Description:

Assassination Forensics! JFK’s limousine roof plexi-glass of the type used in Lincoln Continental

A rectangular piece of plexiglass, measuring 7.75” x 6” x 0.25”, with a bullet hole, from the collection of Dr. John K. Lattimer who has initialed on the plexiglass “J.K.L. 86-57” (probably his JFK Collection inventory number) with a black felt-tip pen. The quarter-inch-diameter bullet hole – with resulting cracks – is on the right of the plexiglass. Penned in black marker at the left: “ ¼“ PLEXI- / SAME TYPE / MATERIAL AS / USED IN JFK / LIMOUSINE ROOF.” Also in black marker, at the upper right: “FRONT SIDE / 1-1-85,” and “GOOKIN” at the lower left. Fine condition.

Dr. John K. Lattimer (1914-2007), a prominent urologist who was also a ballistics expert and collector of historical relics, wrote several articles in medical journals describing experiments he had conducted with rifles, scopes and ammunition similar to those used by Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, in the years following the President's death. In 1971, the family of President Kennedy chose Dr. Lattimer to be the first nongovernmental medical specialist to review evidence in Kennedy's assassination. On January 7, 1972, at the National Archives, Dr. Lattimer made the first of several reviews of restricted forensic exhibits of X-rays, color transparencies, and black-and-white negatives taken during Kennedy's autopsy. He concluded, according to The New York Times, that “they ‘eliminate any doubt completely’ about the validity of the Warren Commission's conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald fired all the shots that struck the President.”

Ostensibly, Dr. Lattimer was experimenting to see if a similar bullet would have significantly slowed down when it penetrated the plexiglass of JFK’s specially designed 1961 Lincoln Continental bubble-top limousine, had the bubble-top been used. The Warren Commission reported that Kennedy’s car “was outfitted with a clear plastic bubble top which was neither bulletproof nor bullet resistant.” The 6.5-millimeter caliber Mannlicher-Carcano rifle used by Oswald was chambered for a 6.5-millimeter caliber Mannlicher-Carcano cartridge. It was comparable to the U.S. model 1903 Springfield and 1917 Enfield rifles, then in use, chambered for the 30:06 Springfield caliber cartridge.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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February 21, 2024 10:30 AM EST
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