The John F. Kennedy Assassination Homepage

Navigation

  » Introduction
  » The Report
  » The Hearings

Volumes

  » Testimony Index
 
  » Volume I
  » Volume II
  » Volume III
  » Volume IV
  » Volume V
  » Volume VI
  » Volume VII
  » Volume VIII
  » Volume IX
  » Volume X
  » Volume XI
  » Volume XII
  » Volume XIII
  » Volume XIV
  » Volume XV
Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. III - Page 446« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Ronald Simmons)

Mr. Eisenberg.
There is an apparent crossline running darkly through that photograph.
Mr. Simmons.
These lines were drawn in afterwards, in order for us to make some measurements from the actual impact point.
The target which was emplaced at 240 feet, as shown in Exhibit 583--we had rather an unusual coincidence with respect to this target. This involved the displacement of the weapon to a sufficient angle that the basic firing position of the man had to be changed. And because they knew time was very important, they made the movement very quickly. And for the first four attempts, the firers missed the second target. Of course, we made a rather, I guess, disadvantageous error in the test by pointing out that they had missed on the second target, and there was a conscious effort made on the additional rounds to hit the second target
On the third target, the angle through which the weapon had to be moved to get to the third target from the second was relatively small, and there were only two rounds which did not hit the target at 270 feet. One of these rounds, by the way, was used in the sequence where the iron sight was employed.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Mr. Simmons, when you said that the firers had to make a large shift relatively in their firing position, and were in a hurry, is this your interpretation or is this based on discussions with them subsequently?
Mr. Simmons.
This is based on discussions with the firers after the experiment.
Mr. Eisenberg.
After these tests were finished, did you make a determination of the amount of error--average amount of error in the aim of these riflemen?
Mr. Simmons.
Yes. By assuming that all riflemen had aimed at the inter section of the lines that we have drawn on these pictures, we calculated the total aiming--the aiming error associated with the three riflemen--this is one number to describe the accuracy of all three riflemen. And against the first target the accuracy observed was about .7 mils, in standard deviation. Against the second target, the accuracy was 1.4 mils. And against the third target, it was 1.2 mils.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Again, could you convert those at a hundred yards to inches?
Mr. Simmons.
0.7 of a mil at 100 yards is approximately 2 inches. 1.4 mils is approximately 4 inches. And 1.2 mils is approximately 3 1/2 inches.
Mr. Eisenberg.
In arriving at these figures, had you discounted the round-to-round dispersion as determined in the bench rest test?
Mr. Simmons.
Yes. We have subtracted out the round-to-round dispersion.
Mr. Eisenberg.
But the actual accuracy of the riflemen would have to include the round-to-round dispersion, would it not?
Mrs. Simmons.
Yes; it would.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Why did you then subtract the round-to-round dispersion figure, or discount it?
Mr. Simmons.
We wanted to determine what the aiming error itself was associated with the rifle.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Can you give us the times in which the various riflemen used to fire the three shots in each sequence?

Mr. SIMMONS Yes. And the numbers which I will give you will be the average of two readings on stop watches.
Mr. Eisenberg.
For each rifleman?
Mr. Simmons.
For each exercise.
Mr. Hendrix fired twice. The time for the first exercise was 8.25 seconds; the time for the second exercise was 7.0 seconds.
Mr. Staley, on the first exercise, fired in 6 3/4 seconds; the second attempt he used 6.45 seconds.
Specialist Miller used 4.6 seconds on his first attempt, 5.15 seconds in his second attempt, and 4.45 seconds in his exercise using the iron sight.
Mr. Eisenberg.
What was the accuracy of Specialist Miller?
Mr. Simmons.
I do not have his accuracy separated from the group.
Mr. Eisenberg.
Is it possible to separate the accuracy out?
Mr. Simmons.
Yes; it is, by an additional calculation.
Mr. Miller succeeded in hitting the third target on both attempts with the telescope. He missed the second target on both attempts with the telescope,
« Previous | Next »

Found a Typo?

Click here
Copyright by www.jfk-assassination.comLast Update: Wed, 3 Aug 2016 21:56:34 CET