Probably Bogus Correlation between Timing of Shots and the Position Estimates

[Michael T. Griffith]

For readers who want to learn more about the HSCA acoustical evidence of multiple gunmen, I should have already mentioned Dr. G. Paul Chambers' superb chapter on the acoustical evidence in his book Head Shot: The Science Behind the JFK Assassination (New York: Prometheus Books, 2012), chapter 6. Believe it or not, until earlier today, I had completely forgotten about Dr. Chambers' chapter on the acoustical evidence! That's what can happen when you take a several-years-long break from a case!

Dr. Chambers is an internationally recognized expert in the field of shock physics and has performed extensive high-speed photographic studies of high-velocity impacts and deformations of solids as well as computer modeling of shock wave and matter interactions. He has worked as a research scientist/research director at NASA, with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, and with the Naval Research Laboratory.

Chapter 6 is 21 pages long. In it Dr. Chambers explains the acoustical evidence in clear, understandable terms. He explains the nature and importance of the correlations between the dictabelt and the Dealey Plaza test firing much better than do the HSCA materials. Frankly, he explains the correlations even a bit better than Dr. Thomas does. He also reviews the NRC panel's report and the Watson Research Laboratories' report and finds them unconvincing and contradictory, and he notes that they evade dealing with the powerful correlations between the dictabelt impulse patterns and the test-firing impulse patterns.

[Chris Bristow]

As much static and interference as we hear on the tape the sound of somebody whistling is clear as a bell. I assume they were whistling almost straight into the microphone because it was mounted at the handlebars above the gas tank. Can we safely assume that the Whistler was the person with their mic keyed?
When officer McClain and the dispatcher heard that whistle they both came to the conclusion that the person with their mic stuck was a different officer riding a 45 cubic inch trike. I find it compelling that McClain said he was definitely not a whistle while you work kind of guy. He actually seemed to be sort of gruff. I think people know if they whistle or not.
McClain and the dispatcher we're also convinced that the sound of the motorcycle was the classic sound of a 45 cubic inch three wheeler like the meter maids Drive. I owned a 66 CHP bike and so I know the sound of a 74 cubic inch Harley intimately. I have to agree with McLain and the dispatcher that's the sound of the engine is very distinctly not a 74 cubic inch Harley. Although the engine sound is mostly a static reproduction of the engine you can still count the RPMs when you graph the sound. To me it is running at higher RPM then McClain would have been doing. I think I got it at about 2300 RPM just a couple seconds before the head shot. McLane said he had come to a complete stop when he looked to left and saw the headshot. I find his testimony compelling and I think I hear what he heard on the tape. His opinion has really kept me from going down the rabbit hole on this issue.

[Joe Elliott]

As much static and interference as we hear on the tape the sound of somebody whistling is clear as a bell. I assume they were whistling almost straight into the microphone because it was mounted at the handlebars above the gas tank. Can we safely assume that the Whistler was the person with their mic keyed?
When officer McClain and the dispatcher heard that whistle they both came to the conclusion that the person with their mic stuck was a different officer riding a 45 cubic inch trike. I find it compelling that McClain said he was definitely not a whistle while you work kind of guy. He actually seemed to be sort of gruff. I think people know if they whistle or not.
McClain and the dispatcher we're also convinced that the sound of the motorcycle was the classic sound of a 45 cubic inch three wheeler like the meter maids Drive. I owned a 66 CHP bike and so I know the sound of a 74 cubic inch Harley intimately. I have to agree with McLain and the dispatcher that's the sound of the engine is very distinctly not a 74 cubic inch Harley. Although the engine sound is mostly a static reproduction of the engine you can still count the RPMs when you graph the sound. To me it is running at higher RPM then McClain would have been doing. I think I got it at about 2300 RPM just a couple seconds before the head shot. McLane said he had come to a complete stop when he looked to left and saw the headshot. I find his testimony compelling and I think I hear what he heard on the tape. His opinion has really kept me from going down the rabbit hole on this issue.

I never met Officer McLain so I don’t know if he was a whistler or not. But can be assumed that no one riding a motorcycle at high speed, catching up to or escorting the speeding Presidential limousine, on its way to Parkland, would be whistling a merry tune.

However, it is easy to imagine, an officer who is casually waiting for the President’s arrival at the Trade Mart Center, and has no idea that the President has been shot, might be casually whistling. And, indeed, after we hear the “Attention all units”, likely the Dallas County Sheriff’s announcement of the shooting at Dealey Plaza, we hear no more whistling.

[Chris Bristow]

I never met Officer McLain so I don’t know if he was a whistler or not. But can be assumed that no one riding a motorcycle at high speed, catching up to or escorting the speeding Presidential limousine, on its way to Parkland, would be whistling a merry tune.

However, it is easy to imagine, an officer who is casually waiting for the President’s arrival at the Trade Mart Center, and has no idea that the President has been shot, might be casually whistling. And, indeed, after we hear the “Attention all units”, likely the Dallas County Sheriff’s announcement of the shooting at Dealey Plaza, we hear no more whistling.

Yeah I think those are valid assumptions. I also think that a dispatcher can usually identify which officer is which by their voice and in this case they're particular whistle. Having worked with radios in the 80s I know that you come to memorize everyone's individual idiosyncrasies. They said the guy in question always used to whistle. I'm sure it is very easy to identify a person by their particular whistle, not much different than a voice. I really find McClain's testimony to be extremely credible. I mean who seriously would not recognize the sound of their own whistle?