Transcript of Key Air Force One Radio Conversations From November 22, 1963

(This Is a Partial Transcript, With the Primary Focus on the Forthcoming JFK Autopsy, and Related Events.)
[Conversations not included in this transcript include communications chatter regarding setting up radio patches; weather reports; introductory conversations between SAM 86972 and Crown announcing JFKs wounding and death by reading wire service reports; and LBJs evolving plans to meet with various officials upon arrival in Washington, D.C.]

Prepared by Douglas P. Horne

Formerly the Chief Analyst for Military Records, Assassination Records Review Board

(Completed March 3, 2012)

Introduction

In the decade of the 1970s, the LBJ Library released an edited and condensed recording of the Air Force One radio conversations with the ground on November 22, 1963, the day of President Kennedys assassination. [The tape left the White House late in 1968 or early in 1969 with all of the other LBJ Presidential papers and recordings, and its accession card with the LBJ Library is dated 1975.] The oral preamble to that recording admitted that the tape had been edited and condensed. Since the principal subject discussed on the tape was the forthcoming autopsy on President Kennedy---where it was to be performed, and how the body was to be transported to that site---there was a considerable amount of interest in the recording. Researchers and historians all wondered if they would ever be able to listen to the unedited version of the recordings. David Lifton published some of the key passages from the LBJ Library version of the Air Force One recordings in his 1981 book about the JFK medical evidence, Best Evidence. I served on the staff of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) from August of 1995 through September of 1998. It was a primary goal of the ARRB to locate the unedited, complete recording of the Air Force One conversations. In spite of our best efforts, we could not stimulate any interest in finding the original recordings in either the White House Communications Agency (WHCA), or the U.S. Air Force. The U.S. Air Force and WHCA claimed they could find no such recordings. Early in our search for the unedited tapes, I was assigned to review the LBJ Library Air Force One tapes at the National Archives. I wrote a 7-page staff memorandum (dated October 17, 1995) about the contents of the tapes; it can be accessed today in the JFK Records Collection at Archives II in College Park, Maryland. I also wrote about the Air Force One tapes in volume V of my 2009 book, Inside the Assassination Records Review Board, on pages 1660-1664. Many other authors and researchers have written about the tapes in their own books, and on their own websites. In November of 2011, the Raab Collection announced that it had purchased a longer version of the Air Force One recording from the estate of the late U.S. Army General Chester V. Clifton, who served as Military Aide to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Although the Raab Collection announced that it was intent upon selling the reel-to-reel tape recording purchased from the Clifton estate for $500,000.00, it also announced that its recording had already been professionally digitized, and promised it would soon donate this digitized recording to the National Archives. The digital recording of the new Clifton version of the Air Force One tapes is now available, for free, from a joint GPO-NARA website. The new Clifton version of the Air Force One conversations is two hours and twenty-two minutes long, about twenty seven minutes longer than the LBJ Library version (which is approximately one hour and fifty-five minutes long). Generally speaking, the sound quality of
2

the digital Clifton version is far superior to the LBJ Library recordings released on audiocassette years previously. [The deep bass rumble of the aircrafts jet engines, for example, has been significantly reduced, and is essentially gone.] The Clifton version can be downloaded from the GPO-NARA website in the form of two MP3 files, designated side 1 and side 2. Side 1 is 70.1 MB in size, and side 2 is 66.3 MB in size. With one exception (discussed below), all of my transcript was derived from the longer, Clifton version, and the times listed in red next to the beginning (and end) of many passages refer to the location of those passages on either side 1, or side 2, of the Clifton version MP3 recordings released by NARA. The only exception to this is the oral preamble, or introduction, to the LBJ Library version, presumably spoken by a member of the U.S. armed forces working for the White House Communications Agency. That LBJ Library preamble is reproduced verbatim below, for historical purposes. (Note: even though it is not present on the Clifton version of the Air Force One conversations, its absence is not conclusive evidence that the Clifton version is the complete, unedited, original version of the Air Force One conversations with the ground on November 22, 1963. See pages 1660-1664 of Inside the ARRB for an explanation of why the pristine, original Air Force One tapes should be much longer than the 2 hours and 22 minutes present on the Clifton recording.) The LBJ Library introduction follows: Unknown Speaker: The following recording has been reproduced from ground recorded nonhigh-fidelity tape used to record [fax? patch?] communications between aircraft and air-ground facilities. This tape, although used 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 26000 is used at all other times. This tape has been edited and condensed to only contain pertinent communications relative to events during 22nd November, 1963. Only material available from radio circuits used is available.

The remainder of this transcript is taken from the longer, Clifton version of the recording.

Side 1, Clifton Version

Crown1 (32:21): SAM 26000: Duplex2: Digest3: Duplex: Digest: Duplex: Digest: Duplex: Digest: Duplex: Digest: Duplex: Digest: Duplex:

26000, ah, Duplex is on, go ahead. [garbled] Standby one. Hello? OK. Jerry? Hello? [garbled]in here now, ah, were at the airport, 26000, everybody aboard. OK, go ahead. Were waiting for the swearing-in at the plane before takeoff. Of the---thats of Volunteer4? Roger. Say again, Roy, say again. We are waiting for judge to appear for swearing-in. That is for Volunteer, is that right? Yes, we are having [garbled] before we take off, Jerry. Thats affirmative. Do you have any idea yet what, ah, Lace5 wants to do and what Volunteer wants to do on their arrival here?

Crown was the WHCA codename for the White House Situation Room, in the West Wing of the White House. Duplex was the WHCA codename for SAIC Gerald Behn, Head of the Secret Service White House Detail.

Digest was the WHCA codename for ASAIC Roy Kellerman, who was the Secret Service agent in charge of physical security for the Texas trip. He was riding in the right front seat of the Presidential limousine during the assassination.
4

Volunteer was the WHCA codename for Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Lace was the WHCA codename for First Lady Jacqueline B. Kennedy.

Digest:

No. I will call you back. Suggest---we have a 2 hour 15 flight into Andrews. We have a full plane of at least 40. OK, go ahead. Ill have to call you again after the, ah, body. However, Im sure the, ah, Volunteer boys will go over his car and so forth. We will need [garbled] and several others. All right, let me know what Volunteer wants to do when they, ah, land, if they want to come into Crown by, ah, helicopter. Thats a roger, Ill call you again. OK. (33:12)

Duplex: Digest:

Duplex:

Digest: Duplex:

AF1 (35:40): Command Post: AF1:

Ah, Command Post, Air Force One. How do you read? Roger sir, go ahead. [static] Dallas at 2047 Zulu and will call in a couple of minutes with, ah, block time for Andrews.6 Do you have your approximate block time, sir? Id say that itll be, ah, two plus one zero, Red. Two plus one zero, and do you have any passengers onboard? Roger, full load, 40 plus. And, and [is] Mrs. Kennedy onboard?

Command Post: AF1: Command Post: AF1: Command Post:

6

Air Force One appears to have just taken off from Love Field in Dallas, Texas, and is giving its actual takeoff time in Zulu time, or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which was (and still is) the standard for all military communications. Andrews, of course, refers to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, south of Washington, D.C. Andrews AFB was the permanent home of SAM 26000, the Presidential aircraft, and was the landing site whenever the destination was Washington, D.C. After an aircraft comes to a complete stop it is put on the blocks---blocks, or chocks, are literally placed around its tires, to prevent it from moving. In Air Force parlance, block time is the formal designation for the end of an aircrafts journey. Because an aircraft has to taxi after landing until it reaches its assigned berth, the block time is usually a few minutes after touchdown, or time on the ground.

AF1: Command Post: AF1:

Affirmative. Pardon? Ill call you back, Command Post.

Command Post (36:36): AF1: Command Post:

Air Force One, SAM Command Post, go ahead. Ah, roger, roger---you called me, go ahead please. Sergeant, this is Colonel Hornbuckle in operations, we have request from, ah, Chief [of] Staffs office7 to know if you have, ah, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Kennedys body aboard? Standby one. Ah, OK, ah, Air Force One, affirmative on, ah, all those questions, go ahead. Roger, thank you very much, out. (36:09)

AF1:

Command Post:

Command Post (37:31): AF1: Command Post:

7

Ah, 26000, 26000, SAM8 Command Post. Ah, SAM Command, Air Force One, go ahead please. Ah, roger, roger, Air Force One. Are you airborne at present, are you airborne at present?

The Chief of Staff clearly refers to Air Force Chief of Staff Curtis LeMay. General LeMay was in Canada on the day of the assassination, in or near Toronto, for reasons unknown. The evidence for this is the Chuck Holmes Logbook passed to the ARRB by an Air Force civil servant who said he rescued the logbook from the trash. The log th records the content of conversations between the 1254 Air Transport Wing Command Post at Andrews AFB, and various aircraft on special air missions, and details how one special air mission was sent to Canada to pick up General LeMay on the day of the assassination. A recent biography of General LeMay, by Warren Kozak, incorrectly states on page 356 that LeMay was on a hunting trip in Michigan when he learned of JFKs assassination. LeMay: The Life and Wars of General Curtis LeMay, was published in 2009. The Chuck Holmes Logbook was released to the general public by the National Archives in the autumn of 1998.
8

SAM is an Air Force acronym that stands for special air mission. It is normally used in conjunction with the tail number of an individual aircraft, such as SAM 26000 or SAM 86972.

AF1:

Affirmative, airborne at 2047, twenty forty seven; estimated time on the blocks Andrews 2305, go ahead. Ah, roger, roger, understand. Departed at 2047, estimated time of arrival Andrews 2305, is that Charlie?9 That is Charlie.

Command Post:

AF1:

Command Post (38:41):

Air Force One, this is the Air Force Command Post. request the names of the passengers onboard, please. Ah, we have 40 plus, go ahead. Forty people, is that affirmative? Affirmative.

If possible,

AF1: Command Post: AF1: Command Post: AF1:

Can you tell me, in regard to, ah, 1 and 2, or ah, the top people? Ah, roger, ah, the President is onboard; the body is onboard; and ah, Mrs. Kennedy is onboard. All right, can you tell---confirm once again your takeoff time and your estimated time of arrival Andrews? 2047 takeoff time, Andrews 2305. Ah, roger, thank you. This is the Air Force Command Post, out.

Command Post:

AF1: Command Post:

AF1 (40:51):
9

Ah, Crown, Air Force One.

The use of repeat back procedures was, and still is, common in military communications. It is a simple but effective way to confirm that the listener received the senders message accurately, and is particularly important in situations where the radio communications are tenuous and not crystal clear, which was the case on November 22, 1963. The quality of the radio communications between the various parties and Air Force One on 11/22/63 varied greatly throughout the 2 hour, 17 minute flight from Love Field to Andrews AFB. Charlie is military radio slang for correct.

Crown: AF1:

Ah, this is Crown, go ahead. Sir, we need a patch with, ah, Surgeon General of the Army Heaton, go ahead. Ah, please repeat the message, over. Ah, roger, we want a patch with General Heaton, ah, H-E-A-T-O-N, the, ah, Surgeon General, go ahead. Ah, roger, roger---General Heaton, the Surgeon General of the Army, over? Ah, that is correct. Ah, roger, roger---standby. Air Force One, Crown, ah, standby please, we are reaching the General now, over.

Crown: AF1:

Crown:

AF1: Crown:

Crown (43:17):

Ah, Air Force One, this is Crown, ah, you were cut out. Ah, General Heaton is at Walter Reed Hospital; youll have to standby just a moment or else let me call you back when I get him on the line---itll take about a minute to reach him. Ah, Air Force One, Crown, do you roger,10 over? Ah, Crown, roger. If ah, ah, try to get General Heaton and in the meantime try to get the, ah, Deputy Surgeon General; we will talk to either one, go ahead. Ah, this is Crown, roger. Ah, will you standby or have me call you back, over? Roger, this is very important. Ah, roger, Ill put an emergency on it, well get him as soon as possible. Stand by. Roger, roger.

AF1:

Crown:

AF1: Crown:

AF1:

10

In military communications parlance, roger means I understand, or I received your message clearly.

Crown (44:13): Burkley: Crown: Burkley: Crown:

Ah, Air Force One, Crown. Roger, standby for a message. This is Dr. Burkley, [garbled]. Ah, Dr. Burkley--Did you hear? Ah, Dr. Burkley, this is Crown, ah, youre cutting out, youre cutting out, youll have to repeat, over. This [is] Dr. Burkley.11 I want to get in touch with General Heaton or General Heatons deputy. Ah, Dr. Burkley, this is Crown. Ah, were working as fast as possible trying to get the call through for you. He is at Walter Reed, were unable to locate, were still searching, over. Ah, the Deputy must be at the Generals office over in the main Navy building. Ah, roger, roger. If youll stand by well try and reach him.

Burkley:

Crown:

Burkley:

Crown:
11

Rear Admiral George G. Burkley, Medical Corps, U.S. Navy, was the Military Physician to President Kennedy. Early in the administration he did not hold a favored place at the White House, and was eclipsed by Dr. Janet Travell, JFKs private physician. Eventually he rose somewhat in prominence, and Dr. Travells influence waned. Burkley was convinced that Dr. Travell was administering too many procaine injections to JFK to combat his chronic back pain, and that as a result JFKs back muscles were beginning to atrophy, and he was in danger of becoming a cripple who could not walk unaided. Burkley intervened in 1961 and insisted that President Kennedy be placed under the supervision of Dr. Hans Kraus, who placed JFK on a strict regimen of exercise to strengthen his back and abdominal muscles. Thereafter, Dr. Travells access to the President was limited. By the spring of 1962, Burkley and Kraus considered his general health to be excellent. Burkley was well aware of President Kennedys Addisons disease, and his many other ailments. RADM Burkley was the only physician who observed JFKs wounds at both Parkland Hospital, in Dallas, and at his autopsy, conducted at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Burkley stayed on after the assassination to serve President Lyndon Baines Johnson for his entire time in office as President, and was promoted by LBJ to Vice Admiral. Admiral Burkley told an oral historian that he had been in charge of JFKs autopsy, and Dr. Boswell, one of the two Navy pathologists who conducted JFKs autopsy, independently corroborated this when interviewed by the HSCA. Dr. James J. Humes, the chief prosector at the Bethesda autopsy (and Dr. Boswells superior in the chain-of-command), adamantly disagreed with this at his ARRB deposition. One HSCA deponent, Navy photographer Robert Knudsen, testified in 1978 that Dr. Burkley had played a key supervisory role in the developing and processing of President Kennedys autopsy photographs. The ARRB medical witness depositions revealed that many of the photographs taken at JFKs autopsy never made it into the official collection which now resides in the National Archives. Dr. Burkley was also the last known person to sign for, and handle, key skull bone fragments (the Harper fragment, and the Burros fragment) which were found in Dealey Plaza, and then flown to Washington, D.C.---bone fragments which are missing today.

Crown:

Roger, this is Crown, ah, you rogered. Well try to reach each one of them if youll stand by, please.12 All right, roger.

Burkley:

Crown (47:12): Digest:

Ah, roger, roger, Duplex is on the line, go ahead. Digest, Duplex13 AhJerryJerry, ah, arriving Andrews 8:05---6:05, rather. Thats affirmative. I receive, go ahead. [Much static]helicopter forJohnsons partythe South Lawn[followed by communications problems.]

Crown:

Duplex (48:28): Digest:

This is Duplex, this is Duplex. Six, aharrival Andrews, 6:05, stand byah, Walter Reed is supplying the ambulance for body to take to Walter Reed, over? Repeat please, repeat please. Walter Reed ambulance for body that will go to Walter Reed, over. Say again, say again. An ambulance from Walter Reed furnished to transport body, over. Arrangements have been made for a helicopter for the Bethesda Naval Medical Center, over. Standby, Jerry---ah, Ill have to get Burkley here. OK. [Heavy static here, followed by many communications problems.]

Duplex: Digest: Duplex: Digest: Duplex:

Digest: Duplex:

12

This statement was made by a different person than the preceding Crown statement. Roy Kellerman reversed the normal mode of radio speech here; he should have said, Duplex, *this is+ Digest.

13

10

Andrews (51:28): Burkley:

Air Force One, Andrews, Duplex is on, Duplex is on, sir. Duplex is on, this is Dr. Burkley. What arrangements have been made [in] regards to the reception of the President? The, everybody aboard Air Force One, everyone aboard Air Force One, 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, over. The body will be choppered or will go by ambulance to the Navy Medical Center? Will be choppered, will be choppered. I have called General Heaton and asked him to, ah, consult [with the], ah, Military District of Washington [with] regard to this. Will you call him and cancel the---supposed to have it go to Walter Reed, as, as we have spoken to him---I didnt know these arrangements were already made. Say again, say again, doctor. The body is in a casket, you know, and it will have to be taken by ambulance, and not by copter. All right, Ill tell Captain Shepard that. Would you take---Jerry, will you be sure and get in contact with [General] Heaton? [Much static, and communications problems follow.]

Duplex:

Burkley:

Duplex: Burkley:

Duplex: Burkley:

Duplex: Burkley:

Crown (54:20):

Ah, roger, I have General Heaton standing by. Ill put him on the line, over. Hello? Ah, Air Force One, Crown, Im putting General Heaton on the line, over. General Heaton? Ah, Air Force One, Crown, go ahead---General Heaton on the line. Hello?
11

Burkley: Crown: Burkley: Crown: Heaton:

Burkley: Heaton: Burkley: Heaton:

Hello, General Heaton? Yes? [garbled] General Heaton. General Heaton, this is Admiral Burkley. Yes, Burkley. [Communications problems follow.]

Burkley (55:17): Heaton: Burkley:

General Heaton, this is, ah, Dr. Burkley. Yes, Burkley. [garbled]use the Military District of Washington in regards to the taking care of the remains of the, ah, President Kennedy and we ah, plan on having the President taken directly to Walter Reed, and, ah, probably Mrs. Kennedy will also be going out there, but we will clarify that later. Oh, all right. [Communications problems follow.]14

Heaton:

14

These two sections---beginning at times 54:20 and 55:17 on the Clifton tapes---are not present on the LBJ Library version of the Air Force One tapes. They appear as if they might be out of sequence here---that is, as if they should have preceded the segment of conversation between Burkley and Duplex beginning at time 51:28 on the Clifton tapes. In that segment of conversation, beginning at 51:28, Burkley tells Behn that he has called General Heaton (past tense) and says he has already asked Heaton to consult with the Military District of Washington about performing the JFK autopsy at Walter Reed. It makes no sense, therefore, when just a few minutes later on the Clifton recording, Burkley introduces himself to Heaton as if speaking for the first time that day, and asks him to do just that: to consult with the Military District of Washington about a Walter Reed autopsy. It is as if those who were editing together the Clifton recording screwed up---royally---and reversed the sequence of two conversations. This appears to be strong evidence that the Clifton recording is not an unbroken, linear recording---that is, proof that it is NOT the unedited, pristine original Air Force One recording that the media has portrayed it to be. This internal inconsistency is therefore quite damning---evidence that the Clifton tape was itself apparently constructed from a different master. But this should be no surprise, since AF1 radio operator MSGT John C. Trimble, USAF, wrote in his after action report that he was operating three patches simultaneously for virtually the entire flight. The true master recording should consist of three separate tracks, or tapes (each approximately two hours long) recorded at Liberty, the Collins Radio station at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That facility was tasked with assisting, and recording, Presidential and government VIP in-flight communications. SAM 26000, the Presidential jet aircraft, became operational in 1962 with Collins Radio equipment installed, and at the same time in 1962, Liberty went online in Iowa, tasked with serving as a backup communications center, and with recording Presidential communications. *Researcher Bill Kelly is the source for information on Liberty.+

12

Heaton (56:27): Burkley: Clifton: Heaton: Clifton:

I read you, Admiral Burkley. Hold for a minute, please. [I have] General Clifton here. Ah, this is General Clifton. Yes, General Clifton. [conversation appears to be missing here]two: we do not want a helicopter for Bethesda Medical Center. We do want a [sic] ambulance and a ground return from Andrews to Walter Reed, and we want the regular, ah, post-mortem that has to be done by law, under guard, performed at Walter Reed. Is that clear, over? That is clear, General Clifton. You want an ambulance, and another, ah, limousine, at Andrews, and you want the, ah, regular post-mortem by law done at Walter Reed. That is correct. But not just[garbled, fadeout]

Heaton:

Clifton:

Clifton (58:25): Heaton: Clifton: Heaton:

General Heaton, this is Clifton, over. Yes, General Clifton. [This is] General Heaton. Hold on for a minute, over? Well then, Ill hold on. [Communications problems; patch cut.]

Burkley (1:00:00): Heaton: Burkley:

Hello, Jerry?15 General Heaton. What arrangements have you made?

15

Burkley is asking for Gerald (or Jerry) Behn here---the Chief of the Secret Service White House Detail---and is not using his WHCA codename Duplex, as he should be. Instead, he gets General Heaton again.

13

Heaton:

We have made, we have, ah, made no arrangements, but will follow through on what you just told me: an ambulance and a limousine at Andrews, and in regards to the post-mortem studies. Ah, would you---General Heaton, would you kindly hold---ah, [there have] been some arrangements already made---well have to clear that before we make any further. [apparent background chatter]a limousine and an ambulance at Andrews[fadeout, followed by communications problems]

Burkley:

Unknown voice:

Crown (1:01:08): Andrews: Crown:

Hello Andrews, this is Crown. Crown, go ahead. Ah, we have Captain Shepard16 here, who has also---I, evidently---who has made some arrangements on the ah, ah, funeral and so forth here in Washington and the, ah, bringing this body back and so forth. He, ah, would like to get on and talk to Air Force One when General Heaton is finished. It might be possible for us to put him up on a conference, ah, so that they could all make the arrangements together. I understand that, ah, Captain Shepard, the Naval Aide, has made some arrangements also. So, you might explain this to Air Force One and tell em that well try and put em on a conference if theyd like. OK, standby, well advise Admiral Burkley.

Andrews:

[Crown?] (1:02:20): [The following is back-chatter between unknown persons, picked up by a hot mike while Air Force One was not transmitting due to communications problems. The following snippets of conversation appear to be related to getting President Kennedys body to the autopsy site as soon as possible, and to the mode of transportation.]black car [fadeout, garbled]that Cadillac is the[garbled and faint conversation,
16

Captain Tazewell Shepard, U.S. Navy, was the Naval Aide to President Kennedy.

14

fadeout]black[?] [or that?] Cadillac[garbled, fadeout]Id get him out there anyway, regardless! And then get him out there [?anyway?] regardless, then maybe, then maybe[garbled, faint]black Cadillac17(1:03:13) [Use of a high quality set of headphones is strongly recommended here, at maximum volume. Only those words which I could identify with a high level of confidence have been transcribed here.]

Watchman (1:05:50): Ah, Duplex, Duplex, this is Watchman,18 over. Duplex: Watchman: Go ahead Watchman, this is Duplex, over. Ah, Duplex, this is Watchman. I understand that [you] have arranged[fadeout][mor]tuary-type of ambulance [garbled] take President Kennedy to Bethesda. Is this correct, over? Watchman, ah, theres been arranged to helicopter, helicopter, the body to Bethesda, over. Ah, this is Watchman. Thats, ah, OK if it isnt after dark. What about the First Lady, over? Everybody else aboard, everybody else aboard, arrangements have been made to helicopter into the South Grounds.

Duplex:

Watchman:

Duplex:

17

This last mention of Cadillac during the hot mike conversation is definitely the phrase BLACK CADILLAC. This is significant because HM1 Dennis David and the sailors he was supervising offloaded a cheap metal shipping casket from a hearse---a black Cadillac, mortuary-type ambulance---at the loading dock of the Bethesda morgue at 6:35 PM on November 22, 1963, thirty one minutes after Air Force One was on the blocks at Andrews, at 6:04 PM. Following the autopsy on JFK, Dr. Boswell confirmed to Dennis David that the casket he offloaded earlier that evening had indeed contained the body of President Kennedy. The official motorcade from Andrews AFB, in which a light-gray Navy ambulance carrying the bronze, ceremonial Dallas casket traveled, did not arrive at Bethesda Naval Hospital until 6:55 PM, twenty minutes after Dennis Davids working party delivered a shipping casket from the black Cadillac, mortuary-style ambulance (the hearse) to the morgue anteroom. A memorandum (his after action report about the performance of the Marine Barracks security detail), written by USMC Sergeant Roger Boyajian, on 11/26/1963, unambiguously and definitively records the time of arrival of the Presidents casket: 1835 hours local (in military time), or 6:35 PM, EST. This clearly marks the precise time of the shipping caskets arrival.
18

This is General Ted Clifton, Military Aide to the President, speaking. He has suddenly stopped using his own name and has reverted to the correct communications procedures, and is now using his WHCA codename.

15

Watchman:

[garbled and unclear]a helicopter operation will work when we have a very heavy casket, over. According to, ah, Witness,19 yes. This is Watchman. Ah, dont take a chance on that. Also, have a mortuary-type ambulance stand by in case the helicopter doesnt work. Thats affirmative. [garbled] Thats affirmative, I received. Now, some other instructions. Listen carefully. Ah, we need a ramp, a normal ramp put at, put at the front of the aircraft, on the right-hand side, just behind the pilots cabin, in the galley. We are going to take the First Lady off by that route, over. Do you understand? I receive, affirmative. All right. Also, at the right rear---no, no, the left rear, the left rear of the aircraft where we usually dismount, debark, we may need a forklift rather than a ramp [garbled] its too awkward. We may need a platform to walk out on and a forklift to put it on. It that possible, over? Say again, say again, Watchman. Ah, I say again. The casket is in the rear compartment and when--suggest, because it is so heavy, that we have a forklift, forklift back there, ah, to remove the casket. But if this is too awkward, we can go along with a normal ramp and several men, over. Affirmative, we will try for the forklift. Rog. Next item, ah, Duplex, next item. The, ah, press [ac]cording to Mrs. Johnson, the press is to have its normal little fence at Andrews field and he is going there by helicopter to the White House, over. Say again, Watchman, say again, please. Duplex, say again. [static] Watchman, this is

Duplex: Watchman:

Duplex: Watchman:

Duplex: Watchman:

Duplex: Watchman:

Duplex: Watchman:

Duplex:

Watchman:

The fence for the press, the normal little corral, itll have to be [at] the front of the aircraft, but thats where the, President Johnson will come off, OK?

19

Witness was the WHCA codename for Navy Captain Tazewell Shepard, Naval Aide to the President.

16

Duplex:

Watchman, this is Duplex, will you say that all over again, please? Youre breaking--Duplex, this is Watchman, I say again: at the right front, a ramp for Mrs. Ken[nedy]; at the left rear, if possible, a forklift for the casket; and on the left front, near the pilot, [a] normal ramp, [a] normal press arrangement [garbled], over? [communications problems, background chatter follow]

Watchman:

Watchman (1:10:02): Did everybody get that clear, over? Duplex: Watchman: That is affirmative. Hold one, Roy Kellerman would like to talk to you, over?

End of Side One

Side 2, Clifton Version

Duplex (3:52):

[After many communications problems]Go ahead, Digest, this is Duplex. Again, I repeat, three helicopters [to] transport people to the White House lawn, OK? That is affirmative. Roger, OK, White House 102 and 405-x for transportation to, ah, Navy Hospital, OK? That is affirmative. Thats a roger. Ah, I am keeping, ah, I will join Hill and his party at the Navy Hospital, OK? Digest, this is Duplex. You accompany the body aboard the helicopter. Rogerrequest---I was unable to, ah, get ahold of Payne and Bob Burke
17

Digest:

Duplex: Digest:

Duplex: Digest:

Duplex: Digest:

Duplex: Andrews: Digest: Duplex: Digest: Duplex: Digest: Duplex: Andrews: Duplex: Digest:

Go ahead, Im, a, receive. Air Force One, Andrews, go ahead, sir. This is Digest again, Duplex. Go ahead, Digest, this is Duplex. [faint]Payne and Burke at the Ranch, OK? Say again, Digest. [?still?] Payne [and] Burke were not notified. OK. Say again, sir. That is affirmative, Digest. OK, ah, Jerry, one more, ah, standby. OK, one more---[?Hubbards shift?] is on 6970. Right. Go ahead, Digest. Say again, sir. Go ahead, Digest. Repeat [garbled---Hubbard?] 6970, OK? Thats affirmative, I receive. Ah, do you have any questions? [Is] this enough? Ah, not at the moment; if we do well call back.

Duplex: Andrews: Duplex: Digest: Duplex: Digest: Duplex:

Digest (7:17):

Ah, standby, ah, I dont have anything, but I think they want the line open here.

18

Crown:

Ah, roger, Digest, this is Crown, I have Witness standing by.20

Crown (7:33):

Digest, Digest, Digest, this is Crown, come in. Ah, Digest, Digest, this is Crown, come in. Standby, Crown. Air Force , Air Force One, Andrews. Ah, Dagger to Crown; Dagger to Crown. Air Force One, Andrews---say again, go ahead, sir. Ah, Air Force One, Air Force One, this is Crown, come in. Ah, this is Dagger21 to Crown; I have traffic for Behn.

Andrews: Dagger: Andrews: Crown: Dagger:

Command Post (8:34):

[garbled] Air Force Command Post, Air Force Weather, were still waiting to bring up Air Force One; weve been waitin now for 15 minutes, whats up? Right, sir, were running two patches at one time to the White House, and theyre real busy, we cant get through to em. Theyre making, ah, arrangements to take the body off, and everything else. Let me patch you into Air Force Weather, so youll knowhell know Right, I already told him that earlier. Go ahead, Dick.

Andrews:

Command Post:

Andrews: Air Force Command Post:

20

On four or five occasions, Witness (Navy Captain Tazewell Shepard) attempted to speak to Air Force One. There is no evidence on the Clifton tapes that he got through. *Not all of those attempts are quoted in this transcript.]
21

Dagger was the WHCA codename for Secret Service agent Rufus Youngblood, who was reputed to be Lyndon Johnsons favorite Secret Service agent. He was riding with Vice President Johnson during the assassination of President Kennedy in Dealey Plaza.

19

Air Force Weather: Andrews: Air Force Weather: Andrews:

Weathers on. Hello, sir. Yes, sir. Right, were running, ah, two patches at one time to Air Force One right now from the White House, and theyre makin arrangements about taking the casket and stuff off, and we, ah, cant get through to you. As soon as we can well give you a call. OK, ah, he needs that temperature before he get[s] there. Right, sir, well getHe should be done pretty soon. Theyve been at it quite awhile now. OK, buddy. Thank you, sir. Right, right. Ah, Andrews, Air Force One, ah, loud and clear. OK, ah, ah, standby and, ah, well have, ah, General Heaton come on this line as soon as the other patch is complete.

Air Force Weather: Andrews:

Air Force Weather: Andrews: Air Force One:

Colonel Dorman (11:05): Andrews: Colonel Dorman:

[This is] Colonel Dorman, General LeMays aide. Right. General LeMay is in a C-140; last three numbers are 497. SAM C-140. 497---last three numbers. Right. Hes inbound. His code name is Grandson, and I want to talk to him. Grandson. OK, sir, well see what we can do. Ah, were real busy with Air Force One right now. OK, ah, you dont have the capability to work more than one, huh?

Andrews: Colonel Dorman:

Andrews:

Colonel Dorman:

20

Andrews:

Ah, well, were running, ah, Air Force One on two different frequencies, were giving em two different patches at one time, right now, and thats all we can do. I see. And what, what is your, ah, drop, sir? Are you off [a] drop off the Washington switch? Well, I am, yes---either drop 303 or 79225. 79225. But if you cant work him now, its gonna be too late because hell be on the ground in a half hour. OK---and what is your name again, sir? Colonel Dorman, D-O-R-M-A-N. D-O-R-M-A-N. OK, Ill try to get back to you if we can get him right away, sir. Thank you. Right.22 (12:04)

Colonel Dorman: Andrews:

Colonel Dorman: Andrews: Colonel Dorman:

Andrews: Colonel Dorman: Andrews:

Colonel Dorman: Andrews:

22

Like the earlier black Cadillac segment, this exchange between Colonel Dorman, General LeMays aide, and Andrews AFB, is not on the LBJ Library version of the Air Force One tapes. Presumably, in the 1960s when the edited and condensed version was assembled *and presumably this was in late 1963 or early 1964+, someone in a position of authority did not want General LeMays name to surface in the recording. Was it because of the wellknown animosity between JFK and LeMay? Was it because General LeMay was at JFKs autopsy (as alleged by Navy corpsman Paul K. OConnor)? Was it because of the disobedience LeMay exhibited toward the civilian leadership that day in refusing orders from the Air Force Secretary to land at Andrews, by landing instead at Washington D.C.s National Airport? At this writing in 2012, we do not know, and are not likely to know why this exchange between LeMays aide and Andrews was excised from the first, edited and condensed version of the Air Force One conversations. Journalist and JFK researcher Bill Kelly has interviewed Colonel Dormans widow and his grown children; from them he learned that Colonel Dorman was literally ALWAYS with the Air Force Chief of Staff, and by his side, seemingly no matter what activity LeMay was engaged in. It is therefore most curious that LeMay was on a trip to Canada for unknown reasons on the day President Kennedy was assassinated, and that he was furthermore on that trip without his aide. [As mentioned earlier, LeMays biographer also wrote inaccurately, in his 2009 biography of LeMay, that the Air Force Chief of Staff was hunting in Michigan when JFK was assassinated. Did LeMay lie to his family (or others) about where he was that day? And if so, why?] A special air mission, tail number 24197 (according to the Chuck Holmes Andrews Logbook), took off at 2:46 PM local (the takeoff site was not specified in the log) and was directed to go to Toronto to pick up LeMay; while enroute it was

21

Andrews (12:35): Liberty: Andrews: Liberty:

Go aheadgo ahead, Liberty. You want 18 upper [sideband], I have 970 on 90? You have 970 on 90. Hes off at 2115, copy that, hes off at 2115, estimating 2330, relay to Alpha Juliet Two. 2330 for Andrews, and he was off, ah, OK, he was off at 2115, estimating Andrews 2330, Alpha Juliet Two.23 Thats affirmative, and were going to copy his, ah, ah, passenger list on teletype [?and?] send it to you. (13:11)

Andrews:

Liberty:

diverted to Wairton, Canada, vice Toronto, for reasons unknown. The C-140 aircraft that was sent to Canada to pick up LeMay then departed Wairton at 4:04 PM local time (in Canada), and landed at National Airport, just outside Washington, D.C. at 5:12 PM. The Chuck Holmes Logbook records that LeMays aide and driver were scheduled to meet the aircraft at National Airport, so whatever urgent message Colonel Dorman had for LeMay was surely delivered about 5:15 or 5:20 PM, local time. Another unanswered question is this: If LeMay needed a special air mission to pick him up, just how did he get to Toronto in the first place? Why did he not have an official aircraft with him in Canada? Did LeMay secretly leave the U.S. for Canada while hiding behind a cover story that he was hunting in Michigan? Everything about LeMays trip to Canada, and about his return to the U.S. that day, seems most peculiar.
23

According to researcher Bill Kelly, Liberty was the WHCA codename for the Collins Radio facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (which had just recently gone on-line in 1962), whose job it was to facilitate air-ground communications between Air Force One and other stations, and to record all such conversations. Liberty is therefore the source of the Air Force One conversations in this transcript. The tail number 970 in this conversation refers to SAM 86970, more commonly known as Air Force Two on November 22, 1963. SAM 86970 was the aircraft assigned to Vice-President Johnson for the Texas trip. Having his own aircraft allowed Johnson to arrive at each of JFKs destinations before the President, ensure that the local welcoming party was ready to meet and greet the President, and to be present on the ground in his home state of Texas when President Kennedy deplaned at each destination. Air Force Twos takeoff time from Dallas is confirmed in this message as 2115 [Zulu time], or 3:15 local time in Dallas. (This concurs with the takeoff time two Secret Service agents recorded in after action reports.) Its prospective ETA at Andrews AFB was stated as 2330 [Zulu time], or 1830 hours local, or 6:30 PM EST. (This was a highly accurate ETA, for the Chuck Holmes Logbook records that the actual landing time was 1830 hours.) This segment about Air Force Twos ATD Dallas and ETA Andrews is not on the LBJ Library tapes.

22

Air Force One (23:21):

Ah, Crown, Air Force One. Ah, this is a message from Wing going to Slugger. Slugger is to meet, ah, aircraft as soon as possible. Ah, if he cannot do this, he is to see Wing as soon as possible, as soon as possible, go ahead. Ah, roger, roger, Wing to Slugger, meet aircraft as soon as possible; if this is impossible, see Wing as soon as possible, go ahead. That is correct, or contact him by any way feasible. Ah, roger, roger, Crown understand[s]. ahead? Any, ah, further, go

Crown:

Air Force One: Crown:

Air Force One: Crown:

24

[garbled] perspective, ah, Slugger is back in Dallas. Ah, roger, roger.24

Wing was the WHCA codename for President Kennedys Air Force Aide, USAF Brigadier General Godfrey McHugh. Slugger was the WHCA codename for Air Force photographer Captain Cecil Stoughton. Wings urgent need to talk to Slugger is most interesting. Cecil Stoughton took the famous series of photographs of Lyndon B. Johnson being sworn in as President of the United States aboard Air Force One on the tarmac in Dallas, at Love Field. History informs us that he stayed behind in Dallas to develop the film and to ensure that some of those photos were released to the media. At the beginning of his conversation, Wing seems unaware that Slugger stayed in Dallas, for he asks Crown to tell Stoughton to meet the aircraft (Air Force One) when it lands at Andrews. By the end of the conversation, Air Force One has become aware that Stoughton remained in Dallas, and Crown is so informed. One of the swearing-in photos---a rather infamous one whose original negative has now gone missing from the LBJ Library---is the wink photo, showing a smiling Congressman Al Thomas (of Houston) winking at LBJ immediately after the swearing-in was completed. I am speculating here, but I wonder if Wings message for Slugger was to order him NOT to publish that particular photograph? Congressman Thomas flew to Andrews on Air Force One, and may have discussed being photographed during the wink with the new President. If so, this could explain Wings urgent desire to speak to Slugger. [The Air Force photographer officially worked for the Air Force aide, just as Robert Knudsen, the Navy photographer at the White House, officially worked for the Naval aide.] Author Richard Trask, in his book Pictures of the Pain, revealed that the LBJ Library told him it could not locate the negative of that one particular image; the Library did have all of the other negatives from the swearing-in ceremony. Fortunately, the LBJ Library sent David Lifton a print of the infamous photo, and he published it in Best Evidence. It has been widely reproduced in other books since that time. Cecil Stoughton expressed surprise, hostility, and defensiveness when Lifton asked him about the photo prior to its publication in Best Evidence; in my view, this makes it highly likely that the wink was probably the subject of Wings urgent message for Slugger. Negatives do not disappear on their own---Stoughtons defensive reaction about that photograph, prior to its publication by Lifton, suggests that he may have removed the original negative from the collection, on Wings orders. Trask reported in his book, Pictures of the Pain, that the LBJ Library possessed a print of that photo, but not the original negative. This in itself suggests a botched cover-up, something all too familiar to students of the JFK assassination.

23

Warrior (28:49):

Ah, Winner, Winner, this is Warrior, will you please advise press that, ah, normal press coverage, including live TV, will be allowed, ah, at the base. Volunteer, ah, repeat, ah, Volunteer will, ah, make statement on arrival, will make statement on arrival. Did you read that, over?25 I read you clearly. Ah, will you listen to my question---is Mrs. Kennedy aboard Air Force One? Ah, Winner, Winner, this is Warrior. That is a roger, that is a roger, over. Alright, the other thing is, ah, Im setting up a press section on the South Lawn about, ah, 50 yards, ah, from, ah, from the position of helicopter number 1. Will that meet Mrs. Kennedys and the Presidents approval? Ah, Winner, ah, they are not returning to the House, they are not returning to the House. Ah, for your own information, ah, they are going somewhere else; I dont want to go into the radio on this one. So, there will be an arrival there, but it will be Volunteer, it will be Volunteer, over. Thank you, I will hold that information and, ah, we can say something after you arrive. Ah, lets 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? Ah, that is a roger, that is a roger, but we are not saying that yet, over. Well, weve already, weve already said it. I should have checked with you before doing it, but I dont think it makes too much difference. It takes a lot of, you know, ah, we should know it, and it takes a lot, ah, off of us by doing it. I was in error, over.

Winner:

Warrior:

Winner:

Warrior:

Winner:

Warrior:

Winner:

25

Warrior was the WHCA codename for Assistant White House Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff. Kilduff was in charge of public relations for the Texas trip because Press Secretary Pierre Salinger was enroute Tokyo (on SAM 86972, with several Cabinet members) on November 22, 1963, to help pave the way for JFKs intended visit to Japan. Winner was the WHCA codename for White House staffer Andrew Hatcher.

24

Command Post (57:06): AF1: Command Post: AF1: Command Post: AF1:

[This is] Air Force Command Post. Go ahead, Command Post, Air Force One. Ah, 373 departing at 2141 Zulu [interference, static, garbled]. Ah, roger, what is the, ah, complete plane number? Air Force One, did you copy? Ah, roger, and ah, who does this information go to, go ahead? [static, garbled] Ah, say again? Roger, who is this information passed to, go ahead? [static, communications problems] Air Force One, Air Force One, [This is] Air Force Command Post, over. Command Post, Air Force One, I read you loud and clear. I understand 373 departed at 2141; who do you wish notified about this, go ahead? [garbled]the one with the Presidential cars onboard.26 Ah, roger, well pass that---I know where it goes now, thank you.

Command Post: AF1:

Command Post:

AF1:

Command Post: AF1:

AF1 (58:13):

OK, ah, would you call SAM Command Post, and have them, ah, to, ah, request, ah, two---correction---four Air Police meet the airplane? We want two in the front of the airplane and two in the rear, go ahead.

26

The Presidential limousine (a stretched, customized Lincoln Continental) and the large Secret Service follow-up car (a Cadillac convertible touring car with running boards, informally designated the Queen Mary), were being flown back to Andrews AFB on a C-130 cargo aircraft. This same aircraft was used to transport them earlier in the Texas trip, from stop to stop. After arrival at Andrews AFB, they were driven to the White House garage, and inspected by both the Secret Service, and the FBI.

25

Andrews:

Ah, Air Force One, yes, understand you are requesting two staff cars, ah, two, ah, ah, staff cars with, ah, Air Police, ah, two in the front and two in the rear, is that correct? Negative on the cars. Just the Air Police, we want, ah, security guards, we want four of them, ah, two at each door of the airplane, go ahead.

AF1:

Andrews (59:23): Tanker:

AF1, AF1, AF1, Tanker on the line, go ahead, Tanker. Ah, hello, Angel, hello, Angel. May I speak with Watchman or Tiger? Watchman or Tiger, over? Roger, Watchman is busy at the present time on another circuit; standby for Tiger. Standing by for Tiger. [This is] Tiger, how do you read, over? Ah, five-by-five, Tiger, five-by-five. I have been informed from Dallas that it was desired that the aircraft be parked in a[sic] isolated spot, ah, when you arrive here. Ah, however, Watchman had a long discussion with Behn and, ah, nothing about that was mentioned, and the present plan on the ground here is to spot you at the regular place unless, ah, Watchman says now that this is not desired, over. I believe they are parking [us] at the regular place. Ah, Tanker, where did you get that information from in Dallas, over? Ah, it was from the U.S. Air Force Command Post agent there, and I understood from him that you had told him to do this, over. Well, we told him to look into that, and then [garbled] up there, I guess [garbled] we were going to discuss it in flight. I see.

AF1:

Tanker: Tiger: Tanker:

Tiger27:

Tanker:

Tiger:

Tanker:
27

Tiger was the WHCA codename for Colonel James Swindal, the pilot of SAM 26000.

26

Tiger:

Ah, please go ahead with the present plan and park [us] in the regular place. I asked Hornbuckle to get in touch with you and passed some instructions to him. Ah, we need steps in the right front of the aircraft; the press box will be on the left front of the aircraft; and President Johnson will deplane at the, ah, front of the aircraft; and we need a forklift at the rear of the aircraft; and Lace will deplane on the right front, over. Ah, understand, ah, Tiger, understand those instructions and they have all been carried out. Ah, 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 forklift left rear, the press area left front, over. Mighty fine, and, ah, well keep in touch. Roger, thank you, and out.

Tanker:

Tiger: Tanker:

Crown (1:01:41): AF1: Crown:

Ah, AF1, AF1, AF1, from Crown. Ah, Crown, AF1, go ahead. Ah, roger, roger. Could you pass this to Wing, pass this to Wing? On his message to Slugger, his message to Slugger---Slugger was still in Dallas, still in Dallas, and has been advised to contact Wing as soon as he possibly can. Ah, roger, Air Force One copy, will pass.

AF1:

Crown (1:06:04): Stoughton: Air Force One: Stoughton: Air Force One:

Ah, roger, Air Force One, ah, standby; go ahead, ah [garbled, faint] Wing? Standby, hes on the other---hes on the Charlie set right now. Its very important. Whos calling, please?
27

Stoughton: Air Force One:

Captain Stoughton, in Dallas. OK, standby one. [static]

AF1 (1:06:46):

This is Air Force One, Warrior advises unable to speak with you at the present time, and, ah, asks you to please call White House in about 30 minutes, go ahead. Thats a roger, out.

Stoughton:

AF1 (1:07:20):

Ah, roger, do you have [an] ETA on the, ah, C-130 with the vehicles? Ah, negative sir, havent heard a thing [garbled]. OK, ah, right, thank you. Ah, well check it out.

SAM Command Post: AF1: SAM Command Post:

AF1 (1:07:55):

[?Hey?] Command Post, Air Force One, ah, landed [at] Andrews at two three zero zero.28 Air Force One, Command Post, out.

SAM Command Post:

AF1 (1:08:16): Andrews:

Andrews, make it, ah, zero four, please. Air Force One, Andrews, roger, on the blocks, zero four. Good day, sir.

28

This equates to 2300 Zulu time, or 1800 hours local (in military time), or 6:00 PM, EST.

28

AF1:

OK, thank you.29

END

29

Time on the blocks, when chocks had been placed around the aircrafts tires, was 2304 Zulu time, or 1804 hours local (in military time), or 6:04 PM EST. Block time was equated with actual time of arrival, or end of mission. Zulu time (or Greenwich Mean Time) is five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, when Daylight Savings Time is not in effect.

29