to be normal Press

                                    arrangements at Andrews.  They should be in

                                    front of the aircraft because that is where

                                    he'll come off.  He is going to the White

                                    House by Chopper.

      

BEHN:             Should the Secretary of Defense and others be

                                    at Andrews on your arrival?

      

CLIFTON:       No.  I am about to call the White House.

                                    President Johnson wants to have the White

                                    House Staff, the leadership of Congress and as

                                    many of the Cabinet members available at the

                                    White House at 1830.

      

BEHN:             Affirmative.

      

CLIFTON:       Repeat that to me.

      

BEHN:             All the leaders of Congress, as many Cabinet

                                    members as possible at the White House at

                                    1830.

      

CLIFTON:       And key members of the White House staff,

                                    Sorenson, Bundy, etc.  Hold for Kellerman.

      

KELLERMAN:            Have helicopter to transport President Johnson

                                    and party to the White House Lawn [sic].

      

BEHN:             Affirmative.

      

KELLERMAN:            Have White House cars 102 and 405 for

                                    transportation to Hospital.  I will join Hill

                                    and party at the Navy Hospital.

      

BEHN:             You will accompany body aboard helicopter.

      

KELLERMAN:            Would you call Dr. John Walsh in Washington

                                    and advise him of our arrival?

      

BEHN:             Affirmative.  Where does Lace want Dr. Walsh

                                    to meet her?

      

KELLERMAN:            At the White House.

                                    

                                   ---

 (Note:) The next part of the tape is traffic between SAM COMMAND POST and AF-1 advising them of weather conditions--tornados in AF-1's immediate flight path.  I'm

 not putting in this traffic but I do have it in my draft if you want it.

      

                                   ---

DAGGER:                    Messages from Volunteer relative activities

                                    tonight.  You are aware we will go to White

                                    House for meeting.

      

BEHN:             Affirmative.

      

DAGGER:                    Volunteer will reside at Valley for an

                                    indefinite time.  Venus will go to Valley with

                                    agent.  Boring will go to Valley after first

                                    going to Crown.

      

                                   ---

                                    

MESSAGE FROM WING TO SLUGGER: "Slugger is to meet aircraft

                                    as soon as possible.  If he cannot do this he

                                    is to see Wing as soon as possible."

      

                                   ---

                                    

MESSAGE FROM AF-1 to BEHN: "Cancel commercial line at

                                    Valley and install security phone there."

      

                                   ---

                                    

WARRIOR:     Will you please advise Press that normal press

                                    coverage, including live TV, will be allowed

                                    at the Base.  Volunteer will make statement on

                                    arrival.

      

WINNER:        Will do.  Is Mrs. Kennedy aboard AF-1?

      

WARRIOR:     Yes.

      

WINNER:        I'm setting up the press section on the South

                                    Lawn about 50 yards from position of

                                    Helicopter 1.  Will that meet with Mrs.

                                    Kennedy's and the President's approval?

WARRIOR:     She is not returning to the House.  They are

                                    going someplace else.  There will be an

                                    arrival there but it will be Volunteer.

      

WINNER:        Thank you.  I will hold that information and

                                    we can say something after you arrive.  Is it

                                    true that the body of the President Kennedy

                                    will go to Naval Hospital?

      

WARRIOR:     Right.  But we are not saying that yet.

      

WINNER:        Well, we have already said it.  I should have

                                    checked with you before doing it.  I don't

                                    think it makes too much difference.

      

WARRIOR:     There is no objection to that.

      

WINNER:        Anything else I should know.

      

WARRIOR:     The pool aboard this aircraft is Chuck Roberts

                                    and Smith.  We lost Bell somewhere.  I don't

                                    have AP aboard, but we have given them the

                                    statement of Volunteer on the death which he

                                    will make at the airport.  You can announce

                                    that on arrival at the White House the

                                    President will meet with McNamara and Bundy

                                    and Rusk if he's in town.  If not, without

                                    him.  I understand he's on a plane to the Far

                                    East.  It will probably be Ball.  About half

                                    an hour after that meeting is over we will

                                    meet with the Congressional Leadership at

                                    8:00.

      

WINNER:        Bipartisan or Democratic leadership?

WARRIOR:     Bipartisan.

      

                                   ---

                                    

CLIFTON:       (To Bundy) A meeting tonight with Bundy and

                                    McNamara at 6:00 [partially blurred, 6:30?] at

                                    the White House.  Rusk if he's in town.  If

                                    not in town we do not wanting an acting

                                    secretary.

      

BUNDY:          Will you tell him that the ___ing [illegible]

                                    Cabinet will be at the airport to meet him.

                                    He can bring McNamara and me in his chopper to

                                    the White House.

      

CLIFTON:       Another message.  I called Jerry Behn about a

                                    White House Staff meeting.  There will be no

                                    White House Staff meeting tonight.  It will be

                                    tomorrow.

      

BUNDY:          Ok.  Let me repeat your message.  President

                                    wishes to meet with SecDef and me at the White

                                    House on return from Andrews.  Secondly that

                                    there will be no other meetings--there will be

                                    a White House Staff meeting tomorrow on call.

      

CLIFTON:       No.  He wants to meet with the leadership

                                    about 7:30.

      

BUNDY:          Right, does he wish us to arrange that?

      

CLIFTON:       He wants you to arrange that.  Two meetings

                                    tonight--McNamara and Bundy and the leadership

                                    about 7:30.

      

BUNDY:          Does he mean the Democratic leadership only?

      

CLIFTON:       Bipartisan leadership and I'll give you some

                                    names.  Speaker of the House, Carl Albert,

                                    Hale Boggs, Leslie Arends, Mansfield,

                                    Humphrey, Smathers, Dirksen, Kuchel and

                                    Hickenlooper.

      

BUNDY:          About 7:30 at the White House.

      

CLIFTON:       7:30 in the Cabinet Room.

      

BUNDY:          Tell the Vice President that the Cabinet Room

                                    in under rearrangement, but the Oval Room will

                                    be ready.

      

CLIFTON:       The Oval Room it will be.  No, you mean the

                                    Fish Room.

      

BUNDY:          I mean both the Fish Room and the President's

                                    study, and we will try to have the Cabinet

                                    Room, but that's a detail, we can work that

                                    out.

      

CLIFTON:       He does not want to go into the mansion or in

                                    the Oval Room or the President's Office or the

                                    President's Study.  So if the Cabinet Room

                                    isn't ready, then put it in the Fish Room.

      

BUNDY:          All right [sic], I will.

      

CLIFTON:       See you in a little while.

      

                                   ---

                                    

MRS. ROSE KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. President.

      

PRESIDENT JOHNSON:  Mrs. Kennedy, I wish to God that there

                                    was something that I could say to you, and I

                                    want to tell you that we're grieving with you.

      

MRS. KENNEDY: Thank you very much.  That's very nice.  I

                                    know you loved Jack and he loved you.

      

MRS. JOHNSON: If there is anything we can do -- (Here Mrs

                                    Kennedy and Mrs. Johnson are both trying to

                                    talk at the same time and the tape becomes

                                    almost inaudible.)

      

MRS. KENNEDY: Thank you Lady Bird.  Thank you Mr.

                                    President.

      

                                   ---

                                    

WARRIOR:     That first meeting will be Bundy and McNamara

                                    only.  The President will meet with Rusk when

                                    he returns.  It will probably be a different

                                    meeting.

      

WINNER:        Ok.

      

                                   ---

                                     

MRS. JOHNSON: (To Mrs. Connally) Can you hear me?  The

                                    surgeon speaking about John was so

                                    reassuring.  How about it?

      

 MRS. CONNALLY: The surgeon that just got finished operating

                                    said that John is going to be all right unless

                                    something unforeseen happens.

      

PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I know that everything's going to be all

                                    right.

      

MRS. JOHNSON: Yes, everything's going to be all right.

      

PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Yes, everything's going to be all right.

      

MRS. CONNALLY: Good luck.

      

                                   ---

                                    

TANKER: I have been informed from Dallas that is was

                                    desired that the aircraft be parked in an

                                    isolated spot when you arrive here.  However,

                                    Watchman had a long discussion with Behn and

                                    nothing about that was mentioned.  The present

                                    plan on the ground here is to spot you in the

                                    regular place unless Watchman says now that

                                    this is not desired.

      

TIGER:            I believe that they are parking in the regular

                                    place.  Where did you get that information

                                    from down in Dallas?

      

TANKER:        It was from the USAF Command Post agent there

                                    and I heard from him that you had told him to

                                    do this.

      

TIGER:            We told him to look into that to see if the

                                    family had ordered it done.  We were going to

                                    discuss it on the plane.  Go ahead and park in

                                    the regular place.  We need steps in the right

                                    front of the aircraft, the press box will be

                                    on the left of the aircraft, and President

                                    Johnson will deplane in the front of the

                                    aircraft.  We need a fork-lift at the rear of

                                    the aircraft.

      

 TANKER:       Understood.  Have all been carried out.  We

                                    will continue with the plan to spot you in the

                                    regular place.  There will be a ramp left

                                    front, a ramp right front, a fork-lift left

                                    rear, the Press area left front.

      

                                   ---

The remainder of the tape is traffic between AF-1 and Andrews checking on weather

                           Air Force One radio traffic transcript 11/22/63

                                                  Tape-1 Side 1

                                     ------------------------------------------

                                    

                                          Transcript--Radio Traffic

                                              November 22, 1963

                                                    Air Force-1

                                                           and

                                         Plane Carrying US Cabinet

                                     

                                                               ---

                                    

The transcript of the AF-1 audio tapes obtained from the LBJ Librxry

                                    

                                                      ---

      

                                  CODE NAMES USED

      

       Code names that appear in upper case only come from the

       official "transcript."  Code names that appear in both

       upper and lower case have been added to the official list

       of code names supplied under the Freedom of Information

       Act, based on information gleaned from the audio tapes.

      

      

      

WAYSIDE                  Pierre Salinger, Press Secretary - - aboard SAM 86972, returning     from Honolulu

VOLUNTEER             Lyndon B. Johnson, President--aboard AF-1

CROWN                     White House

WATCHMAN             General Clifton--aboard AF-1

WITNESS                   Captain Shephard

LACE                          Mrs. Kennedy--aboard AF-1

DAGGER                    Rufus Youngblood, V-P Secret Service vAgent--aboard AF-1

VALLEY                     The Elms - 4040 52nd St., N.W. [residencevof the Johnsons]

VENUS                       Luci Johnson

VICTORIA                  Mrs. Lyndon Johnson--aboard AF-1

WING                         General McHugh--aboard AF-1

SLUGGER                   Captain Stoughton

WARRIOR                  Mr. Kilduff--aboard AF-1

WINNER                    Mr. Hatch--at The White House

TANKER                    Colonel Cook

TIGER                         Colonel Swindall, pilot AF-1

Duplex                         Jerry Behn, White House SAIC, Secret Service--at the White           House

Lancer                          Murray Jackson, State Department

Stranger                       Unidentified

Liberty                         SAM 86972--carrying many Cabinet members, returning from             Honolulu

Andy                            Andrews Air Force Base, usually called "Andrews"

 Digest                          Roy Kellerman, Secret Service Agent--aboard AF-1

      

                                    

                                       ----------

     

      

                    RADIO TRAFFIC - November 22, 1963

                                    

Begin Transcript

Tape One--Side One

                                       

The following recording has been reproduced from ground recorded non-high fidelity tapes used to record record-type communications between aircraft and air ground facilities.  This tape, although mainly to record radio traffic from the Presidential aircraft, also includes related traffic from jet aircraft 86972 carrying Secretary of State Rusk, then Press Secretary Salinger and other dignitaries enroute between Honolulu and Japan.

            The following information relative to Presidential aircraft radio call signs is given for clarification due to interchangeable use.  "Air Force One" and "Angel" are used when the President is aboard the aircraft.  "Air Force 2600" is used at all other times. 

            This tape has been edited and condensed to only to contain pertinent communications relative to events during the 22nd of November, 1963.  Only material available from radio circuits used is available.

      

                                    

ANDREWS     COMMAND POST: 972 Andrews, Roger.  You are

                                    readable at this time sir.  Also, be advised

                                    2600 coming up on this frequency shortly.

                                    Request you contact Andrews on 15, sir.

      

SAM 86972:    OK, 15, and I'll just keep the time off for no

                                    relay.  We off Honolulu at 1703.  Estimated

                                    approximate wait at 2140 [3 unintelligible

                                    syllables].

      

ANDREWS     COMMAND POST: 972 Roger, copy, thank you much for

                                    the copy.

      

                                   ---

                                    

AF-1:               Command Post, AF-1.  Off time 1725 [garble]

      

ANDREWS     COMMAND POST: AF-1, understand.  Aborne 1725z.  Do

                                    you have an ETA?  Over.

      

AF-1:               I estimate twenty minutes enroute.  I'll give

                                    you a firm time in a couple of minutes.

      

ANDREWS     COMMAND POST: Roger, AF-1.  Command Post listening

                                    out.

      

AF-1:               I'll pick up the 1700z weather if that's

                                    operating.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: I have it now for you.  Stand by One.

                                    Air Force One.  I have Weather Officer on line

                                    if you're ready to copy.

      

AF-1:               Go ahead.

      

WEATHER:     1700z weather: 6,000 broken.  Fifteen miles

                                    plus visibility.  Temperature 57.  Ramp

                                    temperature 62.  Wind south west at 10.

                                    Altimeter steady 29.07.  Just talked to Ramp

                                    and they indicate it is clearing rather

                                    rapidly there.

      

AF-1:               Roger, copy, roger.  Thank you.

      

WEATHER:     Weather out.

      

                                   ---

AF-1:               Andrews, AF-1 -- the Command Post,                        

                                    please.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews, Roger, stand by.

      

COMMAND POST: Command Post, Sgt. Shillberger [phonetic].

      

ANDREWS:    This is Airman Gilmore at Andrews [two garbled

                                    syllables].  I have AF-1 for a patch.

      

COMMAND POST: Stand by, please.

                                   

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Air Force Command Post on

                                    line.  Go ahead, sir. 

                                   

AF-1:   Roger, Command Post, AF-1 our estimated time

                                    on the blocks, Dallas, 1740 -- 1740.

      

COMMAND POST: Roger, understand.  1740 on the blocks.

                                    Command Post listening out.

      

AF-1:               Roger.

      

                                   ---

                                    

AF-1:               This is AF-1, Andrews.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.

      

AF-1:               Command Post, please.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, stand by, one, sir.

      

COMMAND POST: Command Post.

      

ANDREWS:    I have AF-1 for a patch.

      

COMMAND POST: Bring him up.

      

ANDREWS:    Stand by, please.

                                    [to AF-1]  AF-1, Andrews, Command Post on

                                    line, give him a call, sir.

      

AF-1:               Roger, Command Post, AF-1, landed 1738.  Go

                                    ahead.

      

COMMAND POST: AF-1, understand.  On the ground, 1738z.

                                    Command Post listening out.

      

AF-1:               AF-1.

                                     

                                   ---

      

       ?:               Liberty?  [pause]  Liberty?!

      

SIT. ROOM:    This is White House, Situation Room, [two

                                    garbled syllables] SAM 86972.  How read?

                                    Over.  

      

SAM 86972:    [garbled transmission, contains the words         

                                    "my signal, Andy"]

      

       ?:               SAM 86972, do you read?  Over.

      

SAM 86972:    [pause]  White House?

      

CROWN:        White House, on.  [then, possibly in

                                    background, "OK."]  Stand by.

       

SAM 86972:    White House, this is SAM 86972, how read?   

                                    Over.

      

CROWN:        86972 I read you loud and clear, loud and

                                    clear.

      

SAM 86972:    Roger, stand by one, please.  We have another

                                    phone patch going on with [two garbled                       

                                    syllables] but we do have traffic for you, so

                                    hold on one moment, please.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger, 86972.

      

SALINGER:    [pause]  White House Situation Room, this is

                                    Wayside.  Do you read me?  Over.

CROWN:        This is White House, this is White House.  I

                                    read you loud and clear, Wayside.

      

SALINGER:    Can you give me latest information on

                                    President?  Over.

      

CROWN:        Do you want Situation Room, is that it, Roger?

      

SALINGER:    Repeat that transmission, please.

      

CROWN:        This is Crown -- This is Crown.  Do you want

                                    Situation Room?

      

SALINGER:    I want the Situation Room, that's affirmative.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Getting them now.  Standby

                                    please.  [long pause]  Wayside, Wayside, this

                                    is Crown.  Situation Room is on.  Go ahead.

      

SALINGER:    Situation Room, this is Wayside.  Do you read

                                    me?  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    This is Situation Room, I read you, go ahead.

      

SALINGER:    Give me all available information on

                                    President.  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    All available information on President

                                    follows: "President John F. Kennedy and

                                    Governor Connally of Texas have been hit in

                                    the car in which they were riding.  We do not

                                    know how serious the situation is."  We have

                                    no information.  Mr. Bromley Smith is back

                                    here in the Situation Room now.  We are

                                    getting our information over the tickers.

                                    Over.

SALINGER:    That is affirmative -- affirmative.  Please

                                    listen hard -- this plane on which Secretary

                                    of State Rusk, other Cabinet Ministers

                                    headed for Japan is turning around and

                                    returning to Honolulu -- Will arrive there in

                                    approximately 2 hours.  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    This is Wayside, understand.  [I think the

                                    person speaking in the Situation Room is

                                    flustered, and was meaning to say "This is

                                    Situation Room."  This is not Wayside's voice,

                                    and sounds like the operator from the

                                    Situation Room.]  Those departing Honolulu are

                                    turning around will be back there in 2 hours.

                                    Is that correct?  Over.

      

SALINGER:    That is affirmative -- affirmative.  Will read

                                    all information and decide whether some of       

                                    party should go directly to Dallas.  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    This is Situation Room.  Say again, your last

                                    please.

      

SALINGER:    We'll need to be kept advised so we can

                                    determine whether some members of this party

                                    should go directly to Dallas.  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Roger.  You wish information as to whether

                                    some members of that party should go to

                                    Dallas.

       

SALINGER:    That's affirmative.  Affirmative.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Do you have anything else, Wayside?

      

SALINGER:    No, any other information, please get ahold of

                                    us as fastly as possible.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Alright.  The AP is coming out now with a

                                    bulletin to the effect that they believe the

                                    President was hit in the head.  That just came

                                    in.  Over.

      

SALINGER:    Hit in the head?  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Roger, we will pass on any additional

                                    information we get from here to you.

SALINGER:    That's Roger.  We will be standing by for your

                                    call.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Alright.  Where are you, Wayside?

      

OPERATOR:   Wayside is off the line, this is the radio

                                    operator, sir, and we are returning to

                                    Honolulu and should be back to           

                                    Honolulu in about two hours.  We'll be in the

                                    air for about two hours into Honolulu.  And

                                    you contact us on the ground [remainder of the

                                    operator's remarks are unintelligible].

      

SIT. ROOM:    I understand.  This is--  Hold on the line

                                    there Wayside, we have more information coming

                                    up.  [This is definitely the Situation Room.

                                    The speaker is obviously flustered due to the

                                    circumstances.]

                                    [pause]

                                    Wayside, Wayside.  This is the Situation Room.

                                    I read from the AP bulletin--"Kennedy             

                                    apparently shot in head.  He fell face down in

                                    back seat of his car.  Blood was on his head.

                                    Mrs. Kennedy cried, "oh no," and tried to hold

                                    up his head.  Connally remained  half-seated,

                                    slumped to the left.  There was blood on his

                                    face and forehead.  The President and the

                                    Governor were rushed to Parkland Hospital near

                                    the Dallas Trade Mart where Kennedy was to

                                    have made a speech."  Over.

      

SALINGER:    I read that.  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    This is Situation Room.  I have nothing

                                    further for you now.  I will contact if we

                                    get more.

      

SALINGER:    Wayside, Roger and out.

      

                                   ---

      

AF-1:               2600, Andrews, I'll be right up.

      

ANDREWS:    OK, thank you.

      

AF-1:               You're welcome.

ANDREWS:    I want to keep this frequency open.

      

AF-1:               Roger, sir.  The frequency has been cleared.

      

ANDREWS:    2600, [six garbled syllables].

      

AF-1:               Roger.

      

                                   ---

ANDREWS:    86972, Andrews.  [Four garbled syllables].  I

                                    have a party who would like to speak to you.

                                    Stand by, one.

      

SAM 86972:    Stand by.

      

ANDREWS:    Yes, sir.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: Hello?

      

ANDREWS:    I have 972.  What is your name again, sir?

      

MURRAY JACKSON: Jackson, Mr. Jackson -- yes.

      

ANDREWS:    OK, hold on one -- [to SAM 86972]  86972,

                                    86972, Andrews.  I have a Mr. Jackson -- a Mr.

                                    Jackson on, would you give him a call, sir,

                                    please?

      

SAM 86972:    Mr. Jackson, this is SAM 86972.  How read?

                                    Over.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: I read very well, '72.  I'd like to talk to

                                    Colonel [name garbled].  Colonel [name

                                    garbled], please.

      

SAM 86972:    [garbled] coming out right now.  Hold on

                                    please.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: OK.

      

SAM 86972:    Roger, this is Colonel [garbled name].

      

MURRAY JACKSON: Colonel [garbled name], this is Murray

                                    Jackson.  The President of the United States

                                    has been shot and seriously wounded in Dallas,

                                    Texas.  (Repeating)  The President of the

                                    United States, John F. Kennedy, has been shot

                                    and seriously wounded in Dallas, Texas.

                                    Governor Connally was also shot at the same

                                    time.  Would you please get this message to

                                    Secretary of State Rusk and I will standby.

                                    Over.

      

SAM 86972:    Roger.  We have already received that news.

                                    We have UPI on.  We have turned around.  We

                                    are returning to Hawaii.  We are estimating

                                    Hawaii in 1 hour and 20 minutes.  Will be on

                                    the ground in Hawaii in 1 hour and 20

                                    minutes.  Will be returning to Washington or

                                    Dallas, Texas.  This is a decision we have to

                                    make yet.  We have one other aircraft alerted

                                    to take some of the party to Dallas and we

                                    will be returning to Washington.  Over.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: Thank you very much, Colonel [garbled

                                    name].  I will relay this to Mr. Ball right

                                    away.  Over and out.

      

SAM 86972:    The Secretary has talked to his office               

                                    in Washington, I believe, and also Pierre           

                                    Salinger has been in contact with the White       

                                    House from the aircraft.  Over.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: OK.  Thank you very much.  Over and out.

      

SAM 86972:    Fine.

      

                                   ---

                                    

 [Note that this transmission has some overlap with the one above between SAM 86972 and Murray Jackson.]

      

ANDREWS:    [transmission garbled]

      

AF-1:               2600, Andrews.  Go ahead, sir.

      

ANDREWS:    Loud and clear.  A signal check, please.

      

AF-1:               2600, Andrews.  You're loud and clear here

                                    also, sir.  Standing by this frequency.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, thank you.

      

COMMAND POST: Andrews [two garbled syllables], Airman

                                    Gilmore.

      

CROWN:        Roger.  Are you in contact with the party

                                    coming back from Tokyo?  Go ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    Yes, sir.  We talk to Liberty [SAM 86972].  We

                                    [two garbled syllables] that aircraft.

      

CROWN:        Could you connect me with Wayside?

      

ANDREWS:    Stand by one, sir.

                                    [pause]

                                    Hello, sir? 

      

CROWN:        Yes, sir?

      

ANDREWS:    There is a Mr. Jackson running a patch on the

                                    aircraft at this time.  Would you like to

                                    listen in or would you like me to break the

                                    patch, sir?

      

CROWN:        Can I wait, sir, please.

      

ANDREWS:    Yes, sir.  Standby.  You are number two.

      

CROWN:        Thank you.

      

ANDREWS:    [after pause] 972, 86972, Andrews. 

      

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.  Stand by, I have another one.  [to

                                    Crown]  Who is this, sir?

      

CROWN:        This is the White House.

      

ANDREWS:    Stand by, Crown.

                                    [pause]

                                    86972, 86972, Andrews.  I have Crown on.

                                    Would you give him a call, sir?

      

SAM 86972:    This is 972, go ahead.

      

CROWN:        Roger.  This is Crown.  We wish a contact with

                                    Wayside.  Go ahead.

      

SAM 86972:    Roger.  Stand by for Wayside.

                                    [pause]

                                    Crown [three garbled syllables]

      

CROWN:        Roger, go ahead.

      

SALINGER:    Crown, this is Wayside.  Go ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.  Stand by.

                                    [pause]

                                    Go ahead, please.

      

CROWN:                    Wayside, Wayside, this is Stranger.  Do you

                                    read me?  Over.

      

SALINGER:    Stranger, this is Wayside.  Go ahead.

      

STRANGER:   Kilduff asked that all Cabinet members return

                                    to Washington immediately.  Over.

       

SALINGER:    Stranger, we have turned around and are headed

                                    for Honolulu.  Where we have [garbled]

                                    Washington.  Over.

      

STRANGER:   Roger, Roger.  Will they notify us at time of

                                    arrival and location?  Over.

      

SALINGER:    That's correct, sir.  Have one question,

                                    Stranger.  [garbled--official transcript

                                    implies the garbled words might be: "Should we

                                    make plans to go"]  ...go to Dallas?  Over.

      

STRANGER:   Roger, Roger.  We do not have any firm word

                                    from down there as to the exact status.  But,

                                    I -- Pardon me, Wayside, but the Situation

                                    Room has to have you.  Go ahead.

      

SALINGER:    I read.  Go ahead.

      

STRANGER:   Wayside, this is Stranger.  I'll get you that

                                    information as to Secretary when you arrive.

                                    Over.

      

SALINGER:    Affirmative.

      

STRANGER:   Wayside, stand by Situation Room.

      

SALINGER:    Yeah.

      

STRANGER:   [short pause] Go ahead, Wayside.

      

SALINGER:    Situation Room, go ahead, this is Wayside.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Alright, Wayside, I'll read you latest

                                    bulletin.  "President Kennedy has been given

                                    blood transfusions today at Parkland Hospital

                                    in a effort to save his life after he and

                                    Governor John Connally of Texas were shot in

                                    an assassination attempt."  Over the TV we

                                    have the information that the Governor has

                                    been moved to the operating room.  The

                                    President is still in the emergency room at

                                    Parkland Hospital.  Do you read me so far?

                                    Over.

      

SALINGER:    I read you loud and clear, Situation.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Wayside, this is Situation Room.  Are you

                                    getting the press coverage or do you want us

                                    to continue to relay it to you?  Over.

      

SALINGER:    [long garbled response, the official                    

                                    transcript reads "Continue to relay."]  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    This is Situation Room, Roger.  New subject:

                                    We will have information for you on whether to

                                    proceed to Dallas by the time you land at

                                    Honolulu.  Over.

      

SALINGER:    Affirmative, affirmative.  Also tell us

                                    whether Secretary of State -- Secretary of       

                                    State -- should also go to Dallas.  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    This is Situation Room.  Will do.  Get

                                    determination whether Secretary should also go

                                    to Dallas.

SALINGER:    This is Wayside -- out.

      

SIT. ROOM:    This is Situation Room -- out.

      

                                   ---

                                    

ANDREWS:    [several garbled words]  I'd like to talk to

                                    Wayside.

      

SAM 96972:    Party is on line now, 972.  Stand by.

                                    [pause]

                                    86972, 86972, Andrews.

      

ANDREWS:    86972, Andrews.  I have a party that would

                                    like to talk to Wayside.  Would you give him a

                                    call, please?

      

SAM 86972:    Roger.  I'll get Wayside up front here.

                                    [pause]

                                    Wayside is coming out right now, sir.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Alright, fine.  There's no rush.  I just

                                    talked to you here, this is the Situation

                                    Room.  We'll -- eh -- stand by 'til Wayside

                                    gets out there.  We're looking for

                                    confirmation of something here.

      

SALINGER:    This is Wayside, Wayside.  Here, now I'm on.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Alright, Wayside.  Just stand by for a moment

                                    please.  We're getting some confirmation of

                                    something here.  Please stay on the line.

                                    Over.

      

SALINGER:    I'm on the line.  I'm on the line.  Standing

                                    by.  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    This is Situation Room.  Please stay on the

                                    line, standing by.

      

SALINGER:    Standing by.  How do you read me?  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    I read you loud and clear.  Nothings here now

                                    for you yet.

                                    [pause]

                                    Wayside, this is Situation Room.  We have some

                                    conflicting reports now so were getting no

                                    confirmation.  We will call you again.  I have

                                    relayed your intentions and your present

                                    position to the front office.  Your office has

                                    the word.  We will call you again when we get

                                    confirmation.  Over.

      

SALINGER:    This is Wayside.  Out.

      

                                   ---

                                    

ANDREWS:    [garbled] check.

      

AF-1:               2600s reading loud and clear, sir.  Loud and

                                    clear.

      

SAM 86972:    2600, Liberty, loud and clear.  Will you try

                                    and notify if you close down.  Go ahead.

      

AF-1:               Roger, will do.

      

SAM 86972:    Roger, Liberty.

      

                                   ---

      

      

 [Note: There is some overlap on this traffic with the lastBtraffic from Murray Jackson.]

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: [garbled] Sgt. Gilmore.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: Gilmore, this is Murray Jackson again at

                                    State.  Can you get me '72 again?

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Can you say again, sir, you're very,

                                    very weak.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: This is Murray Jackson at the State

                                    Department.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Yes sir!

      

MURRAY JACKSON: I talked to '72 a little while ago.  Could

                                    you get me '72 on single [two garbled

                                    syllables] again?

      

 ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Mr. Jackson, be advised that '72 is

                                    in a patch with the Situation Room at the

                                    present time, sir.  If you wish to stand by --

      

MURRAY JACKSON: Oh, that's alright -- they're talking to

                                    them now.

       

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Yes sir.  They're in a patch at the

                                    present time.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: Alright.  Very good.  Can you listen in on

                                    this?

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Not from this console, sir, no sir.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: I see.  Well, what we want to tell the

                                    plane is that Under Secretary Ball requests

                                    that the Secretary and all the passengers

                                    return to directly Washington instead of going

                                    to Dallas.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Yes, sir.  I believe they received

                                    that message, sir.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: Very good.  Thank you.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Thank you very much, sir.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: Bye.  [short pause]  Oh!  Hello!

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Yes, sir?

      

MURRAY JACKSON: One other thing -- the Secretary was

                                    supposed to call Mr. Ball when he gets on the

                                    ground in Honolulu.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: OK, sir.  We'll relay that as soon as

                                    possible.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: Thank you very much.

      

                                   ---

                                    

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Andrews [two garbled syllables]

                                    Airman Gilmore.

MURRAY JACKSON: Airman Gilmore, this is Murray Jackson down

                                    at the State Department.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Yes, sir!

      

MURRAY JACKSON: The message I just gave you about Mr. Ball

                                    wanting the Secretary and all the passengers

                                    of the plane to return directly to Washington

                                    has now been confirmed by McGeorge Bundy, who

                                    has called and asked -- and also said that he

                                    thinks the plane and all its passengers should

                                    return immediately to Washington rather than

                                    Dallas.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Stand by, Lancer.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: Roger.

      

                                   ---

      

                                    [garbled exchange]

      

                                   ---

                                    

ANDREWS:     86972, 86972, Andrews.

      

SAM 86972:    Roger [garbled].

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, [2 garbled syllables].  I have a Mr.

                                    Jackson -- a Mr. Jackson on the line.  Would

                                    you give him a call, sir?

      

SAM 86972:    Mr. Jackson, '972, go ahead.

       

MURRAY JACKSON: '72, I read you well.  I have a message

                                    from Under-Secretary Ball and from McGeorge

                                    Bundy at the White House.  They requested that

                                    the Secretary of State and all passengers

                                    aboard the aircraft return to Washington,

                                    immediately.  Over.

      

SAM 86972:    Roger.  The message is from Under Secretary

                                    Ball and Mr. Bundy who've apprised that the

                                    Secretary of State and all passengers return

                                    to Washington, immediately.  Over.

      

MURRAY JACKSON: That is correct.  Over and out.

SAM 86972:    OK.  Thank you, sir.

      

                                   ---

      

ANDREWS:    Go ahead, please.  The party is on.

      

COMMUNICATIONS CENTER: I think they have another patch --

                                    do you wish to break it?  [garbled] Command

                                    Post.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Em -- yeah, break it.

      

COMMUNICATIONS CENTER: Yes, sir!

                                    [short pause]

                                    86972, 86972, Andrews.

      

SAM 86972:    972, go ahead.

       

COMMUNICATIONS CENTER: Eh -- Roger, sir.  I have Crown on,

                                    would you give them a call, sir?

      

SAM 86972:    Crown, 972, go ahead.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Eh -- this is Situation Room.  Relay following

                                    to Wayside: "We have report quoting Mr.

                                    Kilduff in Dallas that the President is dead,

                                    that he died about 35 minutes ago."  Do you

                                    have that?  Over.

SAM 86972:    The President is dead?  Is that correct?

      

SIT. ROOM:    That is correct.  That is correct.  New

                                    subject: Front office desires plane return

                                    Washington, with no stop Dallas.  Over.

      

SAM 86972:   Copied.  Wayside copied all OK and we return

                                    direct to Washington with no stopping in

                                    Dallas.  Roger.  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:   This is Situation Room, out.

      

                                   ---

                                    

SAM 86972:    Ah, Andrews, give me the Situation Room,

                                    please.

      

ANDREWS:    972, Andrews, stand by one sec'.

       

CROWN:                    Crown on.

      

ANDREWS:    Situation Room, please.

      

CROWN:        Thank you.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Yeah.

      

ANDREWS:    Is this the Situation Room?

SIT. ROOM:    Yes.

      

ANDREWS:    This is Airman [garbled] I have 972 for

                                    another patch, sir.

SIT. ROOM:    [to the side] 972, again.

                                    [pause]

                                    This is Situation Room.

ANDREWS:    Stand by, sir.

      

SAM 86972:    [garbled] 972, I read.

      

SIT. ROOM:    This is Situation Room -- over.

      

SAM 86972:    Situation Room, this is 972.  Wayside would

                                    like to know the whereabouts of the Vice

                                    President.  Over.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Yes.

                                    [to the side] I think he wants to know where

                                    the Vice-President is in Dallas.

                                    [pause]

                                    Alright.  [listening to instructions from

                                    within the room]

                                    [pause] 

                                    Eh, for Wayside, from Situation Room; The Vice

                                    President is in the hospital building --

                                    Parkland Hospital in Dallas.  He is not

                                    injured.  Repeat, not injured.  Over.

      

SAM 86972:    Copy.  Copy.  I'll call you back, man.

      

SIT. ROOM:    Right.

                       

                                   ---

                                    

AF-1:               Andrews, this is 2600, ready to take off.

      

ANDREWS:    2600, Roger, we're standing by.

      

SAM 86972:    Liberty, standing by.  [pause]  Andrews, 972,

                                    SAM Command Room.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.  Stand by for SAM Command.

                                   

SAM COMMAND: [pause] SAM Command Post, [garbled name].

      

ANDREWS:    I have 972 for a patch.

      

SAM COMMAND: Roger, go ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    86972, Andrews, SAM Commands on, go ahead,

                                    sir.

      

SAM 86972:    SAM Command, 972, I'm, out here and we are

                                    returning direct to Washington.  Our latest

                                    instruction were direct Washington from

                                    "Hiccup" [that's what it sounds like!].

                                    "Hiccup" is working up our flight plan and

                                    ground time, we'll give you ETA for

                                    Washington.

      

SAM COMMAND: Roger, Roger, '72.  Can you give me your

                                    present ETA for "Hiccup?"

      

SAM 86972:    In about -- eh -- 45 minutes was the last one

                                    that I heard.  Should be 2030z.  I'll give you

                                    a more accurate one if you give me five

                                    minutes.

                                    [pause]

                                    Better -- Time 2030z -- over.

      

SAM COMMAND: Roger, Roger and as far as you know right now,

                                    you're coming direct to Washington.  Is that

                                    "affirm?"

      

SAM 86972:    That is very true.

      

SAM COMMAND: Roger, '72, give us any changes that you have,

                                    sir.

      

SAM 86972:    OK.  Will do.

      

SAM COMMAND: [garble]

      

                                   ---

      

       ANDREWS:         2600 [skip in track of recording], sir.

      

       AF-1:                    2600, you are loud and clear.  Standing by.

      

ANDREWS:    Andrews, 2600.

      

AF-1:               Loud and clear, sir.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, and you are loud and clear.

                                    [pause]

                                    2600, you copy my teletype?

      

AF-1:               2600 did not [garble].

      

ANDREWS:     OK, I guess he's too busy down there.

      

AF-1:               Alright, sir.

      

ANDREWS:    You might check and make sure you're getting

                                    it though.

      

AF-1:   Roger.  Stand by.

                                    [pause]

                                    2600, Andrews, coming up.

      

ANDREWS:    2600, check please?

      

AF-1:               2600, Andrews, loud and clear.

                                    [pause]

                                    2600, Andrews, loud and clear.

      

ANDREWS:    Alright, sir.  We'll be moving out pretty

                                    shortly.

      

AF-1:               Roger, sir.  We are standing by.

      

                                   ---

      

SAM 86972:    [garble] 972.

      

ANDREWS:    972, Andy.  Go ahead, sir.

      

SAM 86972:    OK.  We're coming up here pretty close to --

                                    eh -- Honolulu.  We're landing.  I don't know

                                    whether we'll be able to or not, but I'm going

                                    to try to keep this equipment up here on the

                                    ground or not.  But I'm not certain I'll be

                                    able to do it.  I understand 13 is pretty good

                                    out to Honolulu.  Is that correct?

      

ANDREWS:    This is Andrews.  That's "affirm."  [garbled]

                                    is getting read to take off.  He's on 13.  If

                                    you stand by one, I'll confer with Liberty and

                                    see what frequencies, in case you do drop

                                    out.  What frequencies we have standing up on

                                    waiting for your call.

      

SAM 86972:    OK.  Do that, then and get them all set up

                                    'cause I may not be able to keep it up down

                                    there on the ground.

      

ANDREWS:    I understand [garble].  OK, Liberty.

      

SAM 86972:    [garble]

      

ANDREWS:    Yeah, we got 13 and 15 up right now, besides

                                    this one to you.  I don't know if 13 is going

                                    to be all tied up or not.  And what

                                    frequencies you can set up in case he has to

                                    drop out on ya.  You'll have to know what       

                                    frequencies we're listening on.

      

                                   End Transcript

                               Tape One -- Side One

                                     

                               ____________

                                    

                Air Force One radio traffic transcript 11/22/63

                                        Tape 1 Side 2

                        ------------------------------------------                                   

                                     Begin Transcript

                                Tape One -- Side Two

     

     

     

                                  ---

                                    

SAM 86972:    What frequencies do you think you could have

                                    set up in case we have to ground out on you --

                                    you'll know what frequencies we're listening

                                    on.

     

ANDREWS:    I'll be on 1815 and 13.  And we can hold them

                                    on 18 for a while because we got [3 garbled     

                                    syllables] up there.

     

SAM 86972:    Right.  You got another one?  A little bit             

                                    lower one, maybe?

ANDREWS:    Oh, we'll drop down from 18 to 15 to 13.

     

SAM 86972:    How 'bout triple one?

     

ANDREWS:    We can do that also.

     

SAM 86972:    Triple one lower?

     

ANDREWS:    Ah -- all upper.

     

SAM 86972:    OK.  I'll be on 18, 13, 15 and triple one           

                                    also.  All uppers, right?

     

ANDREWS:    Right.

     

SAM 86972:    Except for this one, we're on lower.

     

ANDREWS:    Go ahead.

     

SAM 86972:   OK.  86972, Andrews. 

     

ANDREWS:    [three garbled syllables].

     

SAM 86972:   Roger, Andrews is gonna be standing by -- and

                                    Liberty -- on triple one, upper; triple 176,

                                    upper; 15011, upper; 15011, upper; and this   

                                    frequency -- 18027, lower, sir.

     

      ?:                OK, very good.  Now keep in touch.

     

SAM 86972:    Roger.

     

                                  ---

                                    

SAM 86972:    972, Andy, go ahead, sir.            

     

ANDREWS:    OK [five garbled syllables] and Air Force        

                                    Command Post.  [three garbles syllables] 137.

                                    Position 1399, arriving Honolulu [four garbled

                                    syllables] 2026z.  ETD 2115z.  Go ahead, sir.

                                    Over.

     

SAM 86972:    86972, Andy.  Roger.  Copied down and standing

                                    by, sir.

     

ANDREWS:    OK.  I won't be on this frequency, but I'll         

                                    advise you when I'm leaving.

     

SAM 86972:    Roger, sir.

                                    

                                  ---

     

AF-1:               2600.

     

ANDREWS:    2600, Andrews, loud and clear.

     

AF-1:               Roger, give me Crown, please.

     

ANDREWS:    Right, stand by.

     

CROWN:        This is Crown.

     

ANDREWS:    I've got 2600 for a patch.

     

CROWN:                    Roger.

     

ANDREWS:    2600, Andrews, Crown on, go ahead.

     

AF-1:               Roger, Crown.  2600 would you get a patch with

                                    Jerry Behn, please?

     

CROWN:        Roger, stand by.

                                    [pause]

                                    2600, Duplex is on, go ahead.

     

AF-1:   'Kay.  Stand by one.

                                    [pause -- from some unknown point, a voice    

                                    says "OK" as no one responds, this could be    

                                    background or cross talk.]

     

BEHN:             Hello?

     

KELLERMAN:            Jerry?

     

BEHN:             Hello?

     

KELLERMAN:            [garble]  We're at the airport.  [garble]

                                    26,000.

     

BEHN:             OK, go ahead.

     

KELLERMAN:            We're waiting for the swearing-in at the plane

                                    before takeoff.

     

BEHN: Of the--  That's of Volunteer?

      

     

KELLERMAN:            Roger.

     

BEHN:             Say again, Roy, say again.

     

KELLERMAN:            We're waiting for Judge to appear for               

                                    swearing-in.

     

BEHN:             That is for Volunteer, is that right?

     

KELLERMAN:            Yes, we're having it done before we take-off,

                                    Jerry.

     

BEHN:             Do you have any idea what Lace wants to do and

                                    Volunteer wants to do on their arrival here?

     

KELLERMAN:            No, I will call you back.  Suggest we have a 2

                                    hour 15 minute flight into Andrews.  We have a

                                    full plane, at least 40.

     

BEHN:             OK, go ahead.

KELLERMAN:            I'll have to call you again as to the [two

                                    garbled syllables].  Get a couple of men,           

                                    rather the Volunteer boys to go over his car

                                    and so forth.  We'll also need hers and

                                    several others.

     

BEHN:             Let me know what Volunteer wants to do when           

                                    they land--if they want to come in to Crown by

                                    helicopter?

     

KELLERMAN:            Roger, I'll call you again.

     

BEHN:             OK.

     

                                  ---

                                   

 [Note: This next section begins with a lot of cross talk, I have begun where there recording clears]

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Would you repeat your estimated

                                    time of departure from Dallas?  Over.

     

AF-1:   Roger.  It could be within the next ten   

                                    minutes.  Go ahead.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger.  Would you give us a call

                                    when you're airborne and can you give us any

                                    additional information?

     

AF-1:   Not at this time.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger, thank you.

     

AF-1:   Roger.  Will call on take off.     

     

                                  ---

 [Note: This next call again starts with heavy static and cross talk.  It can be determined that AF-1 is being patched through to the Air Force Command Post.  I am starting from where the interference clears up.]

     

AF-1:   Command Post, AF-1.  How do you read?

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Loud and clear, go ahead sir.

     

AF-1:   Left Dallas 2047z and [a long garbled              

                                    section], Andrews.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: You have your block time down, sir?

     

AF-1:   [the response is totally unintelligible,

                                    however, the official transcript says the

                                    reply was "Estimated time on the block Andrews

                                    2305z."]

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: [garble]  Do you have any

                                    passengers aboard?

     

AF-1:   Roger.  Full load, 40 plus.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: And...is...Mrs. Kennedy aboard?

     

AF-1:   Affirmative.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Pardon?

     

AF-1:   I'll call you back, Command Post.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Alright, sir.

     

                                  ---

     

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  I have SAM Command Post

                                    standing by, sir.

     

AF-1:   Command Post, Air Force-1, go ahead.

     

ANDREWS:    Stand by, one, sir.

     

      ?:                [unintelligible sentence]

    

SAM COMMAND POST: Air Force, SAM Command Post.

     

AF-1:   Go ahead.

     

SAM COMMAND POST: Roger, Roger [garble]

     

OPERATIONS:           This is [garbled name] in Operations.  We have

                                    request from the Chief of Staff's office to          

                                    know if you have Mr. Johnson and Mr. Kennedy's

                                    body aboard?

     

AF-1:   Stand by, one.  [pause]

                                    OK.  AF-1, affirmative on all of those              

                                    questions.  Over.

     

OPERATIONS:  Roger, thank you very much.  Out.

     

AF-1:   AF-1, a signal check.

     

ANDREWS:    AF-1, I read you loud and clear, sir.

     

      ?:                [something edited from this point?]

     

ANDREWS:    Loud and clear, Liberty.

     

      ?:                [again, something seems to have been edited    

                                    out.]

     

ANDREWS:    AF-1, I have SAM Command Post standing by,          

                                    sir.

     

AF-1:   Alright, go ahead.

     

SAM COMMAND POST: 2600, 2600.  SAM Command Post.

     

AF-1:   SAM Command, AF-1.  Go ahead, please.

     

SAM COMMAND POST: Roger, Roger, AF-1.  Are you airborne at

                                    present? [repeating] Are you airborne at           

                                    present?

     

AF-1:   Affirmative.  Airborne at 2047.  2047.             

                                    Estimated time on the block Andrews 2305.  Go

                                    ahead.

SAM COMMAND POST: Roger, Roger, understand.  Departed at    

                                    2047.  Estimated time of arrival at Andrews     

                                    2305, is that Charlie?

     

AF-1:   That's Charlie.

     

SAM COMMAND POST: Roger, Roger. AF-1.  SAM Command Post,        

                                    clear.

     

                                  ---

                                   

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post, go ahead.

     

ANDREWS:    I have AF-1 standing by.  Stand by, please.

                                    [pause]

                                    AF-1, Andrews.  Go ahead, make your call,    

                                    please.

     

AF-1:   Command Post, AF-1.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Go ahead, AF-1.  This is Command

                                    Post.

     

AF-1:   OK.  Departed 2047 and estimate block time  

                                    Andrews 2305 and we're climbing out at slight

                                    over 290.  Go ahead.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger, understand.  You stand by

                                    one, please.

     

AF-1:   [two garbled syllables], go ahead.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: AF-1, this is the Air Force Command

                                    Post.  If possible, request the names of the

                                    passengers on board, please.

     

AF-1:   We have forty plus.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Forty people!  Is that affirmative?

     

AF-1:   Affirmative.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Can you tell me in regard to 1 and

                                    2...the top people?

     

AF-1:   Roger.  The President is on board.  The body

                                    is on board, and Mrs. Kennedy is on board.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Alright.  Can you tell--affirm once

                                    again your take off time and your estimated

                                    time of arrival, Andrews?

     

AF-1:   2047 take off time.  Andrews 2305.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger.  Thank you.  This is the Air

                                    Force Command Post, out.

                                   

                                  ---

                                   

BURKLEY:     AF-1, get me Crown, please.

     

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Roger.  Stand by, sir.

                                    [pause]

     

BURKLEY:     Crown?

ANDREWS:    This is Airman [two syllable name garbled],      

                                    stand by, please.

                                    [pause]

                                    AF-1, Andrews.  Give them a call, please.

                                    [pause]

                                    AF-1, Andrews.  Give them a call, please.

     

BURKLEY:     Alright.  [pause]

     

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Give Crown a call, please.

     

BURKLEY:     Crown, AF-1.

     

CROWN:                    This is Crown.  Go ahead.

     

BURKLEY:     Need a patch with Surgeon General-Army,

                                    Heaton.  Go ahead.

     

CROWN:        Please repeat the message.  Over.

BURKLEY:     Andrews, we want a patch, want a patch with  

                                    General Heaton, that's [spelling] H-E-A-T-O-N,

                                    he's the Surgeon General.  Go ahead.

     

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  That's General Heaton, the       

                                    Surgeon General of the Army, over.

     

BURKLEY:     That is correct.

     

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Stand by.  AF-1, Crown, stand

                                    by please, we a reaching the General now,       

                                    over.

     

BURKLEY:     Standing by.

     

COMMAND POST: Command Post, weather for 2600, please.

     

ANDREWS;    OK, sir, first one.  Stand by.

     

COMMAND POST: Roger.

     

ANDREWS:    We are running a patch right now.

     

      ?:                AF-1, AF-1, Andrews on 15.  I'll copy, sir.

     

      ?:                Yes, sir.

     

ANDREWS:    You'll have to hold on one, sir.  They're

                                    running a long patch with the White House        

                                    right now, sir.

     

COMMAND POST: Rog, I'll hold.

     

ANDREWS:    OK, sir.

     

                                  ---

                                    

Note: Next follows a long garbled discussion of which radio frequencies are being used.  This was not transcribed.

     

                                  ---

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Can you patch me with AF-1, please?

     

ANDREWS:    Who is this, please?

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: [two garbled syllables] Airman [one

                                    syllable garbled]

     

ANDREWS:    Stand by, you'll be number three.

     

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: OK.  Alright.

     

                                  ---

                                   

ANDREWS:    Right, sir, we'll call you back to Command

                                    Post.

     

COMMAND POST: Alright, fine.

ANDREWS:    'Cause this is taking quite a while.  No sense

                                    you holding on the line, here.

      

COMMAND POST: OK.

     

ANDREWS:    OK, sir.  We'll be right back to you as soon

                                    as they get off.

     

COMMAND POST: Alright.

     

ANDREWS:    Alright, sir.

     

COMMAND POST: Got a forecast for them.

     

ANDREWS:    Say again?

     

COMMAND POST: I've got a landing forecast.

     

ANDREWS:    OK, sir.

     

                                  ---

CROWN:                    AF-1, Crown.  [pause]  Hello?

     

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews, give Crown a call, please.

     

CROWN:                    AF-1, this is Crown.  Do you read?  Over.

     

AF-1:               Roger, Roger, Crown, AF-1.  [pause]  Hello?

                                   

CROWN:                    [pause]  AF-1, this is Crown.  You were cut    

                                    out.  General Heaton's at Walter Reed Hospital

                                    -- you'll have to stand by just a moment or       

                                    else let me call you back when I get them on

                                    the line.  It'll take about a minute to reach

                                    them.  [pause]  AF-1, Crown, do you Roger? 

                                    Over.

     

AF-1:               Crown, Roger.  Try General Heaton and in the

                                    meantime try and get the Deputy Surgeon

                                    General.  We will talk to either one.  Go           

                                    ahead.

     

CROWN:                    This is Crown, Roger.  Will you stand by or do

                                    we call you back?  Over.

     

AF-1:               Roger, this is very important.

     

CROWN:                    Roger, I'll put an emergency on it.  We'll get

                                    him as soon as possible.

     

AF-1:               Stand by.

     

CROWN:                    Roger.  Roger.

     

                                  ---

     

AF-1:               AF-1, Andrews [two garbled syllables] standing

                                    by.

     

ANDREWS:    Roger.

     

AF-1:               [garble] you a call.  I have another patch.

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Roger.

     

AF-1:               AF-1, go ahead.

     

CROWN:                    AF-1, Crown.

     

AF-1:               Roger, stand by for a message. 

     

BURKLEY:     [after a short pause Dr. Burkley come on and

                                    is totally unintelligible.  He may not have

                                    had key totally depressed]

     

CROWN:                    Dr. Burkley, this is Crown.  You're cutting

                                    out.  You're cutting out.  You'll have to

                                    repeat, over.

     

BURKLEY:     This is Dr. Burkley.  I need to get in touch

                                    with General Heaton or General Heaton's

                                    Deputy.

     

CROWN:                    Dr. Burkley, this is Crown.  We're working as

                                    fast as possible trying to get the call      

                                    through for you.  He's at Walter Reed.  We're

                                    unable to locate.  We're still searching,

                                    over.

     

BURKLEY:     The General's Deputy might be over at the        

                                    General's office over in the main Navy              

                                    Building.

     

CROWN:                    Roger, Roger.  If you'll stand by we'll try          

                                    and reach him.  [pause]  [two garbled               

                                    syllables--Burkley's code name, maybe] this is

                                    Crown, do you Roger?  We'll try to reach each

                                    one of them if you stand by, please.

     

BURKLEY:     Alright, Roger.

     

                                  ---

     

AF-1:               This is AF-1 on 15.

     

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Loud and clear sounding.

     

AF-1:               OK, you gonna have another line into Crown?

     

ANDREWS:    This is Andrews, Roger.

     

AF-1:               OK, go ahead.

     

ANDREWS:    Roger, stand by one.

     

      ?:                            [garble]

     

ANDREWS:    Hi.  Can you get me White House switchboard,

                                    please.

     

      ?:                            10-4.

SIGNAL CORPS: Signal.

     

ANDREWS:    Right, [three garbled syllables] still on?

     

      ?:                Ground, I have AF-1 for a patch.

     

SIGNAL CORPS: Roger, Roger.

     

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews, Crown is on, go ahead, sir.

     

CROWN:                    AF-1, AF-1, this is Crown, come in.

     

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews, Crown is on, go ahead, sir.

      

AF-1:               I want a call into Duples, please.

     

CROWN:                    Roger, Roger.  Locate him.

     

                                                 ---

                                   

                                      End Transcript

                                    Tape One -- Side Two

                                   

                                                 ---

                                   

                          Air Force One radio traffic transcript 11/22/63

                                              Tape 2 Side 1

                      ----------------------------------------------------------

                                         Begin Transcript

                                    Tape Two -- Side One

                                    

                                   ---

      

AF-1:   Duplex, please.

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Duplex is on the line.  Go

                                    ahead.

      

KELLERMAN:            [two garbled syllables, Kellerman's code name,

                                    maybe?] to Duplex.  Jerry?

      

BEHN: Go ahead.  Go ahead.  This is Duplex.

     

KELLERMAN: Jerry, arriving Andrews 1605 -- 6:05, rather.

      

BEHN: That's affirmative.  Have received.  [there is

                                    a break in the recording at this point,

                                    indicating a probable edit in the recording]

                                    This is Duplex, this is Duplex.

      

KELLERMAN:   Arrival Andrews, 6:05, stand by.  [pause]  An

                                    ambulance from Walter Reed furnished to

                                    transport body.  Over.

      

BEHN: Arrangements have been made for a helicopter

                                    for the Bethesda Naval Medical Center.  Over.

      

KELLERMAN:            Stand by, Jerry.  I'll have to get Burkley

                                    here.

      

BEHN:             OK.

      

       ?:                           AF-1 [three garbled syllables], go ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Duplex is on.  Duplex is on,

                                    sir.

      

BURKLEY:     Duplex is on.  This is Doctor Burkley.  What

                                    arrangements have been made in regard to the

                                    reception of the President?  Over.

      

BEHN: Everybody aboard AF-1, everyone aboard AF-1

                                    with the exception of the body, will be

                                    choppered to the south grounds.  The body will

                                    be choppered to the Naval Medical Center at

                                    Bethesda.  Over.

      

BURKLEY:     The body will be choppered or will go by

                                    ambulance to the Naval Medical Center?

      

BEHN:             Will be choppered -- will be choppered.

      

BURKLEY:     I have called General Heaton and asked him to

                                    call me -- the District of Washington -- with

                                    regard to this.  Would you call him and cancel

                                    the inference to go to Walter Reed?  Haven't

                                    spoken to him.  I didn't know these

                                    arrangements were already made.

BEHN: Say again.  Say again, Doctor.

      

BURKLEY:     His body is in a casket, you know, and will

                                    have to taken by ambulance and not by chopper.

      

BEHN: Alright, I'll tell Captain Shephard that.  Did

                                    you say that--

      

BURKLEY:     Jerry, will you be sure and get in contact

                                    with General Heaton?

      

                                   ---

      

BURKLEY:     General Heaton, this is Admiral Burkley. 

      

HEATON:       Yes, Burkley.

      

BURKLEY:     AF-1.

      

HEATON:       Yes.  [pause]  I read you Admiral Burkley.

                                    [pause]

      

BURKLEY:     Hold for a minute, please.  General Clifton's

                                    here.  [long pause]

      

CLIFTON:       Eh--This is General Clifton. 

BURKLEY:     Yes, General Clifton.

      

                                    [The tape has been edited at this point.]

      

CLIFTON:       Two.  We do not want a helicopter for Bethesda

                                    Medical Center we do want an ambulance and a

                                    ground return from Andrews to Walter Reed, and

                                    we want the regular post-mortem that has to be

                                    done by law under guard performed at Walter

                                    Reed.  Is that clear?  Over.

      

HEATON:       That is clear, General Clifton.  You want an

                                    ambulance and another limousine at Andrews and

                                    you want the regular post-mortem by law

                                    done at Walter Reed.

      

CLIFTON:       That is correct.  Hold on for a minute.  Over.

      

BURKLEY:     General, I'll hold on.  [pause]

      

AF-1:   AF-1.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews, go ahead, sir.

      

AF-1:   OK, I think a patch was cut on 13.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Still in progress.  You give

                                    the ground party a call sir.

      

BURKLEY:     Jerry?  [NOTE: Neither General Clifton or

                                    General Heaton are named Jerry.  The official

                                    transcript of this call has a note inserted at

                                    this point by the typist that says that

                                    Burkley may have thought he was speaking to

                                    Behn.  Behn's first name is Jerry.]

      

CLIFTON or HEATON: Jerry who?

      

BURKLEY:     What arrangements have you made? 

      

HEATON:       We have made no arrangements so far, but I

                                    will follow through on what you just told

                                    me--have an ambulance and a limousine at

                                    Andrews and arrangements in regards to

                                    post-mortem studies.

      

CLIFTON:       Would you--General Heaton, would you kindly

                                    hole?  Been some arrangements already been

                                    made--have to clear that before we make any

                                    further.  [NOTE: The official transcript

                                    credits this remark to Admiral Burkley, that

                                    is not correct.  This is clearly General

                                    Clifton's voice.]

      

SPEAKER UNKNOWN: A limousine and an ambulance at Andrews...

                                    [NOTE: This is spoken by none of the prior

                                    parties.  It almost sounds as though it might

                                    be being spoken into a microphone that has

                                    been accidently opened, possibly by an Aide to

                                    General Heaton.]

      

AF-1:               AF-1.  Say again your last transmission.

      

SPEAKER UNKNOWN: [Again, the same unidentified voice.  The

                                    words are now almost inaudible, as though they

                                    are being spoken under the breath of a person

                                    who is writing something down while in close

                                    proximity to an open microphone.]

      

CROWN:                    Hello, Andrews, this is Crown.

      

ANDREWS:    Crown, go ahead.

      

CROWN:                    We have Captain Shephard here.  Is also to --

                                    I -- evidently who has made some arrangements

                                    on the -- funeral and so forth.  He would like

                                    to get on and talk to AF-1 when General Heaton

                                    is finished.  It might be possible for us to

                                    put him up on a conference, so that they could

                                    all make the arrangements together.  I

                                    understand that Captain Shephard, the Naval

                                    Aide, has made some arrangements also.  So you

                                    might explain that to AF-1 and that we can put

                                    him on a conference if they would like.

                                    [NOTE: This call from Crown seems to indicate

                                    that there might be two Captain Shephards, one

                                    of them being a Naval Aide, and it implies

                                    that these two Captains with the same name

                                    have been working together on the

                                    arrangements.  The MDW also shows a Captain

                                    Shephard in their logs for November 22, 1963.]

      

                                   ___

                                    

                                    

CLIFTON:       Go ahead, Duplex, this is Watchman.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Give your party a call.

      

CLIFTON:       Duplex, Duplex, this is Watchman, over.

      

BEHN:             Go ahead Watchman, this is Duplex.  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       Duplex, this is Watchman.  I understand that

                                    you have arranged for a mortuary type ambulance

                                    to take President and Mrs. Kennedy to

                                    Bethesda.  Is this correct?  Over.

      

BEHN:             Watchman, it has been arranged to helicopter

                                    -- helicopter the body to Bethesda.  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       This is Watchman.  That's OK, if it isn't too

                                    dark.  What about the First Lady?  Over.

      

BEHN:             Everybody else aboard -- everybody else aboard

                                    arrangements have been made to helicopter into

                                    the south grounds.

      

CLIFTON:       This is Watchman.  Are you sure that the

                                    helicopter operation will work?  We have a

                                    very heavy casket.  Over.

      

BEHN:             According to Witness, yes.

      

CLIFTON:       This is Watchman.  Don't take a chance on

                                    that.  Also have a mortuary-type ambulance

                                    standby in case the helicopter doesn't work.

BEHN: That's affirmative.

      

CLIFTON:       Have more instructions in just a moment.

      

BEHN:             That's affirmative.  I received.

      

CLIFTON:       Now, some other instruction: Listen

                                    carefully.  We need a ramp -- a normal ramp --

                                    put at the front of the aircraft on the right

                                    hand side just behind the pilot's cabin in the

                                    galley.  We are going to take the First Lady

                                    off by that route.  Over.  Do you understand?

      

BEHN: I receive.  Affirmative.

       

CLIFTON:       Alright.  Also, at the right rear -- no the

                                    left rear -- left rear of the aircraft where

                                    we usually dismount -- debark, we may need a

                                    fork-lift rather than a ramp if there is such

                                    a thing, 'cause its too awkward.  Maybe a

                                    platform to walk out on and a fork-lift to put

                                    it on.  Is that possible?  Over.

BEHN: Say again.  Say again, Watchman.

CLIFTON:       Alright.  I say again.  The casket is in the

                                    rear compartments and we suggest because it is

                                    so heavy that we have a fork-lift --

                                    fork-lift -- back there to remove the casket.

                                    If this is too awkward we can go along with a

                                    normal ramp and several men.  Over.

BEHN: Affirmative.  We will try for the fork-lift.

      

CLIFTON:       Alright, next item, Duplex, next item.  The

                                    press, according to Mr. Johnson, the press is

                                    to have its normal little theatre at Andrews

                                    Field.  And he is going from there by

                                    helicopter to the White House.  Over.

      

BEHN: Say again, Watchman.  Say again, please.

                                    [pause]  Watchman, this is Duplex.  Say again.

      

CLIFTON:       The normal fence for the press -- the normal

                                    little corral.  And it'll have to be in the

                                    front of the aircraft, 'cause that's where the

                                    -- President Johnson will come off.  OK?

      

BEHN: Watchman, this is Duplex.  Will you say that

                                    all over again, please?  You were breaking up.

      

CLIFTON:       Duplex, this is Watchman.  I say again.  The

                                    right front ramp for Mrs. Kennedy.  The left

                                    rear, if possible, a fork-lift for the

                                    casket.  On the left front near the pilot, a

                                    normal ramp.  The normal press arrangements.

                                    Got that?  Over.

      

BEHN: Say again, Watchman, you're breaking--

      

UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: I got that -- on the left front -- see

                                    I got that -- the normal press arrangements --

                                    a ramp for President Johnson.  On the left

                                    front, left front, right behind the pilot.

                                    [This is being said to Behn, as though the

                                    speaker is sitting next to him at his

                                    microphone.]

      

BEHN: [to the unidentified speaker]  Alright.

      

CLIFTON:       Did everybody get that clear?  Over.

      

 UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: [to General Clifton]  That is

                                    affirmative.

      

CLIFTON:       'Kay.  Hold one, Kellerman would like to talk

                                    to you.

      

BEHN: Watchman, Watchman this is Duplex, stand by

                                    one.  Are you there?  [pause]  Watchman,

                                    Watchman, this is Duplex.

      

CLIFTON:       Duplex, this is Watchman, over.  Go ahead.

      

BEHN: Watchman, should the Secretary of Defense and

                                    others be at Andrews on your arrival?

      

CLIFTON:       No.  I am about to -- no, negative.  I am

                                    about to call the White House.  President

                                    Johnson wants to have the White House Staff,

                                    the leadership of Congress and as many of the

                                    Cabinet members as possible at the White House

                                    at 1830 -- 1830.  Over.

      

BEHN: Will you say that again, please.  I got the --

                                    [to the side, to the previous unidentified

                                    speaker who seems to be in the room with

                                    him.]  Oh.  You got it?

      

UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: [to Behn]  Right.  President Johnson is

                                    suppose to meet as many of Cabinet members as

                                    possible at the White House at approximately

                                    1830.

      

CLIFTON:       This is Watchman.  You didn't get it all.  The

                                    White House staff, the key members of the

                                    White House staff.  Also the leadership of

                                    Congress.  Also all Cabinet members available

                                    at the White House at 1830, over.

      

BEHN: That is affirmative, Watchman.  That is

                                    affirmative.

      

CLIFTON:       Read that to me.  Over.

BEHN: All the leaders of Congress, as many Cabinet

                                    members as possible at the White House at

                                    1830.

      

CLIFTON:       And key members of the White House staff, that

                                    is Sorenson, Bundy, etc. 

      

BEHN: That is correct.

      

CLIFTON:       OK.

      

                                   ---

      

KELLERMAN:            Can I speak to Duplex again?

      

BEHN:             Go ahead, go ahead, Digest, this is Duplex.

      

KELLERMAN:            [response broken up]

      

ANDREWS:    [relaying Kellerman's message to Behn] Duplex,

                                    requesting helicopter transportation for

                                    President Johnson and party, sir.

      

BEHN: [to Andrews to relay to Kellerman] That is all

                                    laid on.  Tell him everybody aboard will be

                                    choppered into the south grounds.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  [pause]  AF-1, Andrews,

                                    request you change positions you have a bad

                                    mike here.

      

KELLERMAN:            OK, how's this?

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews, Roger.  Go ahead with your

                                    traffic now sir.

      

KELLERMAN:            Digest to Duplex, Roger.  How's this?

      

BEHN:Go ahead Digest, this is Duplex.

      

KELLERMAN:            Again I repeat.  Have helicopter to transport

                                    President Johnson and party to the White House

                                    lawn, OK?

      

BEHN: That is affirmative.

      

KELLERMAN:            Roger.  OK, White House 102 and 405X for

                                    transportation to Navy hospital, OK? 

      

BEHN: That is affirmative.

      

KELLERMAN:            That's a Roger.  Eh -- I am keeping -- I will

                                    join Hill and his party to the Navy Hospital.

                                    OK?

      

BEHN:             Digest, this is Duplex.  You accompany body

                                    aboard helicopter.

      

KELLERMAN:            Roger.  [pause]  Request -- I was not able to

                                    get ahold of Payne [spelling is phonetic] and

                                    Bob Burke [spelling is phonetic].

      

BEHN:             Go ahead.  I received.

                                    [pause]

      

ANDREWS:    [to Kellerman]  AF-1, Andrews, go ahead, sir.

      

KELLERMAN:            This is Digest, again, Duplex.

      

BEHN:             Go ahead Digest, this is Duplex.

      

KELLERMAN:            Payne and Burke [three garbled syllables].

      

BEHN:             Say again, Digest.

      

KELLERMAN:            Payne and Burke were not notified.

      

BEHN:             OK.  [pause]

      

ANDREWS:    [to Behn]  Say again, sir.

      

BEHN:             That is affirmative, Digest.

      

KELLERMAN:            OK, Jerry, one more -- eh -- stand by.

                                    [pause]  OK, one more.  [three syllable

                                    garble] is on 6970.

      

BEHN:             Right.  [pause]  Go ahead, Digest.  [pause]

      

ANDREWS:    [to Behn]  Say again, sir.

      

BEHN:             Go ahead, Digest.

      

KELLERMAN:            Repeat: [transmission breaking up] 6970, OK?

      

BEHN:             That's affirmative, I receive.

      

KELLERMAN:            Do you have any questions?  That's enough.

      

BEHN:             Not at this moment, if we do, we'll call back.

      

KELLERMAN:            That's a Roger.  But, hold on.  [pause]

      

ANDREWS:    I've got Captain Shephard on the line.

      

UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: Oh, is he?

      

ANDREWS:    Yeah, he wants to talk to the aircraft.

      

UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: Good.

      

KELLERMAN:            Digest to Duplex, go ahead.

      

BEHN:             Go ahead, Digest.  This is Duplex.

      

KELLERMAN:            Would you call Dr. John Walsh?  In

                                    Washington?  And advise him of our arrival?

      

BEHN:             That is affirmative.

      

KELLERMAN:            OK.

      

BEHN:             Where does Lace want Dr. Walsh to meet her?

      

KELLERMAN:            Dr. Walsh to meet her.

      

 BEHN:                        Where?

                                    [pause]

      

ANDREWS:    [to Behn]  Say again, sir.

      

BEHN:             Digest, this is Duplex.  Where does Lace wish

                                    Dr. Walsh to meet her?

                                    [pause]

      

KELLERMAN:            At the White House when we get there with her.

      

BEHN:             That's affirmative.

      

KELLERMAN:            Stand by.  I don't have anything, but I think

                                    they want the line open here.

      

CROWN:                    Roger, Digest.  This is Crown.  I have Witness

                                    standing by.

      

KELLERMAN:            [to the side]  There's another call here.

      

CROWN:                    Digest? 

                                    [pause] 

                                    Digest, Digest, this is Crown.  Come in.

                                    [pause] 

                                    Digest, Digest, this is Crown.  Come in.

      

ANDREWS:    Stand by, Crown.  AF-1, Andrews.

      

RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: Dagger to Crown.  Dagger to Crown.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Say again, go ahead, sir.

      

CROWN:        AF-1, AF-1, this is Crown.  Come in.

      

RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: This is Dagger to Crown.  I have traffic

                                    for Behn.

      

                                   ---

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Andrews [two garbled syllables] help

                                    you, sir?

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Sgt. Dorsey [phonetic spelling],

                                    Air Force Command Post.  Air Force Weather is

                                    still waiting to bring up AF-1.  We've been

                                    waiting now for 15 minutes, what's up?

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right, sir.  We're running two

                                    patches at one time right now for the White

                                    House, and they're real busy, we can't get

                                    through to them.  They're making arrangements

                                    to take the body off and everything else.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Let me patch in with Air Force

                                    Weather, so he'll know -- he'll know.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right.  I already told them that

                                    earlier.  [pause]  Go 'head, sir.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: Weather, here.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Hello, sir.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: Yes, sir.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right, we're running two patches at

                                    one time right now, to AF-1 from the White

                                    House, and they're making arrangements for

                                    taking the casket and stuff off.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: Rog'.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: And we can't get through to you.  As

                                    soon as we can, we'll give you a call.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: OK.  He needs that temperature before he

                                    gets there.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right, sir.  We'll get--  They should

                                    be done pretty soon.  They been at it quite a

                                    while now.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: OK, buddy.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: Thank you, sir.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right.

      

                                   ---

                                    

ANDREWS:    Andrews, AF-1.  Loud and clear.  OK.  Stand by

                                    and we'll have General Heaton come on this

                                    line as soon as the other patch clears.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Roger, sir.  I have Command Post

                                    Weather and they've been standing by about

                                    fifteen minutes.  They'd like to get a patch

                                    to you.  Can we run it at this time, sir?

      

ANDREWS:    Go 'head with them.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Roger, stand by one.  [pause]

                                    Command Post?

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Rog.

      

ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Can you bring weather up?  Can you

                                    bring weather up?  I got AF-1.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Weathers on.  Go ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Weathers on, would you give

                                    them a call, sir?

      

AF-1:               Weather, AF-1.  Go ahead.

      

WEATHER:     This is Command Post weather.  Be advised of a

                                    severe weather area from forty miles west of

                                    Breedwood [phonetic], Mississippi to twenty

                                    miles west of Blysville [phonetic], Arkansas,

                                    extending one hundred and twenty miles -- 120

                                    miles -- to the east.  For tornados, tops

                                    50,000 -- 50,000.  Want you to be advised of

                                    that and I have a revised landing forecast,

                                    Andrews, if you're ready copy.  Over.

       

AF-1:               Stand by, one.  I'll have to call you back on

                                    it.

WEATHER:     Roger.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  How copy, sir?

      

AF-1:               You be loud and clear, Andy.

      

            [NOTE: the next six exchanges may be cross talk.]

       

       ?:                           This is [two garbled syllables], one second,

                                    please.

      

       ?:                           Liberty, how you read?

      

       ?:                           Roger, Liberty -- loud and clear [garbled

                                    sounds].

      

       ?:                           Roger, Roger.  OK.  Put me up to the --

                                    correction, take this and relay it for me,

                                    then I'll want a patch.

      

ANDREWS:    Liberty, Andrews.  Meet me, land line.

      

AF-1:               Liberty, AF-1.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, this is Andrews, go ahead.

      

AF-1:               Andrews, AF-1.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews, go ahead, sir.

      

AF-1:               OK.  Will you tell Command Post and all people

                                    concerned that our log time has moved up to

                                    2300z, go ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    This is Andrews, Roger.  Copied, will relay,

                                    sir.

      

AF-1:               Roger, and pick up that weather warning from

                                    the Air Force Command Post and see if there's

                                    anything to it, please.  We just got

                                    [unintelligible] that is important.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, stand by one.  [pause--lots of cross

                                    talk at this point]

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post, Major [a

                                    two syllable garbled name -- Bentruss?]

      

ANDREWS:    Right.  Can I have Weather, please?

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Just a minute, please.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: Weather.

      

ANDREWS:    Right, sir, I have AF-1.  He's real busy and

                                    he wants to know how severe this weather

                                    warning is.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: Its for tornados -- that's pretty

                                    severe.

      

ANDREWS:    OK, hold on one.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: Alright.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, AF-1, Andrews.

      

AF-1:               [response covered with cross talk]

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews, loud and clear.  I have Weather

                                    on.  Weather's pretty important, would you

                                    give him a call, sir?

      

AF-1:               Right -- Weather, AF-1.  Go 'head now, please.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: Alright.  Be advised that these -- eh --

                                    severe weather area is for tornados --

                                    tornados is the severity.  Radar reports top

                                    in the area at the present time 47 to 51,000.

                                    Over.

      

AF-1:               Roger.  And what area is this?  I'm sorry, I

                                    didn't get it before.

      

 AIR FORCE WEATHER: This is for an area forty miles west of

                                    Breedwood [phonetic], Mississippi to twenty

                                    miles west of Blysville [phonetic], Arkansas,

                                    and one hundred and twenty miles east of both

                                    of those portions.  Its on your flight path.

                                    Over.

      

AF-1:   And one hundred and twenty miles east of both

                                    of these location, is that correct?

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: Right.  You draw a line from -- eh --

                                    Breedwood [phonetic] to Blysville [phonetic]

                                    and one hundred and twenty miles east of that

                                    line.

      

AF-1:   Got that, OK.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: Roger.  Your new landing temperature,

                                    Andrews, 62 degrees -- 62 degrees.  Over.

      

AF-1:   62.

      

AIR FORCE WEATHER: Weather, out.

       

AF-1:   Thank you.

      

                                   ---

                                    

CROWN:        AF-1, this is Crown, come in.

      

RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: This is Dagger on AF-1 to Crown.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  I have Freedom, I have Free --

                                    pardon.  I have Witness standing by for a

                                    patch.  [pause]

      

RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: We'll have Witness in one minute.  Could

                                    we go ahead with traffic for Behn, Crown?

      

CROWN:        Roger.  You have someone else calling Behn.

                                    Is that a Roger?

      

RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: That's a Roger.  This is Dagger calling

                                    Behn, over.

      

CROWN:        Stand by.  [pause]  Dagger, Duplex is on.  Go

                                    ahead.

      

RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: Dagger to Duplex.  Message is from

                                    Volunteer and Victoria, relative to activities

                                    tonight.

      

BEHN: Go ahead, Dagger.  This is Duplex.

      

RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: You are aware that we will go to

                                    [transmission momentarily broken] for meeting.

      

BEHN: That is affirmative.  [short pause]  Go ahead.

      

RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: Volunteer will reside at Valley for an         

                                    indefinite time.  I repeat.  Volunteer will

                                    reside at Valley for an indefinite time.

                                    Victoria requests that Venus will go to Valley

                                    with agent. 

      

BEHN: Will you say again?  Will you say again?

      

UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: [This is the same man as earlier who

                                    seems to be sitting at Crown with Behn.]

                                    Venus should go out to Valley with agent.

      

RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: That is a Roger.  That is a Roger.  Venus

                                    will go to Valley with agent.  Victoria will

                                    go to Valley after first to Crown.  Do you

                                    understand?  Over.

      

UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: [Again, the man with Behn.]  Victoria

                                    will go to Valley after first going to Crown.

      

 BEHN:            OK.  That's affirmative.

      

RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: Do you also understand that for

                                    residential purposes Volunteer will reside at

                                    Valley?

      

BEHN: That is affirmative.  [short pause]  That is

                                    affirmative.

      

RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: Alright.  That is all the traffic I have

                                    at present.

      

BEHN: OK.  OK.

                                    

                                   ---

                                    

AF-1:               Will you give me a patch into Crown?

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.  Stand by, one.  [pause]

      

CROWN:        White House.

      

ANDREWS:    Right.  Stand by for AF-1.

      

CROWN:                    Roger.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Crown on.

      

AF-1:               Crown, AF-1.  This is a message from Wing to

                                    Slugger.  Slugger is to meet aircraft as soon

                                    as possible.  If he cannot do this he is to

                                    see Wing as soon as possible. As soon as

                                    possible.  Go ahead.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Wing to Slugger.  Meet aircraft

                                    as soon as possible, if this is impossible,

                                    see Wing as soon as possible.  Go ahead.

      

AF-1:               That is correct.  Or contact him in anyway

                                    feasible.

      

CROWN:        Roger.  Roger.  Crown understand.  Any

                                    further?  Go ahead.

      

AF-1:               Negative.  And I suspect that Slugger is back

                                    in Dallas.

      

CROWN:        Roger.  Roger.

      

                                   ---

                                    

 CROWN:       AF-1.  AF-1.  This is Crown.  Come in.

      

AF-1:               Request Victoria to cancel or -- the

                                    commercial telephone.  That is Volunteer and

                                    Victoria's commercial telephone at Valley

                                    should be temporarily discontinued and

                                    security line should be put in [signal begins

                                    to break up, about five syllables are lost].

                                    Do you understand, over?

      

CROWN:        That's a Roger.  Roger.  Cancel commercial

                                    lines at Valley and install [eight garbled

                                    syllables might be "wonka circuits" repeated

                                    twice].  Is that a Roger?

      

AF-1:               That is a Roger.

      

CROWN:        Roger.  Will do.

      

                                   ---

                                     

ANDREWS:    Andrews, AF-1.  Go ahead.

      

 AF-1:              OK.  Get me Crown please.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.  [pause]

      

CROWN:        White House.

      

ANDREWS:    Stand by, sir, AF-1.

      

CROWN:        Roger.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Give Crown a call.

      

AF-1:               Roger, AF-1.  We'd like a patch with Winner

                                    and the patch is coming from Warrior.  Go

                                    ahead.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Stand by.

      

KILDUFF:       Crown, Crown, this is Warrior.  How do you

                                    read, over.

      

CROWN:        Warrior from Crown.  You are loud and clear.

                                    I'm putting Winner on now, do you Roger?

      

KILDUFF:       Crown, this is Warrior.  I want Winner, I want

                                    Winner.  Over.

      

CROWN:        Warrior, Warrior, from Crown.  Go ahead and

                                    transmit.  Winner, Winner is on the line.

      

KILDUFF:       Winner, Winner.  This is Warrior.  Do you read

                                    me?  Over.

      

HATCH:          I hear you -- over.

      

KILDUFF:       Winner, Winner, this is Warrior.  Will you

                                    please advise Press that normal press

                                    coverage, including live TV, will be allowed

                                    at the Base.  Volunteer -- repeat -- Volunteer

                                    will make statement on arrival.  Will make

                                    statement on arrival.  Did you read that?

                                    Over.

      

HATCH:          I read you clearly.  Will you listen to my

                                    question?  Is Mrs. Kennedy aboard AF-1?

      

KILDUFF:       Winner, Winner, this is Warrior.  That is a

                                    Roger.  That is a Roger.  Over.

      

HATCH:          Alright.  The other thing is I'm setting up a

                                    press section on the south lawn about 50 yards

                                    from position of helicop -- of Helicopter #1.

                                    Will that meet with Mrs. Kennedy's and the

                                    President's approval?

      

KILDUFF:       Winner, they are not returning to the House.

                                    They are not returning to the House.  For your

                                    information, they're going someplace else.  I

                                    don't want to go in on the radio on this one

                                    -- so there will be an arrival there, but it

                                    will be Volunteer.  It will be Volunteer.

                                    Over.

      

HATCH:          Thank you.  I will hold that information and

                                    we can say something after you arrive.  Eh --

                                    let's see -- hold it just a second.  Let me

                                    look through my list of questions.  Is it true

                                    that the body of President Kennedy will go to

                                    Bethesda Naval Hospital?

      

KILDUFF:       That is a Roger.  That is a Roger, but we are

                                    not saying that yet.  Over.

      

HATCH:          Well, we've -- we've already said it.  So, I

                                    -- eh -- but we should've checked with you

                                    before doing it, but -- I don't think it makes

                                    too much difference.  It takes a lot of -- you

                                    know -- we should know it.  It takes a lot --

                                    eh -- off of us by doing it.  I was in error,

                                    over.

      

KILDUFF:       So far as that press area on the south lawn --

                                    there is no objection to that -- there is no

                                    objection to that.

HATCH:          Should that be live -- will we permit live cov

                                    -- yes.  You told me that.  OK.  Anything

                                    else?

      

KILDUFF:       Would you repeat that?

      

      

HATCH:          Anything else that I should know?

      

KILDUFF:       Wait a minute -- you're breaking.  But let me

                                    think about that for just a second, would you,

                                    please?

      

HATCH:          'Kay.

      

KILDUFF:       Eh -- yes.  The pool on this aircraft is Chuck

                                    Roberts and Smith.  We lost Bell somewhere

                                    along the line.  We don't have AP aboard, but

                                    I have given them the statement of Volunteer

                                    on the death, which he will make at the

                                    airport.  Over.

      

HATCH:          Oh.  I understand you.  OK.  Over and out.

      

KILDUFF:       Wait!  Don't go out on me yet, because -- are

                                    you still there, Winner?

      

HATCH:          Yes I am.  I'm here.

      

KILDUFF:       I think we're going to tell the press that on

                                    arrival -- eh -- hold on.  Oh.  Just a

                                    minute.  I've got Clifton here and he's trying

                                    to give me something.  Hold on.  [pause]

                                    Winner, Winner, this is Warrior.  Eh -- the --

                                    eh -- the -- eh -- you can announce that on

                                    arrival -- on arrival -- he will meet with --

                                    eh -- at the White House [pause]  Eh -- later

                                    -- he will meet with the leadership -- with

                                    the leadership.  Did you read that?  Over.

      

HATCH:          Yes, I did read that.

      

KILDUFF:       Wait a minute.  You're breaking badly -- I can

                                    not read.

       

HATCH:          Yes, yes.  I understand and I will announce.

      

KILDUFF:       'Kay, very good, Winner.  Now wait a minute.

                                    Now there's one other part I'm getting from

                                    Clifton now that I want to relay to you.  Hold

                                    on -- they said that on arrival at the House

                                    that the President will meet with McNamara and

                                    Bundy.  Also, if Rusk is in town, he'll meet

                                    with Rusk [Hatch tries to interrupt here and

                                    continues to try for a few seconds], but I

                                    think he's in the Far East, so it will

                                    probably be Ball.  Eh -- and after -- about a

                                    half hour after that meeting is over, we will

                                    meet with -- eh -- eh -- the Congressional

                                    leadership at -- eh -- wait a minute.  I'm

                                    getting a time on that now.  He'll meet with

                                    the leadership at 8:00 -- 8:00.  Did you read

                                    that?  Over.

      

HATCH:          I -- eh -- I read.  Now is that bipartisan

                                    leadership or Democratic leadership?

      

KILDUFF:       That is wholly bipartisan.  Wholly

                                    bipartisan.  Over.

      

HATCH:          I understand you.

      

KILDUFF:       Hold one and let me check any further

                                    information here.  Is that -- Do you mind

                                    holding, Andy?

      

HATCH:          No.  Go right ahead.  [pause]

      

KILDUFF:       I have nothing more at this time.  I assume

                                    you will be available if I can reach you.  If

                                    I need to feed you more information -- eh --

                                    as it develops, or whatever you call it.

                                    Over.

      

HATCH:          Yes.  Over and out.

      

                                   ---

                                    

CROWN:        AF-1, this is Crown.

      

KILDUFF:       This is Warrior to Crown -- Warrior to Crown.

                                    Are you reading?  Over.

       

CROWN:        Warrior, Warrior, this is Crown.  Loud and

                                    clear, loud and clear.

      

KILDUFF:       Crown, hold one for a transmission from

                                    Witness -- for a transmission from Witness.

                                    Over.  [could Kilduff have meant Watchman?]

       

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Would also like to confirm at

                                    this time -- the request from AF-1 --

      

CLIFTON:       Crown, this is Watchman.  Over.

      

CROWN:        This is Crown.  Go ahead, Watchman.

      

CLIFTON:       [response is unintelligible]

       

CROWN:        AF-1 from Crown.  You were broken -- you were

                                    broken.  Say again.

      

CLIFTON:       Crown, this is Watchman.  Please get Mr. Bundy

                                    on the line, over.

      

CROWN:                    Roger, Roger, stand by, stand by.  Crown --

                                    your party on this end is on, go 'head and

                                    transmit to him.

      

CLIFTON:       This is Watchman, Crown, please monitor.

                                    Max...Mr. Johnson...Secretary McNamara at 6:30

                                    at the White House.  If Mr. Rusk is in

                                    town...to Mr. Rusk.  If he is not in town,

                                    then we do not want -- negative -- do not want

                                    -- an acting secretary.  Over. [the recording

                                    is very poor at this point, I've transcribed

                                    what I could pick out.  The official

                                    transcript gives no clue what the missing

                                    words are.]

      

BUNDY:          Correct.  We are -- will you tell him that --

                                    a -- the acting Cabinet will be at the airport

                                    to greet him.  He can bring McNamara and me in

                                    his chopper to the White House.  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       That is correct.  That is alright.  He will do

                                    that.  Now, take another message.  Over.

      

BUNDY:          Yep.

      

CLIFTON:       Secondly, I told Jerry Behn about a White

                                    House Staff meeting. 

       

BUNDY:          Yep.

      

CLIFTON:       There will be no -- negative -- there will be

                                    no White House Staff meeting tonight.  It will

                                    be tomorrow.

      

BUNDY:          Correct.  I have you.  I have it.  Wait.  Let

                                    me repeat your message, right -- over.

      

CLIFTON:       Go ahead.

      

BUNDY:          First that the President wishes to meet with

                                    SecDef and me at the White House on return

                                    from Andrews.  Second, that there will be no

                                    other meeting this evening.  There will be a

                                    White House Staff meeting on call tomorrow.

                                    Over.

      

CLIFTON:       No, that is not correct.  He wants to meet

                                    with the leadership about 7:30 -- leadership

                                    about 7:30, over.

      

BUNDY:          Right.  Does he wish us to arrange that?

                                    Over.

      

CLIFTON:       He wants you to arrange that.  Two meetings

                                    tonight--McNamara and Bundy --

      

BUNDY:          Yep.

      

CLIFTON:       -- and the leadership about 7:30.

      

BUNDY:          Does he mean the Democratic leadership only?

                                    Over.

      

CLIFTON:       Bipartisan Leadership and I'll give you some

                                    names.  Over.

      

BUNDY:          Right, over.

      

CLIFTON:       The Speaker of the House --

      

BUNDY:          Yea.

      

CLIFTON:       Carl Albert --

      

BUNDY:          Carl Albert.

      

CLIFTON:       Hale Boggs --

      

BUNDY:          Yea.

      

CLIFTON:       Leslie Arens --

      

BUNDY:          Hold on.  Say that one again.

      

CLIFTON:       Leslie Arens.

      

BUNDY:          Arens -- yea.

      

CLIFTON:       Are you listening?  Over.

      

BUNDY:          I have -- will you take what I have from me,

                                    over, and then we can go on.

      

CLIFTON:       Let's see.  Over.

      

BUNDY:          I have the Speaker, Carl Albert, Hale Boggs,

                                    Leslie Arens.  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       This is Watchman and that is correct.  I will

                                    now continue with the Senate.  Over.

      

BUNDY:          Right.  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       Mansfield.

      

 BUNDY:         Right.

      

CLIFTON:       Humphrey.

      

BUNDY:          Yea.

      

CLIFTON:       Smathers.

      

BUNDY:          Yea.

      

 CLIFTON:      [two syllables garbled]

      

BUNDY:          Wait.  Wait a moment.  I have the first

                                    three.  Over.  [pause]  Repeat.  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       This is Watchman.  [the transmission breaks at

                                    this point]

      

ANDREWS:    Sir, stand by, please.

      

BUNDY:          Yea.

      

CLIFTON:       Andy? [Clifton is calling to Hatch, but

                                    Andrews thinks he wants them]

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.

      

CLIFTON:       Crown, this is Angel.  Crown, this is Angel.

      

CROWN:        Crown, Angel.

      

CLIFTON:       This is Angel.  Would you -- I broke down with

                                    Mr. Bundy would you take the Senate list for

                                    me?  Over.

      

CROWN:        I have Mansfield, Humphrey, Smathers.  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       This is Watchman.  In addition to Mansfield,

                                    Humphrey and Smathers; Dirksen, Kuchel,

                                    Hickenlooper.

      

CROWN:        Dirksen, Kuchel and Hickenlooper.  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       That is correct.  For about 7:30.  Over.

      

CROWN:        7:30 at the White House?  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       7:30 in the Cabinet Room.  Over.

      

CROWN:        Tell the President that the Cabinet Room is

                                    under rearrangement, but the Oval Room will be

                                    ready.  Over.

      

 CLIFTON:      The Oval Room it will be.  No, you mean the

                                    Fish Room?

      

CROWN:        I mean both the Fish Room and the President's

                                    Study, and we will try to have the Cabinet

                                    Room, but that's a detail -- we can work that

                                    out.  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       This is Watchman.  He does not want to go into

                                    the Mansion or in the Oval Room or the

                                    President's Study or the President's Office. 

      

CROWN:        Correct.

      

CLIFTON:       If the Cabinet Room isn't ready, then have it

                                    in the Fish Room.  Over.

      

CROWN:        Right.  I have you -- I understand.  Always in

                                    the west wing.  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       That is correct.  Over.

      

CROWN:        I have nothing further.  Over.

      

CLIFTON:       This is Watchman.  Now please tell Duplex

                                    about the changes, so we don't confuse it.

                                    Duplex is Jerry Behn.  Over.

      

CROWN:        Right.  I will.

      

CLIFTON:       See you in a little while.  Over.

      

CROWN:        OK.

      

                                   ---

      

CROWN:        AF-1, this is Crown.

      

KILDUFF:       This is Warrior to Crown.  Warrior to Crown.

                                    Crown, are you reading?  Over.

      

CROWN:        Warrior, Warrior, this is Crown.  Loud and

                                    clear -- loud and clear.

      

KILDUFF:       Crown, hold one for a transmission from

                                    Witness.  [Again, it is possible that Kilduff

                                    meant to say "Watchman."]

      

WATCHMAN: This is Watchman.  Over.

      

               [There is lots of cross talk at this point]

      

AF-1:               AF-1, Andrews.  Give me another line to Crown,

                                    please.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, sir.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post, this is

                                    Sgt. Phillips [phonetic], sir.

      

ANDREWS:    This is Andrews [two garbled syllables].

                                    Would you get me Crown, please?

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Give you who, sir?  [pause]

                                    Hello, Andrews?

      

ANDREWS:    Yes?

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Who'd you wanna give a call?

      

ANDREWS:    Crown -- eh -- White House.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Just a moment.

      

CROWN:        White House.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger, stand by for AF-1.

      

CROWN:        Roger.

     

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Crown on, go ahead.

      

KILDUFF:       Warrior.  How you read, over?

      

CROWN:        AF-1, this is Crown.  You are loud and clear,

                                    go ahead.

      

KILDUFF:       White House -- eh -- Crown, this is Warrior.

                                    Will you get me another patch to Winner?

                                    Another patch to Winner?  Over.

      

CROWN:        Roger.  Stand by.  [pause]

      

ANDREWS:    Are you still standing by for Crown?

      

 KILDUFF:      Andrews, Andrews, this is AF-1 -- eh -- do I

                                    have that -- do I have that patch with Crown?

                                    Over.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  We're still standing by for

                                    Winner through Crown.

      

KILDUFF:       Would you repeat?

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, we are still standing by for Winner.

                                    We are still standing by for Winner.

      

KILDUFF:       That's a Roger.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.

      

KILDUFF:       Eh -- Crown, Crown, this is Warrior.  Over.

      

ANDREWS:    Warrior, Andrews.  Stand by.  Winner is still

                                    in another patch.  Winner is still in another

                                    patch.  I have a message for radio operator on

                                    AF-1.

      

KILDUFF:       Eh -- Crown, Crown.  Eh -- eh -- who is he

                                    running a patch with?  Over.

      

CROWN:        201.  [strange sound on line, transmission may

                                    have broken]

      

       ?:               Hello, Andrews?

      

ANDREWS:    Eh -- yes. 

      

       ?:               You're still connected with White House.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.  Could you ring them again for me?

      

       ?:               Ring them again?

      

ANDREWS:    Yes.

      

KILDUFF:       Warrior, Warrior.

      

CROWN:        Crown.

      

ANDREWS:    Crown, give them another call.

      

CROWN:        Warrior, Warrior, this is Crown.

      

KILDUFF:       Go ahead, Crown.

      

CROWN:        Warrior, we are having some difficulty in

                                    locating -- eh -- Winner.  Would you stand by,

                                    please?

      

KILDUFF:       That's a Roger, Crown.  This is Warrior.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.

      

                                   ---

                                    

                                 End Transcript

                           Tape Two -- Side One

                                    

                                   ---

                                   

              Air Force One radio traffic transcript 11/22/63

                                 Tape 2 Side 2

                 ------------------------------------------------

                                    

                             Begin Transcript

                           Tape Two -- Side Two

                                    

                                   ---

                                    

      

CROWN:        Warrior, this is Crown.  We are having some

                                    difficulty in locating Winner.  Would you

                                    stand by, please?

      

KILDUFF:       That's a Roger, Crown.  This is Warrior.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  [pause]  Andrews.

      

AF-1:               Andrews, AF-1.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, sir.  Could you give me a quick check

                                    on 9?

      

AF-1:               I'll just have to [covered?].

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, sir.  Standing by this end.

      

AF-1:               How 'bout bringing that 13 through Liberty

                                    [two garbled syllables] on the [one garbled

                                    syllable] and come back with it.

      

ANDREWS:    Eh--

      

SAM 86972:    This is Liberty.  Roger.  Stand by.

      

 AF-1:              OK.  And also, Andrews, how 'bout relaying our

                                    new block time of 2305z -- 2305 -- to Air

                                    Force Command Post and all concerned.  Go

                                    ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, sir.  Copied -- will do.

      

CROWN:        This is Crown, come in.

                                    [The tape has been edited at this point.

                                    There is nothing further on this side of the

                                    tape.]

       

                                   ---

                                    

                              End Transcript

                           Tape Two -- Side Two

                                    

                                   ---

                                     

                             Begin Transcript

                          Tape Three -- Side One

                                    

      

AF-1:               AF-1, a check.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Loud and clear.

      

AF-1:               Gimme Crown, please.  In a hurry.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.  Stand by.

      

CROWN:        Hello, Andrews?

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, is this Crown?

      

CROWN:        Roger.

      

ANDREWS:    OK, stand by, AF-1.  [to AF-1]  AF-1, Andrews,

                                    give Crown a call.

      

AF-1:               Break Crown, AF-1.  Volunteer requesting a

                                    patch with Mrs. Rose Kennedy as soon as

                                    possible.  Go ahead.

      

CROWN:        Roger, understand.  Volunteer wants a patch

                                    with Mrs. Rose as soon as possible.

      

AF-1:               Mrs. Rose Kennedy, Roger.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  I'll work on that right away

                                    and also while I'm working on that could we

                                    have a confirmation, a confirmation, on

                                    earlier transmission from AF-1, stating that

                                    the commercial telephone service, I say again,

                                    commercial telephone service for the Johnson

                                    residence should be discontinued with a direct

                                    line to -- eh -- White House.  Do you Roger

                                    that?

      

AF-1:               Stand by, one.   We'll have to check it out.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  While you're checking that out,

                                    I'll work on the telephone call to Mrs. Rose

                                    Kennedy for Volunteer.  Stand by.

      

AF-1:               How 'bout this 13 with Liberty?

      

ANDREWS:    They're standing by.  Do you want to call now,

                                    sir?

      

AF-1:               OK.  We'll switch now to 13.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.

      

                                   ---

                                    

AF-1:               That is affirmative.  That is affirmative,

                                    confirmation on your request, go ahead.

      

CROWN:        White House, Roger.  That is affirmative,

                                    affirmative?

      

AF-1:               Affirmative.  You have it correct.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Stand by, stand by for the

                                    other party.

      

ANDREWS:    [relaying to AF-1]  The party Rogered for your

                                    message.  And they are standing -- and they

                                    advise you to stand by for your party.

      

AF-1:               Eh -- I do -- I have a patch into Crown, and I

                                    do not want it broken.

      

ANDREWS:    Sir, you are still in patch with Crown.

      

AF-1:               OK.  [pause -- to Crown]  AF-1, are you still

                                    on?

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger, please stand by.

      

AF-1:               Roger, standing by.

      

CROWN:        AF-1, AF-1, please stand by, we have Mrs. Rose

                                    Kennedy.

      

AF-1:               Stand by.

      

CROWN:        AF-1, have you got your party?  Go ahead.

      

AF-1:               Stand by one, please.  [pause]  Do you have

                                    her standing by?

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  I'm going to put Mrs. Rose

                                    Kennedy on the line now.

      

AF-1:               OK, Crown.  We're coming on now.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.

      

ROSE KENNEDY: Hello?  Hello?  Hello?  Hello?

      

CROWN:        Just a-- Just a moment, Mrs. Kennedy.

       

AF-1:               Just one moment now, please.  Mrs. Kennedy,

                                    are you on?

      

ROSE KENNEDY: Hello?

      

AF-1:               Stand by one, now, please.

      

CROWN:        AF-1, AF-1, AF-1 from Crown, come in.

      

AF-1:               Crown, this is AF-1, do you read us, over?

      

CROWN:        I'm reading you loud and clear.  I have Mrs.

                                    Kennedy standing by.  Are you ready with

                                    Volunteer?  Go ahead.

      

AF-1:               Yes, we are ready.  Can you put her on and

                                    I'll turn her over to him.  Over.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  She's coming on now.  [pause]

                                    AF-1 from Crown, Mrs. Kennedy on -- go ahead,

                                    please.

      

AF-1:               Hello Mrs. Kennedy, hello Mrs. Kenn--

      

ROSE KENNEDY: Yes?

      

AF-1:               --edy.  We are talking from--

       

ROSE KENNEDY: Yes?

      

AF-1:               --the airplane.  Can you hear us alright?

                                    Over.

      

ROSE KENNEDY: [to the side]  Thank-you.  [to AF-1]  Hello?

      

AF-1:               Yes, Mrs. Kennedy. I have Mr. Johnson for you

                                    here.

      

ROSE KENNEDY: Yes, thank you.

      

PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Mrs. Kennedy?

      

ROSE KENNEDY: Yes?

      

PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Mrs.--

      

ROSE KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. President.

      

PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I wish to God there was something that I

                                    could do, and I wanted to tell you that we

                                    were grieving with you.

      

ROSE KENNEDY: Yes.  Well, thank you, Mist-- thank you very

                                    much -- Thank you very much.  I know.  I know

                                    you loved Jack, and he loved you.

      

MRS. JOHNSON: Mrs. Kennedy, we feel like we've just had a--

      

ROSE KENNEDY: Yes.  Alright. 

      

MRS. JOHNSON: We -- eh -- we got (five unintelligible

                                    syllables) had your son as long as you did.

      

ROSE KENNEDY: Yes.  Eh -- thank you, Lady Bird.  Thank you

                                    very much.  Good bye.

      

MRS. JOHNSON: [three garbled syllables -- maybe "Love and

                                    _____"?]

ROSE KENNEDY: Thank you very much.  Good bye.  Good bye.

                                    Good bye.  [through the three "good bye"s it

                                    sounds as though Mrs. Johnson might be trying

                                    to talk at the same time, but is being cut out

                                    by Mrs. Kennedy.]

      

                                   ---

                                    

KILDUFF:       Crown, Crown, this is Warrior.  I think that

                                    patch is over.  Is that a Roger?  Over.

      

CROWN:        That is a Roger, Warrior, that is a Roger.

                                    Mrs. Kennedy has hung up.  Go 'head.

      

KILDUFF:       Crown, now would you give me that patch to --

                                    eh -- Walter Jenkins in President Johnson's

                                    Office?  Over.

CROWN ;       Roger, stand by one. 

      

KILDUFF:       And -- eh -- Crown, get somebody to come up on

                                    the Charlie set?, please.

      

SAM 86972:    Liberty, Andrews, AF-1.  Are you on 9?

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, sir, you are loud and clear.  I still

                                    have [three garbles syllables] standing by for

                                    Warrior.

      

SAM 86972:    OK, eh, bring him up on 9, please.

      

ANDREWS:    Eh, Roger, sir.  Stand by one.

                                    Eh, Crown, go ahead and give AF-1 a call now.

      

  CROWN:      AF-1, AF-1, this is Crown, come in.

      

 AF-1:              Eh, Crown--  [transmission broken]

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Crown is on, go ahead. [pause]

                                    AF-1, AF-1, Andrews.  Crown is on, would you

                                    give him a call, please.

      

KILDUFF:       Crown, this is Warrior, this is Warrior.  Do

                                    you read me?  Over.

CROWN:        Roger, Warrior, this is Crown.  Stand by,

                                    stand by for Winner.  Go 'head.

KILDUFF:       That's a Roger, Crown.  You are loud and

                                    clear.  [long pause]

      

CROWN:        Warrior, Warrior, Winner is on, go ahead.

      

KILDUFF:       Winner, this is Warrior, do you read me?

                                    Over.

      

HATCH:          I read you.

      

KILDUFF:       Winner -- that, eh, meeting -- that first

                                    meeting will be Bundy and McNamara only.  The

                                    President will meet with Rusk when he returns,

                                    even though its probably going to be a

                                    different -- will be a different -- eh, will

                                    be a different meeting.

      

HATCH:          I read you.

      

KILDUFF:       Did you read that, Winner?

      

HATCH:          Yes, yes.

      

KILDUFF:       Crown, Crown, this is Warrior, do you read

                                    me?  Over.

      

HATCH:          Yes I do, Warrior.  I read you.

      

KILDUFF:       Andy would you flash back the board.  I

                                    need Crown back again.  I need Crown back

                                    again.  Over.

      

HATCH:          Yes, over and out.  And I'll flash the board.

      

ANDREWS:    Crown.  [long pause]  Crown?

      

CROWN:        Roger.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, eh, give AF-1 a call please.

      

CROWN:        AF-1, AF-1, this is Crown, come in.  [pause]

                                    AF-1, AF-1, this is Crown, come in.

      

KILDUFF:       Crown, Crown, this is Warrior.  Do you read

                                    me?  Over.

      

CROWN:        Eh, Warrior, this is Crown, Roger.  You are

                                    [two unclear syllables].  Go ahead.

      

KILDUFF:       Will you get me a patch with Walter Jenkins in

                                    President Johnson's Office.  Over.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Warrior, stand by.

      

KILDUFF:       Kill this call -- kill this call.  I think

                                    that we are overlapping on another call.

                                    Over.

      

CROWN:        Roger.

      

                                   ---

                                    

KILDUFF:       Warrior, I mean, Crown -- this is Warrior is

                                    AF-1.  Go ahead.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  On your request for Jenkins, he

                                    is on route to Andrews.  On route to your

                                    destination.  Go ahead.

KILDUFF:       That's a Roger, Crown.  I'll pass that word

                                    on. 

      

                                   ---

      

AF-1:               Alright, AF-1.  Volunteer would like a patch

                                    to the Governor Connally.  The current

                                    Governor Connally of Texas -- eh -- Mrs.

                                    Connally.  That's the Governor's wife, go

                                    ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    Volunteer would like a patch with Mrs.

                                    Connally, Governor Connally's wife.  Do you --

                                    Is that a Roger?

      

AF-1:               That's a Roger.

      

 ANDREWS:   Roger, Roger, stand by one. 

      

AF-1:               Still standing by for the Connally call.

      

ANDREWS:    Eh, Roger, Roger.  We have Dallas on the line

                                    and they are trying to contact her now.  Stand

                                    by, please.

      

AF-1:               Roger, Roger, standing by.

      

                                   ---

      

CROWN:        [beginning of call cut off by editing] ...from

                                    Crown, come in.

      

SAM 86972:    Air Force Liberty, loud and clear.  47.  Do

                                    you have a receiver [one garbled syllable],

                                    sir?

     

CROWN:        Roger, Roger, that's right.  Stand by one.

                                    Crown to AF-1.

      

CROWN:        [a different Crown operator] AF-1 from Crown.

                                    The Connally residence in Dallas is on the

                                    line -- is on the line and Mrs. Connally is

                                    available to speak with Mr. Johnson if he can

                                    get to the phone patch, go ahead.

      

AF-1:               Roger.  He wants specifically to speak with

                                    her.  Go ahead.

      

CROWN:        Roger.  Stand by, just a moment.  [pause]

                                    AF-1, AF-1, from Crown.  Would you put

                                    Volunteer on please?  Mrs. Connally is on the

                                    line, standing by for his call. 

      

AF-1:               AF-1.

      

MRS. JOHNSON: (To Mrs. Connally) Nellie?  [pause]  Can you

                                    hear me?  [pause]  Heard some reassuring news

                                    over the TV.  We are up in the plane, yet, but

                                    the surgeon, speaking about John sounded so

                                    reassuring.  How about it?

      

MRS. CONNALLY: That report is true.  That was the surgeon

                                    that just got done operating on him.  John is

                                    going to be alright, we are almost certain,

                                    unless something unforeseen –

MRS. JOHNSON: Wait a minute, Nellie.  I can't hear you too

                                    well.  [two to four broken syllables lost]

      

ANDREWS:    Eh, Mrs. Johnson--

      

PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Nellie, can you hear me?

      

MRS. CONNALLY: Yes.

      

PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Listen, Darling, I know that -- that

                                    everything's going to be all right.  Is it?

      

MRS. CONNALLY: Its going to be alright.

      

PRESIDENT JOHNSON: God bless you, Darling.

      

MRS. CONNALLY: The same to you.

      

 PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Give him a hug and kiss for me.

MRS. CONNALLY: Good luck.

      

PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Good bye.

      

MRS. CONNALLY: Good bye.

      

Throughout this call is the sound of a television set in the background.  There are the voices of commentators, sometimes raising their voices to be heard over the sounds of a crowd.  It is impossible to discern anything identifying what is being watched.

                                    

                                   ---

                                    

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews -- go ahead, Crown.

      

AF-1:   Roger, we have another nickel on the return

                                    from you -- or is that down the line?

      

ANDREWS:    I believe that's down the line, sir.  But

                                    Crown is on, give them a call.

      

AF-1:               [garbled response]

      

CROWN:        AF-1, Crown, go ahead.

      

AF-1:               Roger, that completes us for now.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  If you could stand by, AF-1, if

                                    you could stand by, we have several people

                                    that would like to talk to you.  Can you stand

                                    by?

      

AF-1:   Roger -- go ahead.

      

CROWN:        Eh, Roger.  [pause--unintelligible voices in

                                    background]  AF-1?

      

 AF-1:  Roger, AF-1, go ahead.

      

CROWN:        Stand by one.

      

AF-1:   Roger.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post.

      

AF-1:   Go ahead, Command Post, AF-1.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: 373 departed at 2141z.

      

AF-1:   [very heavy static on line -- AF-1's response

                                    not intelligible.]

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger, what is complete [garbled].

                                    AF-1, did you copy?

      

AF-1:   Roger.  And who is this information to go to?

                                    Go ahead.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Say again?

      

AF-1:   Roger.  Who is this information to be passed

                                    to.  Go ahead.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: AF-1, AF-1, this is Air Force

                                    Command Post, over.

      

AF-1:   Command Post, AF-1.  I read you loud and

                                    clear.  I understand 373 departed at 2141, who

                                    did you wish to notify about this.  Go ahead.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Didn't you request the time of

                                    departure on this aircraft -- the one with the

                                    Presidential cars on board?

      

AF-1:   Roger.  We'll pass that.  I don't know where

                                    it goes now.  Thank you.

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger.

      

                                   ---

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Go ahead.

      

AF-1:               OK.  Would you call SAM Command Post and have

                                    them -- to -- eh -- request two -- eh four Air

                                    Police meet the airplane.  We want two in the

                                    front of the airplane and two in the rear.  Go

                                    ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Understand you are requesting

                                    two staff cars -- two -- eh -- staff cars with

                                    Air Police.  Two in the front and two in the

                                    rear.  Is that correct?

      

AF-1:               Negative on the cars -- just the Air Police.

                                    We want security guards.  We want four of

                                    them.  Two at each door of the airplane.  Go

                                    ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews, Roger.  Will advise SAM.

      

AF-1:               Roger.  Thank you.

      

                                   ---

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  AF-1, AF-1 from Crown.  [pause]

                                    AF-1, AF-1, AF-1 from Crown.  Come in.

      

AF-1:               Crown, AF-1.  Go ahead.

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Stand by for a patch from

                                    Tanker, Tanker.

      

AF-1:               Roger.

      

CROWN:        AF-1, AF-1, AF-1 from Crown.  Come in.

      

AF-1:               AF-1, Crown, go ahead.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Stand by for a patch from

                                    Tanker, Tanker.

      

AF-1:               Roger.

      

CROWN:        AF-1, AF-1.  Tanker on the line.  Go ahead,

                                    Tanker.

      

COOK:            Hello Angel, hello Angel.  May I speak with

                                    Watchman or Tiger.  Watchman or Tiger.  Over.

      

AF-1:               Roger.  Watchman is busy at the present time

                                    on another circuit.  Stand by for Tiger.

      

COOK:                        Standing by for Tiger.

      

SWINDAL:     Tiger -- how do you read.  Over.

      

COOK:            Five by five, Tiger.  Five by five.  I have

                                    been informed from Dallas that is was desired

                                    that the aircraft be parked in an isolated

                                    spot when you arrive here.  However, Watchman

                                    had a long discussion with Behn and nothing

                                    about that was mentioned.  And the present

                                    plan on the ground here is to spot you in the

                                    regular place unless Watchman says now that

                                    this is not desired.  Over.

      

SWINDAL:     I believe that they are parking in the

                                    regular place, Tanker.  Where did you get that

                                    information from down in Dallas?  Over.

      

COOK:            It was from the USAF Command Post agent there

                                    and I understood from him that you had told

                                    him to do this.  Over.

      

SWINDAL:     We told you to look into that, and in the

                                    excitement to see if the family had ordered it

                                    done.  We were going to discuss it in flight.

       

COOK:            I see.

      

SWINDAL:     Go ahead with the present plan and park in the

                                    regular place.  And I asked [garbled name] to

                                    get in touch with you and pass some

                                    instructions to him.  And we need steps in the

                                    right front of the aircraft, the press box

                                    will be on the left of the aircraft, and

                                    President Johnson will deplane at the front of

                                    the aircraft.  And we need a fork-lift at the

                                    rear of the aircraft.  Lace will deplane on

                                    the right front.  Over.

      

COOK:            Understand, Tiger.  Understand those

                                    instructions.  They have all been carried

                                    out.  We will continue with the plan to spot

                                    you in the regular place.  There will be a

                                    ramp left front, a ramp right front, a

                                    fork-lift left rear, the Press area left

                                    front.  Over.

      

SWINDAL:     [garble] We'll keep in touch.

      

COOK:            Roger.  Thank you and out.

      

                                   ---

      

ANDREWS:    Crown?

      

CROWN:        [garble] that patch give AF-1 a call any time

                                    you want.

      

ANDREWS:    Eh, Roger.

      

CROWN:        AF-1, AF-1, AF-1 from Crown.

      

AF-1:               Crown, AF-1, go ahead.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Could you pass this to Wing.

                                    Pass this to Wing.  That on his message to

                                    Slugger.  Message to Slugger.  Slugger was

                                    still in Dallas, still in Dallas and has been

                                    advised to contact Wing as soon as he possibly

                                    can.

      

AF-1:               Roger.  AF-1 copy.  Will pass.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Crown out for now.  Do you have

                                    anything further AF-1?

      

AF-1:               Roger, stand by one.  We'll have another patch

                                    from Warrior.

      

      

                                   ---

      

ANDREWS:    Crown?

      

CROWN:        Crown on.

      

ANDREWS:    Yes, give AF-1 a call.

      

CROWN:        AF-1, Crown.  Go ahead.

      

AF-1:               OK, I need Capital 4-3121 extension 493.  I'll

                                    talk to anyone there.

      

CROWN:        Say again?  It was Capital 4-3291 extension

                                    493?

      

AF-1:               That's 4-3121 extension 493.

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger.  Understand.  Anyone in

                                    particular there?

      

AF-1:               Roger.  Anyone at that number.

      

CROWN:        Roger.  Stand by.  [pause]  AF-1, AF-1 from

                                    Crown.  Was that extension 493?

      

AF-1:               That is affirmative.  Congressman Thomas'

                                    office.

      

CROWN:        Say again the Congressman's name, as they say

                                    they have no such extension.

      

AF-1:               Congressman Thomas.  Tango -- Hotel -- Oscar

                                    -- Mike -- Alva -- [garbled -- probably the

                                    equivalent for "S"]

      

CROWN:        Roger, Roger, stand by.  [pause]  Congressman

                                    Thomas' office on the line.

      

AF-1:               Roger.  This is the airplane.  The Congressman

                                    is requesting that you place his door keys

                                    under the doormat of his residence.  Go ahead.

      

CONGRESSMAN THOMAS' OFFICE: Oh.  OK.  Hello?

      

AF-1:               Hello, did you hear me?

      

CONGRESSMAN THOMAS' OFFICE: There will be someone at his

                                    residence.

      

AF-1:               I understand the house will be open.  And

                                    someone will be in the residence.  Is that

                                    correct?  [pause]  Hello?  I understand that

                                    the house will be occupied.  That someone will

                                    be home.  Is that right?

      

CROWN:        AF-1, this is Crown, that is a Roger.  She

                                    said that there will be someone at the

                                    residence.

AF-1:               OK.  Fine, Crown.   Thank you very much.

      

CROWN:        Roger.  Crown out.

      

                                   ---

      

AF-1:               Andrews.  Would you check on the current

                                    temperature there when you get a moment?

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.

      

AF-1:               The last message I got was query as to whether

                                    Volunteer was aboard.  Go ahead.

ANDREWS:    Roger.  Just a moment.  [pause -- to the

                                    side]  What is the temperature here at

                                    Andrews?

      

ANDREWS WEATHER: The present temperature is 64 degrees.

      

ANDREWS:    OK.  What will the forecast be about 2300?

      

ANDREWS WEATHER: 2300? 

      

 ANDREWS:   Yea.

      

ANDREWS WEATHER: Local?

      

ANDREWS:    Zulu time.

      

ANDREWS WEATHER: Oh.  Zulu?

      

ANDREWS:    Yea.

      

ANDREWS WEATHER: Let's see that'd be -- oh -- make that 62.

      

ANDREWS:    60 degrees?  Thank you very much.

ANDREWS WEATHER: 62! 

      

ANDREWS:    62.

      

ANDREWS WEATHER: Yea.

ANDREWS:    Yea, got it.

      

                                   ---

                                     

    Note - a short, garbled, static and cross talk covered exchange has not been transcribed.

      

                                   ---

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.

      

AF-1:               AF-1, go ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    Eh, Roger.  Present temperature is 64

                                    degrees.  2300 forecast is 62 degrees.

      

AF-1:               Roger.  Thank you.

      

ANDREWS:    Yes, sir.

      

                                   ---

      

AF-1:               This is AF-1.  Would you get me the Command

                                    Post, please?

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, sir.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post, Sgt.

                                    Phillips [phonetic], sir.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, Andrews [two garbled syllables], I have

                                    AF-1 for a patch.

      

 AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger, stand by.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Go ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, stand by for AF-1.  AF-1, Andrews.

                                    Command Post on.  Go ahead.

      

AF-1:   Roger, Command Post, AF-1.  We checked earlier

                                    with 2242, presently descending.  Estimated

                                    block time remains 2305.  Go ahead.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger.  AF-1, Command Post, out.

      

                                   ---

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  I have Crown on.  Give them a

                                    call, please.

      

AF-1:   Break Crown, AF-1.  Go ahead.

CROWN:        Roger, AF-1, stand by.  [to the side]  Go

                                    ahead.  [to AF-1]  Stand by, he's on the other

                                    -- he's on the [cherry pin?] right now.

      

       ?:               Its very important.

      

CROWN:        Who's calling, please?

      

       ?:                           [three garbled syllables -- a name?] ...in

                        Dallas.

      

CROWN:        OK.  Stand by one.  [long pause]

      

AF-1:               This is AF-1.  Warrior advises unable to speak

                                    with you at the present time and asks you to

                                    please call White House in about thirty

                                    minutes.  Go ahead.

      

       ?:               That's a Roger.  Out.

      

AF-1:               Roger.

      

                                   ---

                                    

AF-1:   Andrews, AF-1.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews, go ahead.

      

AF-1:   Roger.  Would you give me SAM Command Post.

                                    please?

      

ANDREWS:    Yes sir.

      

SAM COMMAND POST: SAM Command Post, Sgt. [Brent?].

      

ANDREWS:    Roger,  Andrews [two garbled syllables] I have

                                    AF-1 for a patch.

      

SAM COMMAND POST: OK, go ahead.

      

ANDREWS:    Roger.  [to AF-1]  AF-1, Andrews.  SAM Command

                                    Post on, go ahead.

      

AF-1:               Roger.  Do you have an ETA on the C-130 with

                                    the vehicles?

      

SAM COMMAND POST: Negative, sir.  Haven't heard a thing

                                    from 'em, sir.  Over.

      

AF-1:               OK.  Alright, thank you. 

      

SAM COMMAND POST: We'll check it out.

      

                                   ---

      

ANDREWS:    Air Force Command Post, please.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post, Sgt.

                                    Phillips [phonetic], sir.  

      

ANDREWS:    Roger, this is [two garbled syllables], I have

                                    AF-1 for a patch.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger.  Stand by for AF-1.

      

ANDREWS:    Go 'head, Andrews.  AF-1.

      

AF-1:   Roger, Command Post.  AF-1 landed Andrews at

                                    2300.

      

AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger.  Air Force Command Post,

                                    out.

      

AF-1:   Andrews, make it 04, please.

      

ANDREWS:    AF-1, Andrews.  Roger.  On the blocks at 04.

                                    Have a good day, sir.

      

AF-1:   OK, thank you.

      

                                   ---

      

                              End Transcript

                             Tape 3 -- Side 1

                                    

                                   ---

                                   ---

                                    

                              End Transcript

                                    of

                              Radio Traffic

                              22 November 63

                                    

                                   ---