LBJ Tape Reel 1, Side 1 (30:55)

Tape 1- Patch 1

T1-1

1 - 86972 [Cabinet plane], Andrews [Air Force Base]. You are readable at this time, sir. Also be advised Two-Six-Thousand [2-6000 – Air Force One, aka “Angel”] (is) coming up on this frequency shortly. Request that you contact Andrews on One-Five, Sir.

2 - Okay, One-Five. Relay. Will be off Honolulu at seventeen oh-three estimated approximate windshift, 2-1-4-0-2-2. 3 - 86972, Roger, copy. Thank you much.

1 - Break, Command Post, Air Force One, 1725. Carswell. [Ft. Worth SAC AFB]

2 - Air Force One, understand. Airborne. One, seven, two, five (1725) Zulu [Military Greenwich Mean Time]. Do you have an ETA? [Estimated Time of Arrival] Over.3 - Estimated 20 minutes, enroute. I’ll give you a log time in a couple of minutes. 4 - Roger, Air Force One. Command Post listening. Out.

1 - Pickup 1700 Zulu, weather please.2 - Standby One, Air Force One, I have weather officer I can give it to you now, if you are ready to copy. Over.3 - Okay, go ahead. 4 - 1700 Zulu weather, 6000 broken, 15 miles plus visibility, temperature – five-seven, ramp temperature, six-two, wind southwest ten, altimeter setting two-niner, decimal eight-seven. I just talked with the Ramp and they indicate it is clearing rather rapidly there. 5 - Roger. Copy, thank you, out. 6 - Weather out.

1 - Andrews, Air Force One, the Command Post List. 2 - Air Force One, Andrews, stand by. 3 - Command Post ?.4 - This is Airman Gilmore (?) …

5 - … I have Air Force One for a patch. 6 - Standby please.7 - Air Force One, Andrews Air Force Command Post on the line, go ahead sir. 8 - Roger, Command Post, Air Force One, our estimated time on the block, Dallas will be One, Seven, Four, Zero….(1740)…9 - Roger. I understand. Seventeen forty on the block. Command Post (?)10- Roger, Out.

1 - Air Force One, Andrews. 2 - Roger, Roger Command Post, please.3 - Standby sir.4 - Command Post. 5 - I have Air Force One for a patch. 6 - Bring him up. 7 - Standby.

8 - Air Force One, Andrews. Command Post on the line, give them a call, sir.9 - Roger

10- Command Post. 11- Air Force One landed at 1738 Zulu. 12- Air Force One, understand. On the ground, seventeen thirty eight Zulu. Command Post listening.13- Air Force One…..

1 - Andrews Two Six Thousand (2-6000) Delta

2 - 2-6000 Andrews Loud and clear.

3 - Roger, you are loud and clear, I will be monitoring this frequency.

4 - 2-6000 Andrews loud and clear. How do you read me now Larry?

5 - Roger. You are still loud and clear.

6 - …Okay we’ll be standing by.

1 – The White House Situation Room, priority one patch from 86972

2 - Stand by sir.

3 - Yes.

4 - I have Liberty on the line for a priority one patch.

5 – Roger

How do you want to patch, Richard(?)?

6 - Stand by, why not, Liberty, I’ll give you a call. Okay sir?

(Unintelligible)

9 – Liberty? Liberty?

Only have six or eight (unintel.) … got 86972

10 - Situation Room?

(Unintelligeable)...static.

1 - Air Force One?

2 - Liberty! Liberty? 3 - Roger, I have White House Situation Room, SAM 86972,....Over. 4 - (Static) ... signal...unintelligable…..

5 – SAM Eight Six Nine Seven Two do you read? Over. 6 - White House? 7 - White House on. 8 - Standby.

9 - White House, this is SAM 86972. How do you read? Over.

10- 86972, I read you loud and clear, loud and clear. 11- Roger, standby One, please, we have another phone patch going on with Sing Sing (CINAPAC) but we do have traffic for you, so hold on for one moment please.

12- Roger, Roger 86972.

1 - White House Situation Room, this is Wayside, do you read me, over? 2 - This is White House, this is White House. I read you loud and clear Wayside. 3 - Can you give me the latest information on President? Over. 4 - You want Situation Room? Is that a Roger?

5 - Repeat that transmission please?6 - This is Crown, This is Crown. Do you want Situation Room?

7 - I want the Situation Room That’s affirmative.

8 - Roger, Roger getting them now.

9 - Stand by Please.10- Wayside, Wayside, this is Crown. Situation Room is on. Go ahead. 11- Situation Room. This is Wayside, do you read me? Over. 12- This is the Situation Room. I read you. Go ahead. (Oliver Hallett)

13- [Salinger] - Give me all available information on President Over.

14- [Hallett] - All available information on President follows. Ah,…Connally…He and Governor Connally of Texas have been hit in the car in which they were riding. We do not know how (dropout), no information. Mister Bromley Smith is back here in the Situation Room now. We are getting our information over the tickers. Over.

15- [Salinger] - That is affirmative, affirmative. Please keep us advised on here - this plane on which Secretary of State, other cabinet ministers headed for Japan, turning around, returning to Honolulu, will arrive there approximately two hours. Over

16 [Hallett] – This is Wayside – understand those departing Honolulu are turning around and will be back there in about two hours. Is that correct? Over.

17- That’s Affirmative. Affirmative. Will need all information to decide whether some of this party should go directly to Dallas. Over.

18- This is Situation Room. Say again your last please?19- Will need to be kept advised to determine whether some members of this party should go directly to Dallas? Over.

20- Roger, you wish information as to whether some members of that party should go to Dallas. 21- Affirmative. Affirmative. 22- Do you have anything else, Wayside?23- Any other information you need to get ahold of us as rapidly as possible. 24- All right. The Associated Press is coming out now with a bulletin to the effect that they believe the President was hit in the head. That just came in. Over.

25- Roger. We will pass on any additional information we get from (?) to you.

(unintel)

26- Where are you Wayside?

27 - Wayside is off the line. This is the radio operator. We are returning to Honolulu and should be back to Honolulu in about two hours. Will be in the air for about two hours and in to Honolulu and you can contact us on the ground there later.

28- I understand. This is…..Hold, hold on the line there Wayside, we have some more information coming up.

29-…right back.

[0640]

[0652]

1- Ah, Wayside, Wayside, this is Situation Room. I read from the AP bulletin. Kennedy apparently shot in head, he fell face down on the backseat of his car. Blood was on his head. Mrs. Kennedy cried “Oh no,” and tried to hold up his head. Connally remained half seated slumped to the left. There was blood on his face and forehead. The President and Governor were rushed to Parkland Hospital near the Dallas Trade Mart where Kennedy was to have made a speech. Over

2 - I read that, over.3 - This is Situation Room. I have nothing further for you now. I will contact you if we get more.

4 - Wayside, Roger and out

(unintel.)

1 – I read you loud and clear.

2 - One thirty five (unintel) Secretary of State to Tokyo

3 - Roger, (unintel) this (unintel) put them on this frequency (unintel) stand by one, Andrews on two.

4 - Give them a call Andrews

5 - Affirmative Andrews.

6 - Roger we have the aircraft and passengers ….

7 – Roger, Eight Six Niner Seven Two, I do not know the frequency (unintel.) Liberty

8 - Two Six Thousand.

9 - Will you have WD give me a call please?

10- Two six thousand Andrews, roger - stand by one sir.

[09:00]

11- Hello?

12- (unintel) please?

13- (unintel) will you get me Secretary Rusk?

- Hold on one, please.

(unintel – faint voices in background)

- Give me nine seventy-two. - Stand by – we’re running the (?) State Department now – I’ll have John give you a - hold on, I’ll have John give

you a call as soon as he’s done.- Roger, WTE one

15- Okay, hold on line.

16- Yes?

17- (unintel) for Mr. Rusk (unintel) State Department right now is talking to…..

18- Do you know if he’s talking to Mr. Ball by any chance?

19- State Dept. is talking to Mr. Ball at this time

20- Well look (unintel) let me talk to Ball.

21- Okay (unintel) Number one is trying to get them on (unintel)

22- I’ll wait.

23- Thank you

24- Okay, thank you.

1 – 2-6000, Andrews, I have the White House.

2 - Okay, thank you.

3 - And I want to keep this frequency open. 4 – Roger, the frequency has been saved

5 – (unintel) 6 - Roger.

7 - 86972 is good and readable. I have a party on that would like to talk to you. Stand by. (12:28)8 - Standing by.

9 - Hello? 9-72, what is your name please? 10- Jackson.11- Mister Jackson? 12- Yes. 13- Okay. Hold on line one. 14- 86972, 86972 I have a Mister Jackson, a Mister Jackson on. Would you give him a call, sir?

15- Mister Jackson, this is SAM 86972. How do you read me – over?16- I read you very well 72. I would like to talk to Colonel Toomey or Colonel Holland please. Over.

17- Okay. Colonel Toomey is coming on right now, Stand by One please.

18 - Okay. (11:35) [1130]

19- Roger. This is Colonel Toomey. Go ahead. 20- Colonel Toomey, this is Murray Jackson. The President of the United States has been shot and seriously wounded in Dallas, Texas. The President of the United States, John F. Kennedy has been shot and seriously wounded in Dallas, Texas. Governor Connally was also shot at the same time. Would you please get this message to Secretary of State Rusk, and I will stand by. Over.

21- Roger, Murray. We have already received the news. We have the UPI on. We have turned around. We are returning to Hawaii. We are estimating Hawaii in one hour and twenty minutes. We will be on the ground in Hawaii in one hour and twenty minutes and returning to Washington or Dallas. We have one other aircraft alerted to take part of the party to Dallas, and we are returning to Washington. Over. [1220]

22- Thank you very much Colonel Toomey. I will relay this to Mr. Ball right away. Over and out. 23- Okay, the secretary has talked with his office in Washington, I believe and also Pierre Salinger has been in contact with the White House from the aircraft. Over. 24-Okay thank you very much. Over and out

[1250]

1 – 2-6000, Andrews. Go ahead sir.

2 - Loud and clear. A signal check please. 2-6000, I read you loud and clear, here also, sir. Standing by this frequency. 3 - Right. Thank you.

1 - Andrews sideband. Airman Gilmore.2 - Roger. Are you in contact with the party coming back from Tokyo? Go ahead. 3 - Yes sir. We’re going through Liberty airwaves for that aircraft.

4 – Roger, can you connect me with Wayside?

5 - Standby One Six. 6 - Sir? 7 - Yes Sir?

8 - There’s Mister Jackson running a patch to that aircraft at this time, would you like to listen in or would you like me to break the patch sir?

9 - Ah, could I wait please? 10- Yes, sir, you can standby. You’re number two.

[1330]

1 - 86972, Andrews. 2 - 86972. 3 - Roger, standby. I have another one. 4 - Who is this sir? 5 - This is the White House. 6 - Okay, standby please. 7 - 86972, 86972, Andrews, I have Crown on, will you give them a call sir please?

8 - This is 86972, go ahead. 9 - Roger, This is Crown, we wish a phone patch with Wayside. Go ahead. 10- Roger, standby for Wayside.

11- Crown. 12- Roger, go ahead please.

13- Crown this is Wayside. Go ahead. ‘

14- Go ahead please 15- Wayside? Wayside? This is Stranger. Do you read me? Over. 16- Stranger, this is Wayside. Go ahead.17- Kilduff has asked that all cabinet members return to Washington immediately. Over.

18- We are en route, heading for Honolulu, where we have ah (unintel.) Washington. Over

19- Roger Roger, will they notify us of time of arrival and location. Over.

20-Situation (unintel) to Dallas. ……Over

21- Roger, Roger, we do not have any firm word from down there as to the exact status but I – (unintel.) Wayside, Situation Room has to have news, go ahead.

22- Wayside this is Stranger I’ll get that information (unintel), over.

[1540]

[1553]

1 - Wayside Standby for Situation Room. Yea.

2 - Go ahead Wayside.

3 - Wayside, this is Situation Room. I read you the latest bulletin. President Kennedy has been given blood transfusion today at Parkland Hospital in an effort to save his life after he and Governor John Connally of Texas were shot in an assassination attempt. Over the TV we have the information that the governor has been moved to the operating room. The president is still in the emergency room at Parkland Hospital....Do you read me so far? Over

4 - I read you loud and clear. 5 - Wayside. This is Situation Room. Are you getting the press coverage or do you want us to continue to relay it to you? Over.

6 – (unintel) keep informed. Over (15:18) [1644]

1 - This is Situation Room. Roger. New subject. We will have information for you on whether to proceed to Dallas by the time you land at Honolulu. Over 2 - Affirmative affirmative, also….Secretary of State (unintel) straight to Dallas….Over. 3 - This is Situation Room. Will do. Get determination whether Secretary should also go to Dallas. 4 - Wayside. Out. Over. 5 - This is Situation Room. Out

[1715]

1- Liberty?

2 - Go ahead.

3 - 86972 86972 Andrews.

4 – Andrews 972 Roger, You’re loud and clear, and would you give me the name of, ah, the real name of Stranger, please (unintel) from the White House

5 - Roger can we get him the name please,

Stranger – S-T-R-A-N-G-E-R – Stranger

8 – (unintel) Command Post, (unintel)

- (unintel) Roger that (unintel) 972 go ahead- Roger, roger 86972, you’ve got Mr. Jackson, Mr. Jackson from the State Department

9 - We are returning to Hickam field….[ Hickam Field, Hawaii] three zero Zulu….We are standing by for more information…..

10-Stand by for just a moment sir.

11- Roger, Roger Seven two, Let us know when you are gonna leave Hickam, and the ETA for whatever your destination is.

12-Okay we’re floating right now but will keep you advised, have (unintel) Wayside give me a call.

13-Roger, roger 72

872- 86972 Andrews

(unintel)

14-Roger. In reference to request. It’s a Major Harold R. Patterson – I say again, Major Harold R. Patterson.

- Okay, thank you very much

[1842]

[1859] [1906]

1 - Andrews talk to Wayside. The party is on the line now

2 – 86972, 86972 Andrews.

3 - Liberty?

5 - 86972. Andrews. I have a party that would like to talk to Wayside. Will you give them a call? 6- Wayside. The party is on the line now. 8 - Wayside is coming on right now.

9 - All right, fine there’s no rush. I’ll just talk to you here. This is the Situation Room. We’ll standby ‘til Wayside gets on. We are looking for confirmation of something here.

10- Wayside, Wayside, on the line

11- Okay Wayside. Just standby for a moment please. We’re getting some confirmation here. Would you please stay on the line.

12- On the line, I’m on the line.

13- This is Situation Room still on the line standing by. I read you loud and clear. Nothing further for you yet.

14- Wayside. This is Situation Room. We have ah conflicting reports now, so we’re not – there’s been no confirmation. We will call you again. I have relayed your intentions and present position to the Front Office. Your office has the word. We will call you again when we get confirmation. Over. 16- Okay This is Wayside. Out. [2048]

[2058]1 - Andrews, 2-6000. Radio Check. 2 - 2-6000 (Two Six Thousand), Andrews, loud and clear. 3 - [Third voice] 2-6000, Liberty, loud and clear. Will you try to notify if you close down for good? Go ahead. 4 - Roger. Will do. 5 - Roger, Liberty.

[2109]

1 - Andrews. Sideband. Airman Gilmore. 2 - Gilmore, this is Murray Jackson at State again. Can you get me Seven Two again?

3 - Could you say again, sir, you are very, very weak.

4 - This is Murray Jackson at the State Department. 5 - Yes sir?

6 - I talked to Seven Two a little while ago. Can you get me Seven Two on a single sideband again? 7 - Mister Jackson, be advised that Seven Two is in a patch with the Situation Room at the present time sir. If you wish to standby. 8 - That’s all right. They’re talking to them now? 9 - Yes sir. They are in a patch at the present time. 10- All right, very good. Can you listen in on this? 11- Ah, not from this console, no sir. 12- Well, what we want to tell the plane is that Under Secretary Ball requests that the Secretary and all the passengers return directly to Washington instead of going to Dallas.

13- Yes sir, I believe they received that message sir. 14- Very good. Thank you. 15- Thank you very much sir. 16- Oh, hello? 17- Yes sir? 18- One other thing. The Secretary is supposed to call Mrs. Ball when he gets on the ground in Honolulu. 19- Okay sir, we’ll relay that as soon as possible.20- Thank you very much.

[22:16]

1 - Andrews sideband, Airman Gilmore. 2 - Airman Gilmore, this is Murray Jackson again at the State Department. 3 - Yes sir? 4 - The message I just gave you about Mr. Ball wanting the Secretary and all of the passengers of the plane to return directly to Washington has now been reconfirmed by McGeorge Bundy who has also said that he thinks the plane and all its passengers should return immediately to Washington, rather than Dallas.

5 - Standby sir. 6 - All right.

[2307]1 - 86972. 86972. Andrews. 2 - Andrews. Loud and clear. Loud and clear. You have Mister Jackson on the line. Would you give him a call sir? 3 - Mister Jackson, 86972. Go ahead sir. 4 - I have a message from Undersecretary Ball and from McGeorge Bundy at the White House. They request that the Secretary of State and ALL passengers aboard the aircraft return to Washington immediately. Over.

5 - Roger. The message is from Undersecretary Ball and Mr. Bundy advised that the Secretary of State and ALL passengers return to Washington immediately. Over. 6 - That is correct. Over and out. 7 - Okay. Thank you.

[2351]

[2400] 1 - Start again please, the party is on. 2 - Be advised there’s another patch from Wayside. Do you wish to break (unintel) Command Post? 3 - Yea, break it. 4 - Yes sir. 5 - 86972, 86972, Andrews.

6 - 972. Go ahead. 7 - Roger sir, I have Crown on. Will you give him a call sir? 8 - Crown. (unintel) approved - go ahead. 9 - This is Situation Room. Relay following to Wayside. We have report quoting Mr. Kilduff in Dallas that the President is dead. That he died about 35 minutes ago. Do you have that? Over.

(22:43) [2447]

10- The President is dead. Is that correct? 11- That is correct. That is correct. New subject. Front Office desires plane return Washington with no stop Dallas. Over. 12- Wayside, copy. All okay. We return direct to Washington without stopping in Dallas. Roger rocket.13- This is Situation Room, out.

[2517]1 - Andrews, give me the Situation Room please. 2 - 972 Andrews, standby, one sir. 3 - Crown on. 4 - Situation Room please.

5 - Thank you. 6 - (phone ringing) Yea? 7 - Is this the Situation Room? 8 - Yes. 9 - This is sideman, I have 972 on sideband for another patch sir. 10- 972 again. 11- This is Situation Room. 12- Standby sir.13- 972, I read you. 14- This is Situation Room. Over. 15- Situation Room, 972. Wayside would like to know the whereabouts of the Vice President. Over. 16- Yes (Background conversation) Alright…He wants to know where the Vice President is in Dallas….right….17- Ah, Wayside, from Situation Room. The Vice President is in the hospital building, Parkland Hospital, in Dallas. He is not injured. I repeat, not injured. Over. 18- I copy. I will call you right back.19- Right.

[2628]

[2638]

1 - Andrews, 2-6000. Standby to take off. 2 - 2-6000 Andrews, roger, standing by.

3 - Andrews, 972, SAM Command, over.4 – Roger, stand by for SAM Command. 5 – SAM Command, I have 972 for a patch. 6 - Roger. Go ahead. 7 - 86972, Andrews, SAM command’s on the line, go ahead sir. 8 - SAM Command, 86972, and we are returning direct to Washington, our latest instructions were direct to Washington from Hic Cup. [Hickam Field, Hawaii] Hic Cup is working up our flight plan and as quick as we get the enroute time and on the ground time, we will give you an ETA Washington. 9 - Roger, Roger 72. Can you give me your present ETA for Hickam? 10- In about 45 minutes was the last one that I heard. It should be about twenty-thirty Zulu... I’ll get you a more accurate one if you’ll stick around a little bit…11- Zulu over. 12- Roger, Roger. As far as you know right now you’re coming directly to Washington? Is that affirmed? 13- That is correct. Over. 14- Roger 72. Give us any changes that you have sir. 15- Okay, will do.

16- Andrews 2-6000. 17- Loud and clear sir. 18- Roger, you are both loud and clear.

19-I hear you both loud and clear.20- 2-6000, do you copy my teletype?21- 2-6000 is not (unintl).22- Okay. I guess he’s too busy down there.

23- Right. 24- You might check with him to make sure that he’s there, though. 25- Okay, standby. 26- 2-6000. Andrews, coming up. 27- 2-6000, check please. 28- 2-6000 Andrews. Loud and clear. 29- 2-6000 Andrews. Loud and clear. 30- We’ll be moving out pretty soon. 31 Right sir. Standing by.

[2900]

[2910]1 - 972 Andy, go ahead sir. 2 - Okay, we’re coming pretty close to Honolulu landing ah. I don’t know if I’ll be able to or not but I’m going to try to keep this equipment up, ah, but I’m not certain I’ll be able to do it. Understand that thirteen is pretty good on power, is that correct? 3 - This is Andrews. That is affirmed. 2-6000 is now getting ready to take off. He’s on One Three. If you standby, One, I’ll

confer with Liberty and see what frequencies, in case you do drop out, what frequency we’ll have standing up on waiting for your call. 4 - Okay, do that. Get them all set up. I might not be able to keep it open. 5 - Roger. Standby One. 6 - Okay, Liberty? Yea, we got One Three and One Five up right now, besides this one through you. I don’t know if One Three is going to be all tied up or not. And ah, what frequencies do you think you can have set up in case he drops out on so you he’ll know what frequencies we’re listening on? 7 - I’ll be on One Eight, One Five and One Three. And we can hold him on eighteen for a while because we got Newport Jerry up there.

8 - Right. Do you have another one, a little bit lower maybe? 9 - We’ll drop down from eighteen to fifteen to thirteen. 10- How about Triple One?

11- We have that too.

12- Triple lower? 13- Ah, on the sideband. 14- Okay, I’ll tell him we’ll be on eighteen, thirteen, fifteen and Triple One, all uppers, right? 15- All right. 16- Except this one, we’re on lower. 17- Go ahead. 18- Okay. 19- 86972, Andrews. 20- Roger, Andrews is going to be standing by and Liberty on Triple One upper, Triple One Seven Six upper, One Five Zero One One upper, One Five Zero One One upper, One Three Two Zero Four Seven upper and this frequency One eight zero two seven, lower, sir. 21- Okay, very good, I’ll keep in touch.

22- Roger

[3121]

1 -86972 Go ahead.2 - Air Force Command Post, this is mission 137, mission One, Three, Niner, arriving Honolulu Two Two diagonal, Two Six, Zulu, ATV, Two One One five Zulu for Andrews, over. 3 - 86972, Roger, Andy, copy and standing by sir. 4 - Okay, I’ll be on this frequency and I’ll advise you when I leave it. 5 - Roger sir.

[3147]

1 - Two Six Thousand. 2-60002 - Give me Crown please. 3 - Just a minute.

2 - 2-6000 for a patch. 3 - Roger. 4 - Crown on. Go ahead. 5 - Roger, Crown, 2-6000, will you get a patch with Jerry Behn please? 6 - Roger, stand by.

1 - 2-6000. Duplex (2 – Duplex) is on, go ahead.

2 - Standby One. 3 - Hello? 4 - Okay.

5- (OK) Jerry? (3 – Digest)

6 - Hello?

7- Go ahead.

8- We’re at the airport 2-6000, everybody’s aboard.

9 - Duplex - Okay, go ahead.

10 - We are waiting for the swearing in at the plane before take-off. 11 - Of, the….That’s Volunteer? (4 Volunteer)

12- Roger.

13- Say again, Roy, say again. 14- We are waiting for a judge to appear for a swearing in. 15- That is for Volunteer, is that right?

16- Yes. We are having one done – (unintel) done here before we takeoff Jerry. 17- That’s an affirmative. Do you have any idea yet what Lace wants to do and what Volunteer wants to do on their arrival here?

18- No. But I will call you back. (Suggest)…we have 2 hour 15 flight into Andrews. We have a full plane with at least 40.

19- Okay, go ahead. 20- I’ll have to call you again as to, as to the body, however, I’m sure the Volunteer’s party will go over….(his car)....and so forth - we will need (unintel) and several others21- All right, let me know what Volunteer wants to do when they land. If they want to come into Crown by helicopter

22- That’s a roger, I’ll call you again. 23- Okay.

[3414]

1 - 2-6000, Andrews 2 - Okay, go ahead.

3 - Stand by for Air Force Command

4 - Okay give them a call. 5 - Go ahead. 6 - Roger.7 - Air Force Command Post

8 – Air Force One do you read me?

9 - 2-6000 go ahead.

10- Can you give me Estimated Time of Departure from Dallas? Over. 11- From Dallas? Go ahead.

12- Would you repeat your estimated time of departure from Dallas? Over 13- Roger. It could be within the next ten minutes. Go ahead. 14- Roger. Could you give me a call when you’re airborne? And can you give me any additional information?

15- Not at this time. 16- Roger. Thank you.17- Will call on takeoff.

1 - Andrews, Air Force One. 2 - Air Force One, Andrews, go ahead sir. 3 - Andrews, - Roger, standby. 5 - Air Force Command Post….

6 - Air Force One, standby one please. 7 - Air Force One, Andrews. Give them a call please.

8 - Command Post, Air Force One, how do you read? 9 - Fine, sir. Go ahead. 10- ...Dallas... Two zero four seven zulu and will call in a couple of minutes with, ah, block time for Andrews.

[3558]

11- Do you have an approximate block time, sir?

12- Ah, Well, two plus one zero go ahead. 13- Two plus one zero. And do you have any passengers on board? 14- Roger. Forty plus.15- Do you have Mrs. Kennedy on board?

16- Affirmative. I’ll call you back, Command Post.17- All right, sir.

- Air Force One, Andrews. I have SAM Command Post standing by sir.

18- Command Post, Air Force One, go ahead.

19- Stand By One Sir.

20- Give Air Force One a call please.

21- Air Force One. SAM Command Post, go ahead. 22- Roger, Roger. You called me, go ahead sir.

23- Roger, this is Colonel Hornbuckel in Operations. We have a request from senior staff officer, wants to know if you have Mr. Johnson and Mr. Kennedy’s body aboard?

- Stand by, one.25- Okay, Air Force One. Affirmative on all those questions. Go ahead. 26- Roger, thank you very much. Out.

[36:09]

1 - Air Force One, signal check. 2 - Air Force One, Andrews, loud and clear. 3 - Loud and clear, Liberty. 4 - Roger. 5 - Scott, loud and clear. 6 - Air Force One, I have SAM (unintel) standing by.

7 - 2-6000 2-6000 SAM Command Post

8 - Air Force One, go ahead please. 9 - Roger, Air Force One, are you airborne at present? Are you airborne at present? 10- Affirmative. Airborne at Two Zero Four Seven, 20-47. Estimated time on the block at Andrews is Two Three Zero Five - go ahead.

11- Roger, Roger, I understand, Departed at 2047, ETA estimated time of arrival Andrews, 2305, is that Charlie?

10 – That’s Charlie

[38:04]

13 - Roger, Roger Air Force One, SAM Command Post clear.

[38:10]

1 - Air Force Command Post, go ahead. 2 - I have Air Force One standing by, stand by please. 3 - Air Force One, give Command Post a call please. 4 - Command Post, Air Force One.

5 - Go ahead Air Force One, this is Command Post. 6 - Okay, departure 2-0-4-7, estimated time on the block Andrews 2-3-0-5, and we are rounding off at flight altitude 2-9-0. Over.

[3841]

1 - Go ahead. 2 - Air Force One, this is the Air Force Command Post. If possible, request the names of passengers on board please? 3 - We have forty plus. Go ahead. 4- Forty people, is that affirmative?

5- That’s affirmative. 6- Can you tell me in regards as to ah, one and two, the top people?

7- Roger. The president is on board, the body is on board, and Mrs. Kennedy is on board. 8- All right. Can you confirm once again your takeoff time and your estimated time of arrival at Andrews? 9- Two Zero Four Seven (2047) take off time…Andrews, two three zero five. (2305)10- Roger, thank you. This is the Air Force Command Post out.

[3928]

1 - Call please?

2 - Air Force One Air Force Command Post Over.

3 - Roger we are estimating (unintel.) two one…one...zulu – we’ll call at that time

4 - Roger 2-6000 Command Post Copy

5 - Air Force One – 970 ….John….wants to know on the ground if you have Congressman Thomas, Thornbury and Brooks aboard? Can you check that out for us?

6 - Say again, say again.

7 – Roger. The delegation here needs to know if you have Congressman Thomas, Congressman Thornbury and Congressman Brookes aboard? Could you check for that please?

- Roger. Stand by.

[4010]

4 - Air Force One, give me a shout please?5 - Air Force One, standby sir. 6 - Crown? This is Air Force One on standby please. 7 - Air Force One, Andrews, give them a call please. 8 - Air Force One, Andrews, give them a call please. 9 - Air Force One, Andrews, give Crown a call please.

11- Crown, Air Force One.

12- This is Crown, go ahead.

13- We need a patch with Surgeon General of the Army Heaton. Go ahead.14- Please repeat the message, over.15- Roger. We need a patch with General Heaton. H-E-A-T-O-N the Surgeon General.

16- Roger, Roger. That’s General Heaton, the Surgeon General of the Army. Over.

17- That is correct. 18- Roger, Roger, standby. 19- Air Force One, Crown. Standby please. We’re reaching the general now, over. 20- Command Post weather is 2-6000, please. 21- Okay, Air Force One, standby. 22- Roger. 23- We’re in a patch right now….Air Force one, Air Force One, Andrews on One Five, I’ll Copy sir. 24- Yes, sir? 25- You’ll have to hold on there. We’re in a long patch with the White House right now. 26- Right, I’ll hold.

27 - Okay, sir. 28- 2-6000 29- One, Andrews.30- Roger sir…give them a call….31- Are we on….One…Eight….pick up on 14 meg….

32- We could try…frequency do you have blocked out there ….13 -18…also….33- Roger and One, Five, Zero, One, One.34- Roger….is that correct?

35- Roger, one of them is. The other is a backup and the other is gonna to be busy in a couple of minutes.

36- Roger with the….37- Roger, will do.38- Roger, can you patch me with Air Force One please? 39- Who is this please?40- This is Airman Stanz.

41- Standby, you’ll be number three. 42- Okay, right.

43- Will you call me back through Command Post 44- Because this is taking quite a while and there’s no sense you holding onto the line….We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.45- This is in regards to the Forecast….go ahead. 46- Okay, right sir.

47- Forecast….48- Say again…..

[4250] –

[4302] (9:40)

1 - Air Force One, Crown. Hello?

2 - Give Crown a call please.

3 - Air Force One, this is Crown, do you read me? Over. 4 - Roger, Roger, Crown. Air Force One.

5 - Hello? 6 - Air Force One, this is Crown. You were cut out. General Heaton is at Walter Reed Hospital. You will have to stand by just a moment or else let me call you back when I get him on the line. It will take about a minute to reach him.

7 - Air Force One, Crown, do you Roger, over?

8 - Crown, Roger. Try and get General Heaton, and in the meantime, try to get the Deputy Surgeon General. We will talk to either one. Go ahead. 9 - This is Crown. Roger. Will you standby, and let me call you back? Over. 10 – Roger. This is very important.11 - Roger. I’ll put an emergency on it and we will get him as soon as possible. 12- Roger, Roger. 13- Air Force One, Roger, we’re still standing by. 14- Roger. I’ll give you call on 15, I have another patch

15- Air Force One Roger. 16- …Air Force One, go ahead.

17-…Air Force One, Crown.

18- Roger, stand by for a message.

19- This is Dr. Burkley

(unintel)

21- Dr. Burkley, Dr. Burkley, this is Crown. You’re cutting out, you’re cutting out. You’ll have to repeat, over.

23- This is Dr. Burkley - I want to get in touch with General Heaton or General Heaton’s deputy.

[4444]

24- Dr. Burkley, this is Crown. We are working as fast as possible trying to get the call through for you. He’s at Walter Reed. We are unable to locate. Still searching. Over.

25- The Deputy must be in the General’s office over at the main Navy building. 26- Roger, Roger. If you’ll standby, we’ll try to reach him. 27- Market….This is Crown. You Roger? We’re trying to reach one of them. If you’ll standby, please.

[4515]

28- All right. Roger. 29- Air Force One, on fifteen. 30- Air Force One, loud and clear. 31- Okay, do you have another line in to Crown? 32- This is Andrews. Roger. 33- Okay, go ahead.

(11:45) [4542]

1 - Roger. Stand by One.

3- Can you give me White House switchboard, please?

4 - Thank you. 5 - Signal. 6 - Right….ah……7 - Crown, are you still on? I have Air Force One for a patch. 8 - Roger, Roger…Air Force One, Andrews, Crown is on, go ahead sir.

9 - Air Force One, Air Force One - Crown come in?

10- Air Force One, Andrews - Crown is on go ahead sir.

11- Call into Duplex please

12- Roger, Roger, Locating

13- Air Force One Andrews Copy Andrews Sir

14- (Dots and dashes in background)

15- Air Force One Andrews you are transmitting one three Sir

16- Roger, Roger, how about the patch into Crown?

17- Roger, Crown is on, would you give them a call, sir.

18- Crown – Air Force One - would you get a hold of Duplex for us please?

19- Roger, Roger. Duplex is on the line, go ahead.

20- Digest, Duplex

20- Jerry? (Static) …Jerry we are arriving Andrews…eight oh five… six oh five, rather….

21- Can receive, go ahead.

22- Helicopter (static-y electronic noise) for the Johnson party(noise) on the south lawn.

23- Say again, say again.

24- Air Force One Andrews, on one five - your patch line, sir, is not as good as your other line – could you check me lower sign, one five lower sign than

25- Andrews, you’re very week on one five. Got interference - can you check me lower sign band one five, one five lower?

26- One five lower?

27- Rooger. This frequency lower sideband. This frequency lower sideband.

29- This is Duplex, this is Duplex.

30- Arrival Andrews, Six-Oh-Five, standby.

31- (unintel) ambulance for body to take to Walter Reed.

32- Repeat please, Repeat please.

33- Ambulance to transport body to Walter Reed. Over.

34- Say again, say again

35- Ambulance to Walter Reed, to transport body.

36- Arrangements have been made for a helicopter for the Bethesda Naval Medical Center.

37- Stand by Jerry we’ll have to get Berkley here

- Okay

(unintel).

38- Say again, I cannot read, I cannot read.

39- Stand By

40- He’s on Lower

41- Can you hear me at all.

42- That’s good.

43- Air Force one – Andrews, one five lower

44- Air Force One, Andrews - One five lower, do you read sir?

45- We have them at one thee and one five, go ahead.

46- We have them at one three and one five, trying to run two patches at one time.

47- I can’t read them on one five – if you want ‘em to go down we’ll have to go down we’ll have to go down to one zero

- Okay, stand by one, I’ll try to get them back on one five

- Go ahead

48- Air Force One Andrews. I have your party on, we’re having trouble reading you this frequency. Do you read me sir?

Air Force One on 15

Air Force One, Andrews, reading you good and readable – your party on patch is dropping way down – how do you read me, sir?

49- You’re loud and clear now – we want Behn again

This is Andrews – I have your party on at Crown – do you still want to talk to ‘em, sir?

Roger, we want Mr. Behn on again

Go ahead, Air Force One – this is Duplex

3 - Air Force One, Duplex is on, Duplex is on. This is Dr. Burkley. What arrangements have been made with regard to the reception of the President?

6 - Everybody aboard Air Force One, everyone aboard Air Force One, with the exception of the body, will be choppered into the South Ground. The body will be choppered to the Naval Medical Center at Bethesda. Over.

7- The body will be choppered or will go by ambulance to the Navy Medical Center?

8- Will be choppered, will be choppered. (1738) [5215]

9 - I’ll call General Heaton and ask him to (unintel) Washington in regards to this. Would you call him and cancel the….have him go to Walter Reed….I didn’t know the arrangements were already made.

10 - Say again, say again Doctor. 11- The body is in a casket you know, and it will have to be taken by ambulance and not by chopper.

12- Alright. I’ll tell Captain Shepard that.

13- Be sure to contact…..General Heaton.

[5300]

14- Say again doctor say again.

15-Hello?

16-Hello. Say again please?

17-(unintel) Ambulance.

18-Say again doctor……

[5320]

1- Hello sir

- Hello, hello?

2- Andrews, Air Force One - put Mr. Behn on again, please.

3- Roger, sir - he is standing by, he is standing by. They are having trouble reading you this freq - Can you check me through Liberty on nine zero? Can you check me through Liberty on nine zero?

5- Stand by for a call from Andrews, stand by for a call from Andrews nine zero.7- Air Force One, this is Crown - Come in.

8- Air Force One, Air Force One - Crown come in,

9- Roger, Air Force One,

11- Roger, I have Gen. Heaton standing by – I’ll put him on the line, over.

Hello?

12- Crown, I am putting Gen. Heaton on the line. Over

13- General Heaton?

14- Air Force One Crown, go ahead. General Heaton on the line.

15- Hello, General Heaton?

16- Yes, General Heaton

17- General Heaton, this is Admiral Burkley.

18- Yes, Burkley?

19- On Air Force One.

20- Yes.

21- Air Force One Andrews give General Heaton a call. Go ahead.

22- General Heaton this is Admiral Burkley, do you read? Go ahead.

23- Hello?

24- General Heaton this is Dr. Burkley.

25- Yes Burkley?

26-….(use the ) …Military District of Washington in regards to the taking care of the remains of President Kennedy and we are planning on having the president taken directly to Walter Reed. Ah Probably Mrs. Kennedy will also be going out there. But we will clarify that later.

27- Oh, all right.

[5545]

1- Hello?

2- Can you hold for just a minute please? 3- Sure

4- Gen. Heaton, this is the operator at Andrews, when you are on the radio talking to the aircraft and only one party can speak at a time. When Admiral Burkley is talking to you, you cannot. You have to wait for him to reply.

5- Okay, Thank you.

6- Hello?

7- Air Force One Give General Heaton a call please. 8- General Heaton is on, this is Admiral Burkley. 9- Yes, Burkley?10- Air Force One. 11- Yes?

12- Can you read me?

13- I read you Admiral Burkley.

14- Hold for a minute, please. General Clifton here…[5700]

15- Ah….this is General Clifton. 16- Yes General Clifton?17- We do not want a helicopter for Bethesda Medical Center. We do want an ambulance and a ground return from Andrews to Walter Reed. And we want the regular post mortem that has to be done by law, under guard, performed at Walter Reed. Is that clear? Over.

18- That is clear General Clifton. You want an ambulance and a ah….another limousine at Andrews and you want the regular post mortem by law done at Walter Reed.

19 - That is correct. But not just an autopsy(?) – I want (unintel)

21- What did he say?

22- Air Force One standby.

23- Roger.

24- Air Force One. Will you repeat your last transmission you faded out sir

25- Okay Stand by, One, stand by.

26- General Heaton? This Clifton over.

27- Yes General Clifton, it’s General Heaton.

28- Hold on for a minute, over.

29- I’ll hold on.

30- Air Force One?31 - Air Force One, Andrews. Go ahead sir.

32 - Okay, I think our patch was cut there on 13.

33 - Air Force One, its still in progress, will you give the ground party a call sir.

34 - How do you read Andrews?

[5919]

1- One Liberty, Copy Andrews?

2- Arrangements are made…..

3- Air Force One. Liberty.

4- General Heaton.

5- Stand by one, General Heaton. They are getting someone on the aircraft.

6- Liberty, nine seventy, give me a call fifteen.

7- Dr. Burkley?

8- Nine seventy?

[01:00:00]

[01:00:15]

1- Hello? Jerry?

2- Go ahead Heaton.

3- Jerry, what arrangements have you made? 4- We have 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. 5- General Heaton, will you kindly hold, we have some arrangements already made. We will have to clear that before we make any further.

6- A limousine and ambulance at Andrews (background conversation). 7- Air Force One, repeat your last transmission….8- Hello Andrews? This is Crown.

(21:12) [01:01:15]

1- Crown, go ahead.

2- Ah, we have Captain Shepard here who has also evidently made some arrangements on the funeral and so forth here in Washington, and bringing the body back and so forth. He would like to get on and talk with Air Force One when

General Heaton is finished. It might be possible for us to put him up on a conference so they can all make the arrangements together. I understand that Captain Shepard the Naval aide has made some arrangements also. So you might explain that to Air Force One and tell them that we’ll try to put them on a conference, if they like.

4- - Andrews, okay standby, we’ll advise Doctor Burkley.

(21:59) [01:01:48]

[01:02:12]

1- Air Force One, Andrews.

[1:02:20]

[1:03:13]

6 - Air Force One, Liberty

(unintel)

9 - Liberty to Andrews, go ahead. 10 - Did you copy the full 9-7-2 off of Hickam? 2-1-1-1 Zulu, estimated Andrews Zero Five Three Zero Zulu, ultimate…11 - Liberty, Andrews, Roger. 12 - Forward that to Air Force One.13 - Liberty, Andrews, Roger.

[01:03:50]

Air Force One Andrews – how copy?

[01:04:17]

1-Andrews Air Force One on 13 - Let’s run the patch with Jerry Behn on this frequency.

Air Force One, I have a patch in progress at this time – I have General Heaton standing by

3- Roger - Will you take Gen Heaton off for a moment.

Roger - stand by

This is Crown – Roger, hold General Heaton, this location – General, you still on the line?

4- You want me to hang on?

5- Yes, please hold the line.

6- Please notify Air Force one that we have Capt. Shepard waiting for a phone patch with them if they could possibly take it, or whichever they’d like to put through first.

[01:05:05]

7 - Please call on this frequency, go ahead sir. Air Force One Andrews, give Duplex a call please.

8- Duplex, Duplex?

9- Hello, Air Force One, Air Force One, This is Crown, Duplex dropped off. How do you hear me now?

10 - This is the Watchman, five five five, over.

11- Roger

[01:05:50]

[01:05:56]1- Go ahead, Duplex is on one, sir. 2- Air Force One, Andrews. Give your party a call. 3- Okay, Duplex, Duplex, this is Watchman, over. 5- Go ahead Watchman, this is Duplex. Over. 6- Duplex, this is Watchman. I understand that arrangements have been made (unintel) ambulance to take Mrs. Kennedy to Bethesda is this correct? Over.8- Watchman. It has been arranged to helicopter, helicopter the body to Bethesda Over9- This is Watchman. That’s okay if it isn’t after dark. What about the First Lady? Over.10- Everybody else aboard, everybody else aboard, arrangements have been made to helicopter into the South Grounds. 11- Watchman (unintel) helicopter operation will work because we have a very heavy casket. Over. 12- Ah, according to Witness, yes. 14- This is Watchman. …. don’t take a chance on that. Also have a mortuary type ambulance stand by in case the helicopter doesn’t work.

15- That’s affirmative. Over. 16- That’s affirmative. I receive. 17- Now some other instructions. Listen carefully. We need a ramp, a normal ramp at the front of the aircraft, on the right hand side, just behind the pilot’s cabin in the galley. We are going to take the First Lady off by that route. Over - do you understand? 18- I receive. Affirmative.

19- Also, by the right rear, on no, the left rear, the left rear of the aircraft, where we usually dismount, de-bark, we will need a fork lift rather than a ramp because it will be too awkward. We will need a platform to walk out on, and a fork lift to put it on. Is that possible? Over.

20- Say again, say again Watchman. 21- I say again. The casket is in the rear compartment, and we suggest, because it is so heavy, that we have a fork lift, a fork lift there to remove the casket. But if this is too awkward, we can go along with a normal ramp and several men. Over.

22- Affirmative. We will try for the fork lift. 23- All right. Next item. Duplex, Duplex. Ah ….The press, according to Mr. Johnson, the press is to have a normal…at Andrews field, and he is going from there by helicopter to the White House. Over.

24- Say again, Watchman, say again please. 25- Watchman, this is Duplex, say again. 26- The press, the normal corral, it will have to be in front of the aircraft, because that is where President Johnson will come off. Okay? 27- Watchman this is Duplex. Will you say that all over again please? 28- Duplex this is Watchman. I say again. On the right front, a ramp for Mrs. Kennedy, on the left rear, if possible, a fork lift for the casket, and in the right front, near the pilot, a normal ramp…..Over. 29- Say again, Watchman, you’re breaking. 30- (non-broadcast communications – someone else behind radio operator) I got that, on the left front, I got that, normal ramp for President Johnson…on the left front…press arrangements…all right. 31- Did everybody get that clear? Over. 32- That is affirmative. 33- Hold One, …Tillerman would like to talk to you.34- Watchman, Watchman, this is Duplex - Standby One. Are you there?35- Watchman, Watchman, this is Duplex.36- Duplex, this is Watchman, Over. Go ahead. 37- Watchman, should the Secretary of Defense and others be at Andrews on your arrival? 38- No, I am about, no negative….Have them call the White House. President Johnson wants to meet with the White House staff….the leadership of Congress, and as many of the Cabinet members as possible at the White House as soon as we get there, approximately eighteen thirty - one, eight, three, zero. Over.39- Will you say again please…

40- I got it.

41- you got it? 42- (unbroadcast communications) President Johnson is supposed to meet as many of the cabinet members at the White House at 1830. 43- This is Watchman. You didn’t get it all. Members of the White House staff. Also the leadership of Congress. Also as many Cabinet members as available at the White House at 1830. Over. 44- That is affirmative Watchman. That is affirmative.

45- Repeat that to me. 46- All the leaders of Congress, as many Cabinet members as possible at the White House at 1830

47- The key members of the White House staff. That is Bundy, Sorrensen, etcetera. 48- That is correct.49- Okay.

50- Hold on for Kellerman.

51- Roger

52- Go ahead.

53- Go ahead Roy, this is Duplex.

(unintel)

56- ….helicopter…

57- Did you get that operator?

- Air Force One Andrews, say again please

(garbled, static-y)

(Fade out – Clifton Tape ends – Audo 1).

BEGIN GPO-NARA-JFK-ASSASSINATION AUDIO-2 (1)

4- ...helicopter transportation for President Johnson.5- Air Force One, Andrews.6- Air Force One Andrews. Request we change positions, you have a bad microphone. 7- Okay, how’s this? 8- Air Force One Andrews, Roger. Go ahead with your traffic now sir.

9- Digest to Duplex, how’s this?

All right, Digest – this is Duplex10- Again, I repeat, three helicopters to transport people to the White House lawn. Okay? 11- That is affirmative.

Roger. Okay, White House one oh two and four oh five x, transportation to the Naval Hospital, okay?

That is affirmative

That’s a Roger. I am keeping a – I will join the General and his party at the Navy Hospital, okay?

Digest, this is Duplex – you accompany a body aboard the helicopter.

Roger. Regret I was unable to get ahold of …

Say again, Duplex

Go ahead Digest, this is Duplex

(unintel)

Say again, Digest.

(unintel) were not notified

Okay (unintel)

Say again, sir

(unintel)

That is affirmative, Digest

10- Okay, Gerry. One more… Standby. 11- Okay one more. (unintel) is on six, nine, seven oh. 12- Right....

13- Go ahead Digest.14- Say again sir. (radio operator)15- Go ahead Digest

16- Repeat. Number….Six nine seven oh (6-9-7-0). Okay? 17- That’s affirmative. I receive. 18- Ah, do you have any questions? Is that enough? 19- Not at the moment. But if we do we’ll call back.

20- That’s a Roger, but hold on.21- I got…. (muffled background conversation)...the aircraft...good.22- Digest for Duplex. Go ahead.

23- Go ahead Digest, this is Duplex.

24- Could you call Dr. John Walsh in Washington and advise him of our arrival?25- That is affirmative. 26- Okay. 27- Where does Lace want Dr. Walsh to meet her? Where?28- Say again sir. 29- Digest, this is Duplex. Where does Lace want Doctor Walsh to meet her?

30- Ah,…at the White House when we get there with her.31- At the White House…..That’s affirmative.32- Standby. I don’t have anything but I think they want the line open here.

33- Roger, Digest - this is Crown. I have Witness standing by.

1- Get up, hang up, ah. There’s another call here.2- Digest? Digest, Digest, this is Crown, come in? 3- Digest, Digest, this is Crown, come in?

4- Stand by Crown. (radio operator)5- Air Force, Air Force One, Andrews. (radio operator)6- Negative Crown, negative Crown.

7- Air Force One, Andrews, say again sir. 8- Air Force One, Air Force One, this is Crown, come in.9- This is Dagger to Crown...I have traffic for Behn.

(unintel)

… he’s still waiting to bring up Air Force One – we’ve been waiting now for fifteen minutes – what’s up?

3- Yes sir. We are running two patches at once into the White House and they are real busy. We can’t get through to them. They’re making arrangements to take the body off and everything else.

4- Let me patch in for Air Force Weather so they know.5- I already told them that earlier. 6- Go ahead sir. 7- Go ahead sir. 8- Weather’s on. 9- Hello sir? 10- We’re running two patches at one time to Air Force One right now from the White House, and they are making arrangements about taking the casket and stuff off and we can’t get through to you, and as soon as we can we’ll give you a call.

11- Okay, he needs that temperature before he gets there. 12- Right sir. They should be done pretty soon. They’ve been on it for quite a while now.

Okay, buddy – thank you, sir13- Andrews Air Force One. Loud and clear. Okay Stand by and we’ll have General Heaton come on this line as soon as the other party gets away.

Roger sir, I have Command Post Weather, they’ve been standing by for about fifteen minutes trying to get a patch to you – can we run it at this time, sir? 16- Command Post? You can bring weather up now – I’ve got Air Force One. 17- Weather’s on. Go ahead. 18- Andrews Air Force One – Weather’s on – can you give them a call please?

19- Weather, Air Force One, go ahead.

20- This is Command Post Weather, be advised of a severe weather area from forty miles west of Fleetwood, Mississippi, to twenty miles west of Gladville, Arkansas extending one twenty miles, one hundred miles to the east for tornadoes, tops five zero thousand, fifty thousand. I want you to be advised of that. I have a revised landing forecast for Andrews. If you are ready to copy, over.

21- Stand by Weather, I will have to call you back on it. 22- Roger.

23- Okay I’ll call you right back on it.

24- Okay.

25- Who’s this, sir?

26- Hello?

27- Hello?

28- Hello Crown?

29- Hello Crown?

[10:56]

1- Andrews Sideband.Sir?

2- This is Dorman, General LeMay’s aide. General LeMay is in a C-140; last three numbers are “497.” SAM C-140.

3- “497” – last three numbers.

4- Right. He is in bound. His code name is Grandson, and I want to talk to him.

5- Grandson. Okay sir, we’ll see what we can do. We’re really busy with Air Force One right now.

6- Okay. You don’t have the capability to work more than one, huh?

7- Well, we’re running Air Force One on two different frequencies, we’re giving them two different patches at one time right now, and that’s all we can do.

8- I see.

And what is your drop, sir? Are you off [a] drop off the Washington switch?

9- Well, I am, yes --- either drop 303 or 79225.

10- 79225

12- But if you can’t work him now it’s gonna be too late because he will be on the ground in a half hour.

13- Okay, and what is your name again sir?

14- Colonel Dorman. D-O-R-M-A-N

15- D-O-R-M-A-N. OK, I’ll try to get back to you if we can get him right away, sir.

16- Thank you.

17- Right

[1204]

(unintel – electronic tone)

1- Go ahead…Go ahead Liberty.

2- You want 18 upper, I have 970 on 90?

3- You have 970 on 90.

4- He’s off at 2115, copy that, he’s off at 2115, estimating 2330, relay to Alpha Juliet Two.

5- 2330 for Andrews and he was off ah, OK, he was off at 2115, estimating Andrews 2330, Alpha Juliet Two

6- That’s an affirmative and we’re going to copy his, ah, ah, passenger list on teletype and send it to you.

7- Okay.

What does he want on eighteen.

Ah, they’re gonna get 972 and get him a check and get him his stuff but I can’t right now, I’m too busy

9- Okay.

[14:12]

5 - Air Force One. Copy sir…6 - Liberty.

7 - Roger Liberty. Loud and clear.8 - (Static)

9 - Roger, Roger, okay, Take (unintel) Correction. Take this and relay it for me and then I want to patch in.

10 - Liberty. Air Force One?11 - Air Force One. This is Andrews. 12 - Air Force One, Andrews, go ahead sir. 13 - Okay, you can set up Command Post (unintel) Bring up to two, three zero, zero zulo.14 - This is Andrews. Roger copy. We’ll rely that.15 - Okay and pick up the weather warning from the Air Force Command Post and see if there’s anything to it please, we’ve got (unintel) unless it’s important.

16 - Roger. Stand by One. 17 - …..bring up to nine zero….18 - Air Force Command Post. Major Benson.

19 - Right. Can I have weather please? 20 - Just a minute. 21 - Weather on. 22 - Right Sir, I have Air Force One. He’s real busy and he wants to know how severe this weather warning is,

23 - It’s for tornadoes. That’s pretty severe. 24 - Okay. Hold on. 25 - Right.

26 - Air Force One. Air Force One. Andrews.

27 - Air Force One, Air Force One, Andrews. Do you copy sir?28 - Do you read six, seven. Six, seven?29 - Read…Loud and clear. 30 - Air Force One. Andrews. Loud and clear. 31 - I have the weather on and weather is pretty important sir. Will you give them a call sir? 32 - Air Force One, go ahead now please. 33 - All right. Break in weather.

34 - Be advised. Be advised that the severe weather area is for tornadoes, tornadoes is the severity. Radar reports tops in the area at the present time from forty seven to Fifty one thousand. Over.

35 - Roger, What area was that? I didn’t get it before.36 - This is for an area forty miles west of Greenwood, Mississippi to twenty miles west of Gladville, Arkansas, and one

hundred twenty miles east of both of these locations. It is on your flight path. Over. 37 - That is twenty miles east of both of those locations, is that correct?38 - Right. If you draw a line from Greenwood to Gladville, and a hundred twenty miles east of that line.39 - Okay. 40 - Your temperature at landing at Andrews six two, sixty two degrees. 41 - Roger that. Thank you. Over.

[1844]

1 - Stand by One. 2 - Air Force Once, this is Crown, come in.3 - This is Dagger on Air Force One, to Crown.

4 - Roger, Roger. I have Freedom pardon…I have Witness standing by for a patch. 5 - We’ll have Witness in one minute. Could we go ahead with traffic for Behn, Crown? 6 - Roger. You have someone else calling Behn. Is that a Roger?

7 – That’s a Roger - This is Dagger calling Behn. 8 - Stand by. 9 – Dagger, Duplex is on, go ahead.11 - Dagger to Duplex 12 - Messages from Volunteer and Victoria relative to activities tonight.

13 - Go ahead Dagger, this is Duplex. You are aware that we will go to Crown for meeting?14 - That is affirmative.

15 - Go ahead

16 - Crown, Crown.

17 - Air Force One go ahead sir. 18 - Volunteer will reside at Valley for an indefinite time. I repeat Volunteer will reside at Valley for an indefinite time. Victoria requests that Venus go to Valley with agents.19 - Will you say again? Will you say again? Venus will go to Valley with agents?

20 - That is a Roger. That is a Roger. Venus will go to Valley with agents. 21 - Victoria will go to Valley after first going to Crown. Over. 22 - Victoria will go to Valley after first going to Crown. Okay.

23 - That’s affirmative.24 - Do you also understand that for residential purposes Volunteer will reside at Valley? 25 - That is affirmative. That is affirmative. 26 - Alright. That is all the traffic I have. ….you will get. 27 - Okay, okay.

2 - Will you give me a patch into Crown please?3 - Roger, Standby One. 4 - White House.

5 - Roger. Standby for Air Force One.6 - Roger.

7 - Air Force One. Andrews. Crown on. 8 - Crown, Air Force One. This is a message from Wing to Slugger. Slugger is to meet aircraft as soon as possible. If he cannot do this, he is to see Wing as soon as possible, as soon as possible. Go ahead.9 - Roger. Roger. Wing to Slugger. Meet aircraft as soon as possible, if this is impossible, see Wing as soon as possible, go ahead.10 - That is correct. Or contact him any way feasible.

11 - Roger. Roger, Crown understands. Anything further? Go ahead. 12 - This weather is (unintel) - Roger. Roger.

(unintel) I’m all done now – I’ll have another one in about five minutes

1- Liberty, nobody is on….go ahead

2- Forecast for Andrews , ground temperature in the works for 972

3- Roger, We’ll get it for you as soon as possible here.

4- Okay.

5- I have traffic for Crown. 7- Air Force One. Air Force One, this is Crown, come in. 8 - Request Victoria … repeat … cance l … for commercial telephones. That is Volunteer and Victoria’s commercial telephones at Valley should be temporarily discontinued and security lines should be put in ,… get ……land…. personnel on that…..do you understand? Over.

9- That’s a Roger Roger, cancel commercial lines at Valley, at Valley, and install blocker circuits, blocker circuits, blocker circuits. Is that a Roger?10 - That’s a Roger. 11- Roger, will Do.

1 - Air Force? 2 - Air Force One. Andrews, go ahead.3 - Give me Crown please?4 - Roger eight one…go ahead. 5 - Winger? 6 - Stand by for Air Force One….Roger, Crown.7 - Air Force One, Andrews, give Crown a call.8 - Roger, Air Force One. We would like a patch with Winner, and ah, the patch is coming from Warrior. Go ahead.

9 - Roger, Roger, standby. 10 - Crown, Crown, this is Warrior, how do you read me? Over.

11 - Warrior from Crown, you are loud and clear. I am putting Winner on now , do you Roger?

12 – Crown this is Warrior – I want Winner, I want Winner

17 - Warrior, Warrior, from Crown, go ahead. Winner, Winner is on the line.18 - Winner, Winner. This is Warrior. Do you read me, over?

19 - I hear you. Over. 20 - Winner, Winner, this is Warrior. Will you please advise press that normal press coverage including live TV will be allowed at the base. Volunteer, repeat, Volunteer will make statement on arrival, will make statement on arrival. Did you read that? Over.

22 - I read you clearly. 23 - Will you listen to my question? Is Mrs. Kennedy aboard Air Force One?24 - Warrior. That is a Roger. That is a Roger. Over. 25 - Alright, the other thing is I am setting up a press section on the south lawn about 50 yards from the position of Helicopter Number One. Would that meet Mrs. Kennedy’s and the President’s approval?

26 - Winner, they are not returning to the house, they are not returning to the house, for your own information. They are going someplace else. I don’t want to go in on the radio on this one. So there will be an arrival there, but it will be Volunteer. It will be Volunteer. Over.

27 - Thank you. I will hold that information. And we can say something after you arrive. 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? 28 - That is a Roger, that is a Roger, but we are not saying that yet. Over. 29 - Well we’ve already said it. I should have checked it with you before doing it. But I don’t think it makes much difference. It takes a lot…It takes a lot off of us by doing it. I was in error. Over.

30 - So far as the () on the south lawn, there is no objection to that, there is no objection to that.

31 - Should it be live? Can that be live? Yes, you told me that. Okay, anything else? 34 - Will you repeat that? 35 - Anything else that I should know?

36 - Wait a minute. You are breaking. But let me think about this just a second will you?37 - Yes, the power on this aircraft………We lost ….Bell…..somewhere along the line, we don’t have AP aboard. But I have given them the statement on the death that he will make at the airport. Over.

38 - I understand you. Okay, over and out.39 - Don’t go out on me yet because - are you still there Winner? 40 - Yes I am here. 41- I think we are going to tell the press that on arrival, hold on just a minute, wait a minute, I have Clifton here, he is trying to give me something, hold on

(background conversation, muffled).

42 - (muffled conversation).

43 - Winner, Winner, this is Warrior, the…..you can announce that on arrival, on arrival, he will meet with….at the White House……

(static – ten seconds)

44 -……later he will meet with the leadership, with the leadership. Did you read that? Over. 45 - Yes I did read that.

46 - Wait a minute. You are breaking badly. I cannot read. …47 - Yes, yes. I understand, I will announce.48 - Very good Winner. Now wait a minute, there’s one other part I am getting from Clifton I want to relay to you. Hold on.

(garbled)

49 - I didn’t hear you at all. I did not hear you at all Mac. Repeat. Repeat complete statement.

52 - I did not read you. Will you repeat? Repeat your complete statement, your entire statement?

53 - My entire statement I will repeat. They said that on arrival at the house, the president will meet with McNamara and Bundy. And also if Rusk is in town he will meet with Rusk but I think he is in the Far East so it will probably be Ball. And after, a half hour after that meeting is over, we will meet with Congressional leadership at at,… now wait a minute, I’m getting a time on that, that’s eight o’clock, he will meet with leadership…. at eight o’clock, at eight o’clock. Did you read that? Over. 54 - I read it. Now is that bipartisan leadership or Democratic leadership?

55 - That is wholly bipartisan, wholly bipartisan. 56 - I understand you.57 - Hold on, let me check any other information. Do you mind holding Andy?

58 - No go right ahead. 59 – There’s nothing more at this time. I hope you will be available so I can reach you if I have to get back and give you more information as it, as it develops? Over. 60 - Yes, over and out.

[3530]

1 - Air Force.2 - Air Force One. This is Crown.3 - This is Warrior to Crown, Warrior to Crown, are you reading. Over.4 – Warrior, Warrior, this is Crown, loud and clear, loud and clear.

5- Warrior, hold on for transmission from Witness. From Witness. 6 - Roger, Roger, would also like to confirm at this time, would also like to confirm at this time, the request from AF One…

7 – Crown, this is Watchman. Over. 8 - This is Crown. Go ahead Watchman

9 - Can you put Mister Bundy on?

10 –AF One to Crown - You were broken. You were broken, say again. 11 - Crown, this is Watchman. Please put Mister Bundy on the line. Over. 12 - Roger, Roger, standby.13 - You’re party on this end is on. Go ahead and transmit to him.

14 - This is Watchman…. 15 - ……Mac…..second and secretary MacNamara at six thirty at the White House. If Mr. Rusk is in town…..Mr. Rusk…..we do not, we do not, negative, we do not want the acting secretary. Over.

16 - Correct. Will you tell him that the acting cabinet will be at the airport to greet him. He can bring MacNamara and me in his chopper to the White House. Over.

17 - That is correct. That is all right. We will do that. Take another message. Over.18 - Yea.19 - Secondly. I talked to Jerry Behn about a White House staff meeting. There will be No, negative, no White House staff meeting tonight, that will be tomorrow.

20 - Correct. I have it. Let me repeat your message. Over.21 - Okay. 22 - First that the President wishes to meet with the Secretary and me at the White House on return from Andrews. Second that there will be no other meeting this evening. There will be a White Staff meeting on call tomorrow. Is that correct? Over. 23 - No that is not correct. He wants to meet with the leadership about seven-thirty, the leadership at seven-thirty. Over. 24 - Does he wish us to arrange that? 25 - He wants you to arrange that. Two meetings tonight. MacNamara and Bundy, and the leadership about 7:30. 26 - Does he mean only the Democratic leadership only? Over. 27 - Bipartisan leadership; and I’ll give you some names. Over.

28 - Right Over. 29 - Speaker of the House.]30 - Yea. 31 - Carl Albert. 32 - Carl Albert. 33 - Hal Boggs. 34 - Yea. 35 - Charles Halleck36 - Wait a moment. Say that one again.37 - Leslie Arends 38 - Arends. Yea. 39 - (From) the Senate. Are you listening? Over.

40 - I have…Will you take from me what I have? Then we can go on.41 - I’ll listen to you. Over. 42 - I have Speaker Carl Albert, Hale Boggs, and Leslie Arends. Over. 43 - This is Watchman. That is correct, and I will now continue with the Senate. Over. 44 - Mansfield. 45 - Right.46 - Humphrey 47 - Yea.

(unintel)48 - And Dirksen 49 - Hang on, hold it. Wait a moment. I have the first three, over.

50 - Repeat over.51- This is Watchman. Out.

52 - Hello, sir? Standby please. (radio operator)53 - Yea. 54 - Watchman, Andrews. We’re still standing by for orders to carry out, sir. 55 - Crown, this is Angel. Crown, this is Angel. Out. 56 - Crown, Angel? 57 - This is Angel. 58 - Crown, Angel.

59 - Listen Angel, Would you? I broke down with Mister Bundy. Would you check his Senate list for me? Over 60 - I have Mansfield, Humphrey, Smathers. Over. 61- This is Watchman. In addition to Mansfield, Humphrey, Smathers, we want Dirksen.

62 - Yea 63 - Kuchel and Hickenlooper. Over. 64 - Dirksen, Kuchel, Hickenlooper. Over. 65 - That is correct. For about seven thirty. Over. 66 - Seven thirty at the White House? Over. 67 - Seven thirty in the Cabinet Room. Over. 68 - Tell the Vice President the Cabinet Room is under rearrangement, but the Oval Room will be ready. Over.

69 - The Oval Room it will be, you mean the Fish Room?70 - I mean, both the Fish Room, and the President’s Study and we will try to have the Cabinet Room. But that’s a detail, we can work that out. Over.

71- This is Watchman. He does not want to go in the mansion, or in the Oval room or the President’s study or the President’s office 72 - Correct. [Bundy].73 – If the cabinet room isn’t ready put it in the Fish Room. Over.

74 - I have you. I understand. Always in the West Wing. Over. 75 - I have nothing further. Over.76 - This is Watchman, now please brief Duplex about the changes, so we don’t confuse it. Duplex is Jerry Behn. Over. 77 - Alright I will.78 - See you in a little while. Over. 79 - Okay.

[4109]

[4118]1- Air Force One 2- This is Warrior to Crown, Crown are you reading? Over. 4- Warrior, Warrior. This is Crown. Loud and clear.

5- Hold for Witness. This is Watchman. Over. 6- Standby One I have another patch.7- I have Air Force One Andrews, please. 8- Air Force One. Come in on another line down please. 9- Andrews. Andrews sideband, will you give me Crown please?

10- Give you who sir? 11- Andrews? 12- Who did you want to give a call? 13- Crown. White House.

14- White House. (Male voice)15- Roger. Stand by for Air Force One. 16- Roger. 17- Air Force One White House on. 18- Warrior, how do you read? Over. 19- Air Force One this is Crown, you are loud and clear, go ahead20 - White House, White House this is Warrior, will you give me another patch to Winner, Another patch to Winner. 21 - Roger, Standby. 22 - We are still standing by for Crown.

23 - Andrews, Andrews, this is Air Force One. Do I have that patch with Crown. Over. 24 - Andrews, Air Force One. We are still standing by for Winner through Crown.25 - Will you repeat?26 - We are still standing by for Winner. We are still standing by for Winner.

27 - That’s a Roger. 28 - Air Force One, Andrews. 29 - Crown, Crown. This is Warrior. Over. 30 - Warrior, Stand by. Winner is still in another patch, Winner is still in another patch. 31 - Crown. 32 - Will you repeat?33 - Roger. We are still standing by for Winner. We are still standing by for Winner. 34 - That’s a Roger.35 - One Andrews. 36 - Crown, Crown, this is Warrior. Over. 37 - Warrior, Andrews. Winner is still in another patch. Winner is still in another patch. I have another message for radio operator on Air Force One.38 - Crown, Crown. Who is Winner on a patch with? Over.

39 - Standby One. 40 - Hello Andrews?41- Yea? 42- Will you break in for me? 43- Yes. 44- Warrior? Crown. 45- Crown, give him another call?

46- Warrior, Warrior, this is Crown.47- Go ahead Crown. 48- Warrior, this is Crown. We are having some difficulty in locating ah, Winner. Would you stand by please? 49- That’s a Roger Crown, this is Warrior. 50- Air Force One? Andrews? Hello?

51- Is this Air Force One? 52- Can you give me a quick check on that?

53- I was just up there….54- How about bringing that thirteen through Liberty on the nose, and come back with it?55- Roger Stand by.

1- Volunteer wants a patch to Mrs. Rose Kennedy as soon as possible. 2- Mrs. Rose Kennedy, Roger.

2-I’ll work on that right away. While I am working on that will you get Confirmation, a confirmation on an earlier transmission from AF One stating that the commercial telephone service, say again, the commercial telephone service for the Johnson residence should be discontinued with direct lines to the White House. Do you Roger that?

Stand by, we’ll have to check that out.

3- While you are checking on that I will work on the call to Mrs. Kennedy for Volunteer.

4- That is affirmative, confirmation on your request.

5- White House, Roger, that is affirmative, that is affirmative

6- That is correct.

7- Stand by for your party.

8- Advise you to stand by for your party.

9- I have a patch to Crown and I don’t want it broken.

You are still on a patch with Crown

10- You are standing by.

1- Now….2- Roger, Roger.3- Hello? (Women’s voice) 4- Just a moment, Mrs. Kennedy. 5- Just one moment now please. 6- ….are you up? 7- Hello? (Mrs Kennedy)

8 - Just one moment now please.

9 - Standby One now please.

10 - One, Air Force One, Air Force One, from Crown, come in.

11 - Crown, this is Air Force One, do you read us? Over.

12 - I’m reading you loud and clear. I have Mrs. Kennedy standing by- Are you ready for Volunteer? Go ahead.

14 - Yes, we are ready, can you put her on and I’ll turn her over to him, over.

15 - Roger, Roger, she is coming now.16 - Air Force One from Crown. Mrs. Kennedy on, go ahead please.17 - Hello, Mrs. Kennedy? Hello Mrs. Kennedy, we are talking from the airplane, can you hear me all right? Over.18 - Hello? 19 - Yes, Mrs. Kennedy, I have….could hear you. 20 - Mrs. Kennedy? 21 - Yes, Yes Mr. President, Yes? 22- I wish to God there was something I could do. And I want to tell you that we are grieving with you. 23- Yes, well thank you very much. Thank you very much. I know, I know that you loved Jack and that he loved you. 24- (Lady Bird) Mrs. Kennedy….we…..together….We……son…..25- Thank you Lady Bird, thank you very much. Goodbye. 26- …. In our prayers ….all of you.27- All right. Thank you very much. Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye. (Phone hangs up). 28- Crown, Crown, this is Warrior. I think that’s it.

29-It’s over. Is that a Roger? Over.30 - That’s a Roger, Warrior. Mrs. Kennedy has hung up. Go ahead.

31-Now can you give me that patch to Walter Jenkins in President Johnson’s office, over.

32- Stand by One.

1 - Crown, now will you get me that patch to Walter Jenkins in President Johnson’s office? Over. 2- Roger, Standby One. 3- And Crown, get somebody to come up on the Charlie set please? 4- Liberty to Air Force One, are you on Nine?

5- Roger, I still have (unintel) standing by for Warrior. 6- Okay, bring him up on Nine, please. Crown, give Air Force One a call now.

7- Air Force One, Air Force One, this is Crown, come in. 8- Air Force One, Andrews, Crown is on, go ahead. 9- Air Force One, Andrews, Crown is on, give them a call please.

10- Crown, this is Warrior, do you read me? Over. 11- Roger Warrior, this is Crown, standby for Winner. Go ahead.

12 - That’s a Roger, you are loud and clear.13- Warrior, Warrior, Winner is on, go ahead.

14 - Winner, this is Warrior, do you read me? Over. 15 - I read you.16 - Winner, that first meeting will be Bundy and McNamara only. The President will meet with Rusk, U.S. Senators….probably going to be a different, be a different ah event….ah.17 - I read you.

18 - Did you read that Winner? 19 - Yes, Yes. 20 - Crown, Crown, this is Warrior, do you read me? Over.

21 - Yes I do Warrior, I read you.22 - ….aboard….I need Crown back again. I need Crown back again. Over.23 - Yes, over and out. And I’ll….

24 - Crown

25 - Liberty? 26 - Crown? 27 - Yes? 28 - Roger, give Air Force One a call please. 29 - Roger. Air Force One, Air Force One, this is Crown, come in. Air Force One, this is Crown, come in.

31 - Crown, Crown, this is Warrior, do you read me? Over. 32 - Warrior, this is Crown, ah Roger, you are at Five Five, go ahead. 33 - Will you get me a patch with Mister Walter Jenkins….ah,…at President Johnson’s office. Over.34 - Roger, Warrior, standby.

35 - Kill this call! Kill this call! I think we are overlapping on another call. Over.36 - Roger.

1- This is Warrior. I mean Crown. This is Warrior on Air Force One. Go ahead.2- Roger, Roger. On your request for Jenkins, he is on route to Andrews, on route to your destination. Go ahead.3- That’s a Roger Crown. I will pass that word on.

1- Air Force One, Volunteer would like a patch to the Governor Connally…that’s Governor Connally of Texas. Mrs. Connally, the Governor’s wife. Go ahead.

2 - Volunteer would like a patch with Mrs. Connally, Governor Conally’s wife. Is that a Roger? 3 - That is a Roger.4 - Roger, Roger, standby one.

5- Roger, we have Dallas on the line and are trying to contact her now. Standby please.

6 - Standing by.

7- Crown, come in.

8 -….so far….

9- Roger, Roger that’s right, Standby One.

10 - Crown to Air Force One

11 - Air Force One from Crown. The Connally residence in Dallas is on the line, on the line, and Mrs. Connally is available to speak with Mister Johnson if he can get to the phone patch. Go ahead. 12- Roger, he wants specifically to speak with her. Go ahead.

Roger – he specifically wants to speak with her

13- Roger, standby just a moment. AF One, AF One from Crown, will you put Volunteer on please? Mrs. Connally is on the line, standing by for his call.14- Standby One. 15- Can you hear me? 16- (unintel) reassuring (unintel).the surgeon (unintel). speaking about John (unintel) is so reassuring (unintel) how about it (unintel)17- I can’t hear you too well.

18-…Can you hear me? (Volunteer/LBJ) 19- Yes. 20- (LBJ) I know that everything is going to be all right, isn’t it?21- (Nellie Connally) Yes, it’s going to be all right. 22- God bless you darlin’. 23- The same to you.24- …for me….25- Good luck.26- Goodbye.27- Goodbye.28- Goodbye.29- Air Force One, Andrews, Go ahead. Crown30- Roger, we have an echo. Is that you or down the line? 31- I believe it is down the line, sir. Call….32- Air Force One.33- Air Force One. Crown. Go ahead.

34- Roger. That about completes it for now.35- If you could standby Air Force One, we have a several people that would like to talk to you, if you could standby.

1- Roger, go ahead.2- Command Post.3- Air Force One, go ahead Command Post. 4- Air Force Command Post. 5- Go ahead Command Post, Air Force One.6- 3-7-3 (departing at) … 2-1-4-1 Zulu. 7- Roger, do you copy?9- ….(Ah, roger, and ah,) who does this information go to? Go ahead.

10- Say again? 11- (Roger)…Who is this information passed to, go ahead?

12- Air Force One, Air Force One. [This is] (Air Force Command Post over.)

13- (Command Post, Air Force One) I read you loud and clear. I understand Three, Three (“373”) departed at Two One Four One (2141). Who do you wish to notify about this? Go ahead. 14- Ah, it is very clear sir that the time of departure is… (the one) …. with the president cars on board.

1- Roger, will pass that …know where that goes now. 2- Thank you.3- Okay, will you call Command Post and request two, scratch that, four air police meet the airplane? We want two in the front of the airplane and two in the rear. Go ahead.4- Air Force One. You are requesting four staff cars, two staff cars with air police, two in front and two in the rear. Is that correct? 5- We don’t want cars, we want air police. We want security guards, we want four of them. Two at each door of the airplane. Go ahead. 6- Air Force One, Andrews. Roger. Will abide. SAM. 7- Roger, thank you.

1- A F One, A F One from Crown, come in.

2- Crown, Air Force one, go ahead.3- Roger, Roger, stand by for a patch from Tanker, Tanker

4- Roger.

5 - A F One, A F One, Tanker on the line. Go ahead Tanker.6- Hello Andrews, hello Andrews, may I speak with Watchman or Tiger, Watchman or Tiger? Over.

7 - Watchman at this time is on another circuit. Stand by for Tanker.

8 - Standing by for Tiger.

9 - Tiger, how do you read?

10 - Five by Five, Tiger, Five by Five. I have been informed from Dallas that it was desired that the aircraft be parked at an isolated spot when you arrive here. However, Watchman had a long discussion with ah, Behn, and nothing about that was mentioned. And the present plan on the ground here is to spot you at the regular place, unless Watchman says now that this is not desired. Over.

11 - I believe that we would park at the regular place, Tiger. Where did you get that information down at Dallas? Over.

12 - It was from the U.S. A F Command Post agent there. And I understand from him that you had told him to do this. Over. 13 - We told him to look into that. We were going to discuss it in flight. Go ahead with the regular plan and park in the regular place. Ask to get in touch with you and pass on instructions to him. We need steps to 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 front of the aircraft. And we need a fork lift at the rear of the aircraft, will deplane on the right side. Over.14 - Understand. Tiger. Understand those instructions, and they have all been carried out. 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 fork lift left rear, press area left front. Over.15 – Alright fine, and we’ll keep in touch. Roger and out.

1- Crown, patch …call anybody you want.2- Roger.3- A F One, A F One, from Crown. 4- Crown, A F One. Go ahead.5- Roger, Roger. Could you pass this to Wing. Pass this to Wing, that on 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. 6- Roger, Air Force One, copy. Will pass.7- Roger, Roger. Crown out for now. Do you have anything further A F One? 8- Roger, Standby One, we have another patch for Warrior.

1 - Crown? Give Air Force One a call. 2 - Air Force One, Crown, go ahead. 3 - Okay, I need Capitol Four, Three, One, Two, One, extension Four, Nine Three – will talk to anyone there. 4 – Say again – it was Capitor Four, Three, One, Two, One, extension Four, Nine Three. 5 - Roger, Roger. Understand. Anyone particular there?6 - Roger, anyone at that number.7 - Roger, Roger, standby.8 - A. F. One, A. F from Crown, was that extension Four, Nine Three?10 - That is affirmative. Congressman Thomas’ office.11 - Say again the Congressman’s name, as they say they have no such extension.12- Congressman Thomas. Hotel, Oscar, Biker, Alpha, Sierra. 13 - Roger, Roger, standby, Congressman Thomas’ office on the line. 14 - Roger, this is the airplane. The congressman is requesting that you place his door key under, ah….the doormat of his ah… residence. Go ahead.15 - (Women’s voice) Okay. Hello? 16 - Hello? Did you hear me? Are you there? 17 - There will be someone at the residence.18 - I understand the house will be open and someone will be at the residence. Is that correct?19 - Hello. I understand that the residence will be occupied and someone will be at home, is that right?

AF One, this is Crown that is a Roger – she said that there would be someone at the residence. 20 - Okay, fine Crown. Thank you very much.21 - Roger, Crown out.

1 - Andrews, will you check on the ground temperatures when you get a moment?2 - Roger. 3 - The last …was if Volunteer was aboard? Go ahead. 4 - Just a moment. 5 - Andrews, the temperature, the present temperature is 64 degrees.6 - Okay.7 - Crown. What will the temperature be at Zulu time. 8 - Zulu? 9 - Make it 62. 10 - 63?11 - 62. 12- 62. Got it.

[01:04:50]1 - Will have to resend …...2 - ...Yes, yes, we’re not going to be able to resend them, I don’t believe, ‘cause we only get them on one circuit now.3 - Oh, I see. We’ll just notify the people.4 - All right, thank you very much….5 - This is Liberty. Roger.6 - Air Force One, Andrews. 7 - Air Force One. Go ahead.8 - Roger, Present temperature is 64 degrees. 2300 forecast, Six two degrees.9 - Roger. Thank you.

1- Air Force one. Will you give me the Command Post please?2- Roger, sir.3- Air Force Command Post…4- Sideband…Air Force One for a patch.5- Roger, Stand by for Air Force One.6- Air Force One, Command Post. Go ahead….7 - Roger Command Post, Air Force One, we checked Crown Royal at 2242, and are descending- touchdown remains 2305, go ahead.8 - Roger. Air Force One. Command Post… 9 - (women’s voice) … (unintelligible) 10- Standby…ah, he’s on the television set right now. 11- (women’s voice) It’s very important. 12- Who’s calling please? 13- …. in Dallas. 14- Can you standby? Over.15- This is Air Force One. Warrior is unable to speak with you at the present time, and asks you if you will please call the White House in about 30 minutes. 16- Roger. Out.17- Roger.

1- Andrews, this is Air Force One.2- Air Force One. Go ahead.3- Can you give me SAM Command Post please? 4- SAM Command Post. Captain Benson. 5- Roger, sideband on Air Force One for a patch.6- Okay, go ahead.7- Roger, Air Force One, Andrews, SAM Command Post on, go ahead.8- Roger. Do you have an ET on the C130 with the vehicles? 9- Negative, sir. Haven’t heard a thing. 10- Ah, okay, right, thank you.11- We will check it out.

1- Air Force Command Post…sir.2- Sideband from Air Force One coming in.3- White House (operator)

4- Standby for Air Force One.5- Roger. 6- Go ahead Andrews. 7- Command Post, Air Force One landed Andrews at Two Three Zero Zero.

1- Roger…23002- Loud and clear.3- Andrews, make it ah….Zero Four please.4- Air Force One, Andrews, arrived on the block at Zero Four.

5- Good day sir. 6- Thank you.

[1] – Codes, characters Persona & codenames.

In the order of their appearance of the Air Force One Radio Tapes

86972 – Eight, Six, Nine, Seven Two tail number for the Cabinet on way to Japan.

Andrews – Andrews Air Force Base – Maryland, a few miles SE of Washington DC

2-6000 – Two, Six Thousand – Air Force One when the President is not aboard.

Air Force One – Presidential aircraft when the President is aboard, aka “Angel”

Frequency – the frequency number that they agree to use in order to communicate.

One-Five – 15 – is the frequency number they use to communicate with Andrews.

Honolulu – Hawaii, Hickam AFB, where 86972 stops to refuel on way to Japan.

Command Post – SAC Command Post – (probably Ofutt AFB, Nebraska)

Zulu – Military time – G. Mean Time – 24 hour time rather than 12 hour AM/PM

ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival

Weather Officer –frequently interrupt patches to obtain weather conditions

Airman Gilmore – Radio operator at Andrews, coordinates many of the patches.

Patch – Radio operators acting as middle-men for two people at two different locations who need to have a conversation, sometimes a radio to ground land line telephone or radio to radio. I have broken the radio transmission tapes into groups of conversations that I have numbered and labeled “Patches.” There are 70 patches altogether.

On the block – Upon arrival at destination, blocks are placed at the base of the wheels of the airplane when it comes to a stop to keep it from moving, and that time is registered and regarded as the official time of arrival.

Dallas – Texas, Love Field, destination of Air Force One from Carswell AFB Ft.Worth.

Larry – Radio operator, possibly at Liberty relay station.

Situation Rom – White House basement crisis nerve center.

Liberty – Liberty Radio Relay Station at Collins Radio HQ, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

CINPAC – Pacific Command, Hawaii

Traffic – Messages, radio communications, telephone calls, etc.

White House – aka Crown Wayside –President’s Press Secretary Pierre Salinger aboard the Cabinet Plane.

Crown – White House

Oliver Hallett – Situation Room radio operator

Connally – Texas governor John Connally, wounded at Dealey Plaza

Bromley Smith – State Department officer in the Situation Room at the White House.

Tickers – AP Associated Press UPI United Press International wire service teletypes.

Secretary of State – Dean Rusk, senior passenter aboard 86972 Cabinet Plane

Parkland Hospital – Dallas, where JFK and Connally as well as LBJ taken

Dallas Trade Mart – Original destination where JFK was to deliver speech.

Andy – Hatcher, assistant Press Secretary at White House.

Cedar Rapids – Collins Radio Liberty Radio Relay Station – Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mr. Ball – Undersecretary of State George Ball

Murray Jackson – State Dept. Washington DC

Colonel Toomy – Pilot of AF1 2-6000.

Colonel Holland/Ireland?

Kilduff – Andrew Kilduff, Asst. Press Secretary in Dallas, Delayed the announcement the President was dead until LBJ aboard AF1.

Stranger – Major Harold R. Patterson US Signal Corp, WHCA

McGeorge Bundy – National Security Advisor – at Situation Room in White House

SAC Command Post – Strategic Air Command HQ, Omaha, Nebraska

SAM Command – Strategic Air Mission Command Post, Andrews AFB, DC

Hic Cup – Hickam AFB Hawaii

Duplex – Secret Service Agent Jerry Behn

Volunteer – Vice President/President LBJ

Jerry – Newport Jerry? Radio operator.

Lace –Mrs. Kennedy – First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

Col. Hornbuckel – Andrews Opeations officer – (See: Andrews Log)

Congressman Thomas

Congressman Thornbury

Congressman Brooks –

General Heaton – Surgeon General of the Army

Airman Stanz – Radio Operator

Walter Reed Hosptial – US Army hospital in Washington DCDr. Burkley – JFK’s personal physician aboard AF1

Bethesda Medical Center – Naval hospital where autopsy is performed.

Captain Shephard – President’s Naval Aide in Washington DC

Jerry Behn – Secret Serivice Chief at White House

General Clifton – President’s Military Aide.

Watchman – Gen. Clifton Tillerman – UnidentifiedSecretary of Defense – Robert MacNamara in Washington DC

Sorrensen – JFK Cabinet Member Ted Sorrensen on AF1

Kellerman – Secret Service Agent responsible for security for Texas trip.

Bob Burke – (Secret Service?)

Dr, John Walsh – Mrs. Kennedy’s personal physician in DC

Colonel Dorman – Col. George S. Dorman, Gen. LeMay’s aide in DC.

General LeMay – Chief of Staff of the Air Force (aka Grandson)

C-140 – Type of Plane LeMay is in.Dagger – Secret Service Agent Rufus Youngblood

Victoria – Mrs. LBJ

Valley – LBJ’s DC home. Venus – LBJ’s daughter Wing – Gen. Godfrey McHugh, USAF

Slugger – Capt. Cecil Stoughton, photographer

Warrior – Malcolm Kilduff

Winner – Andrew HatcherWitness – Capt. Tazewell Shepard USN

Speaker of the House – John McKormick

Carl Albert – Congressman

Hal Boggs

Charles Halleck

Leslie Arends

Manfield Humphrey

Dirkson

Smathers

Kuchel

Hickenlooper

Fish Room – White House Conference Room

Mrs. Rose Kennedy – JFK’s mother in Massachusetts.

Walter Jenkins – LBJ’s aide in Washington DC.

Mrs. Connally – Governor Connally’s wife at Parkland Hospital in Dallas.

Tanker – Maj. Michael Cook (Andrews)

Tiger – Col. Swindel (AF1 Pilot)

Congressman Thomas –

Captain Benson – SAM Command Post

C-130 – Plane with vehicles

On the Block, 2304 Zulu GMT– 6:06 PM EST