Victoria Adams’ view from the fourth floor window

[Charles Collins]

I still go with Max Holland when he says the first shot occured about 1.4 seconds before Z133.

If the first shot was the one that injured James Tague, it had to lose its copper jacket somewhere along the way, probably when it glanced off the traffic light mast arm.

Hinkley (sp?) bent over and looked at something on the ground. His attemtention could have been drawn to the falling debris from that impact.

--  MWT 

I think Hickey was probably looking at tires for evidence of a blowout after hearing the loud bang. I have a theory that LHO was positioning the rifle and intended to wait to fire until just after JFK emerged from the other side of the tree (from the sniper's nest view). But, while moving into position, his left arm hit the electrical conduit between his position and the window frame and this unexpected collision caused him to inadvertently fire the rifle before he could fully position and aim it. The bullet could have hit the corner of the concrete pad where DPD Foster found a mark. There is also a furrow in the turf nearby. The copper jacket could have separated from the lead due to that impact and the jacket caused the furrow. Some or all of the remaining lead bullet could have continued and struck the curb near Tague's position. Just a theory, but I don't know of any conclusive evidence that says it is impossible.

[Thomas Graves]

I think Hickey was probably looking at tires for evidence of a blowout after hearing the loud bang. I have a theory that LHO was positioning the rifle and intended to wait to fire until just after JFK emerged from the other side of the tree (from the sniper's nest view). But, while moving into position, his left arm hit the electrical conduit between his position and the window frame and this unexpected collision caused him to inadvertently fire the rifle before he could fully position and aim it. The bullet could have hit the corner of the concrete pad where DPD Foster found a mark. There is also a furrow in the turf nearby. The copper jacket could have separated from the lead due to that impact and the jacket caused the furrow. Some or all of the remaining lead bullet could have continued and struck the curb near Tague's position. Just a theory, but I don't know of any conclusive evidence that says it is impossible.

Charles,

I wonder where the mast arm is (from the sniper's perspective) in your Vicki Adams-based simulation?

--  MWT

[Charles Collins]

Charles,

I wonder where the mast arm is (from the sniper's perspective) in your Vicki Adams-based simulation?

--  MWT

If I remember correctly it would be behind the limo at that point. But I will double check it first chance.

[Charles Collins]

"quizzical looking expressions" ... "photo by Croft for the expressions"

That has to be one of the most ridiculous claim in recent years.

Jim Towner slide

Robert Croft photo

There's nothing usual in the Croft photograph whatsoever. Compare to Towner.

Jackie has practically the same expression. The President seems in no distress. The Connallys are looking off to their sides as much in both pictures.

Things get unusual immediately after the Croft photo, when both Connallys effect rapid rightward head turns during the Z160s, along with Mrs. Kennedy a half-second-or-so later. All three said they turned their heads rightward in response to their hearing the first shot.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous claim in recent years.

I have made it before and you had a similar response. Your opinion is your opinion and mine is mine. Neither is going to change so let’s move on.

[Thomas Graves]

That has to be one of the most ridiculous claims in recent years.

I have made it before and you had a similar response. Your opinion is your opinion and mine is mine. Neither is going to change so let’s move on.

Charles,

What Organ doesn't realize is that by the time the Croft photo was taken, Connally and JFK were already finished looking around in response to the first shot a little before Z133, and now JBC is probably asking his wife, "What the xxxx was that?"

--  MWT 

[Charles Collins]

Charles,

What Organ doesn't realize is that by the time the Croft photo was taken, Connally and JFK were already finished looking around in response to the first shot a little before Z133, and now JBC is probably asking his wife, "What the xxxx was that?"

--  MWT 

Exactly, and Jackie’s smile has been replaced with a look of concern.

[James Hackerott]

Victoria Adams spoke to detective James R. Leavelle of the DPD on 2/17/64. This is part of her statement: "When the President got in front of us I heard someone call him, and he turned. That is when I heard the first shot."

I reviewed the Tina Towner film and paid close attention to the actions of JFK. In the final few seconds of that film JFK does turn his head toward the TSBD and his right arm raises up and he waves just as the film ends. Just like Victoria Adams said.

Next I used Mark Tyler"s Motorcade 63 animation and paused it approximately where the end of Towner's film is indicated. Then I plotted the location of JFK in the backseat of the limo using the scale of Mark's animation. And placed a convertible with a male character in the backseat in that plotted location (relative to the southeast corner of the TSBD) in my 3-D computer model. Next I viewed the scene (using my 3-D model) as Victoria would have seen it from the fourth floor window. The results were just as Victoria said: right in front of her window and just before going behind the tree is the convertible with the male character. The front portion of the convertible is hidden from her view by the tree limbs but the rear seat and it's occupant are still visible.

Tina Towner has said that she stopped filming just before the first shot. Dale Myers calculated that Towner's film ends just before Zapruder began filming that portion of his film. And in the first portion of Zapruder's film JFK is seen lowering his right arm just after the wave that was begun at the end of Towner's film.

I asked for and received permission from Mark Tyler to post a couple of screenshots that will let you see some of the items I used in the proceedures I have just described.


The Towner film start position:





The Towner film end position:




The view (from the 3-D model 4th floor window) that Victoria Adams was watching the motorcade from:




The free 3-D program that I use has its limitations and mine as its user. But I have used the sniper's nest model to demonstrate several things and it has proven to be accurate. I still need to fine tune things like the dimensions of the tree, but this is close enough to show that Victoria Adams was accurate in her description of what she saw. In the book "The Girl on the Stairs" by Barry Ernest Victoria clarifies her earlier statements and specifically says that she heard the first shot while JFK was hidden from her view by the tree.

Anyway, this appears to me to be further evidence that the first shot happened in the vicinity of Z-133. I believe it probably happened just before Z-133.

If any others with 3-D computer models cares to take the time to verify this work I would greatly appreciate it.

Charles,
Here are views from Dorman (assumed to be similar to that for Vicky Adams), along with a view from the SN at ~Z133. I just put in the camera locations and ran the 3D model without tweaking the tree size or location. If these are helpful, just ask for alternate views you would like to see. I have no means to model trees in the software, so the transparent lollipops will have to suffice. Keep up the great work on your 3D efforts!