Actually, Hugh Aynesworth is a highly respected journalist. What I am questioning is the accuracy of the information on Pat Speer’s claim that you referenced in your post. I now have a copy of the book in question on order. And hopefully will get to the bottom of this.
Okay, I have received the copy of “JFK Assassination - The Reporters’ Notes” by the Dallas Morning News that I ordered. Here is what is written on the inside of the cover:
In May 1964, the top editors of The Dallas Morning News decided to collect the recollections of all staffers who took part in covering the Kennedy assassination.
“Include anecdotes, personal observations and anything else that will reflect the tone of the time as well as indicate the thoroughness of our coverage,” assistant managing editor Bill Rives wrote in a memo to the staff. The original plan was for the writings to be published individually and not as part of one long narrative.
In the summer of 2012, as The News planned its coverage for the 50th anniversary of the assassination, reporter David Flick acquired copies of the notes from the DeGolyer Library at Southern Methodist University, which houses the original documents. Will Pry, mobile editor for The News, read each of the sets of notes and, with the idea for a chronological narrative in mind, edited the collection down to the contents of this book.
The final version includes excerpts from 22 of the 51 staffers who contributed to the project in 1964After reading enough of this book to confirm or deny, it does appear that Hugh Aynesworth wrote what Pat Speers has included on his website. Therefore, the interpretation that this is supposed to be evidence of a third shot after the fatal head shot is in question. I underlined the words of Bill Rives on the inside of the cover of the book that give Hugh Aynesworth license to include anecdotes from other witnesses. Hugh Aynesworth apparently chose to write his story in a fashion that makes it appear that he saw the limo himself during the time period of shots being fired. However, based on the location that Hugh Aynesworth says he was during this time period and his location shown on Don Roberdeau’s map, he could not have seen the limo during this time period. James Hackerott generously provided an animation from his 3D model of Dealey Plaza to me with a viewpoint from Hugh Aynesworth’s position confirming this.
I don’t believe that Hugh Aynesworth actually saw JFK jerk his head after the second shot with his own eyes. And I don’t believe that whoever apparently told him that they saw this intended to imply that the second shot was the fatal head shot. It appears to me that JFK would have had a sudden reaction when he was hit in the back of the base of his neck. And that that was what is described as a jerk of his head. We do not see this head jerk on the Zapruder film because JFK is still hidden from Zapruder’s camera by the sign when the bullet hit him. And JFK appears to have already started to raise his arms by the time he emerges into camera view from behind the sign.
Pat Speers apparently interprets Hugh Aynesworth’s words differently. Spinning them to try to imply that they indicate a shot after the fatal head shot. However, Aynesworth’s story is not sworn testimony, it is most likely an anecdotal comment from another witness (because Aynesworth could not have seen this from his position), and Bill Rives gave license to the reporters to include anecdotes, etc..
