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Mortal Error: The Shot That Killed JFK
In 1967, a Baltimore man named Howard Donahue began investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Like countless Americans, Donahue was fascinated by the events in Dallas. But what separated him from other amateur sleuths, and even the Warren Commission experts, was a lifetime's experience with guns and ballistics. In Mortal Error, Bonar Menninger chronicles Donahue's twenty-five-year investigation of President Kennedy's death and the stunning revelation it led him to. In crisp, rapid-fire prose, Menninger relates one of the greatest true-life detective stories ever told. More important, he offers solutions to questions that have haunted America for 50 years.
396 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1992
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November 26, 2024
I’ve never been interested in reading about the JFK assassination, but after hearing this book mentioned by a couple people I respect, I decided to check it out.
The book describes the efforts of weapons expert Howard Donahue to review the ballistics evidence. Donahue formed a novel argument that contradicted the Warren Commission Report, which he doggedly pursued in subsequent decades.
The Argument
Donahue argues that Kennedy was shot in the head by the accidentally-fired weapon of a Secret Service agent in the car behind him. According to Donahue, the sequence of events is: Lee Harvey Oswald fired two shots (not three as the Warren Commission Report concludes). The first missed but a ricochet hit Kennedy in the back of the head. Kennedy exclaims “by God I’m hit”. Oswald’s second shot hits Kennedy in the lower neck / top of the spine and the bullet continues forward, exiting Kennedy’s body and hitting Governor Connally in the seat ahead of him (this is what is commonly known as the “magic bullet”). At this point the Secret Service agent reached for his AR-15, it accidentally discharged, and hit Kennedy in the back of the head.
Conspiracy Theories Dispelled
Before getting to his own explanation of what happened, Donahue rebuts some of the most common conspiracy theories. He argues that there is no unexplained mystery about the “magic bullet”. Oswald’s 6.5mm Carcano rifle had a “full metal jacket” that would keep the bullet intact as it entered and exited Kennedy’s body. Also, it was powerful enough to continue at a high enough speed to push through and hit Governor Connally. Donahue also rejects that the bullet made an “impossible right turn” as many conspiracy theorists argue, as this argument was based on an incorrect understanding of where Connally was positioned.
Donahue also rejects that any of the shots could have come from in front of the vehicle, or from the "grassy knoll", as it is not consistent with the ballistic evidence.
Donahue also points out that other experts showed that Kennedy’s backward lurch is not inconsistent with a shot from behind, and in fact simulations showed that the backwards lurch is what would be expected to happen.
It’s regarding the other two shots where Donahue disagrees with the Warren Commission Report. Donahue believes Oswald only fired two shots instead of three. Donahue’s belief that Oswald’s first shot was a miss is also a point of disagreement; the Warren Commission Report states that Oswald’s first and third shots were hits, and it was the second shot that was a miss.
The Evidence
The single most persuasive and simple piece of evidence in favor of this argument is from comparing the wounds and bullet fragments from the shot that hit Kennedy in the neck and the shot that hit him in the back of the head. The shot which hit Kennedy in the neck is completely consistent with Oswald’s weapon. The bullet stayed intact and went cleanly through Kennedy’s body. But the shot that hit Kennedy in the back of the head burst after impact, fragmenting into tiny pieces and causing huge damage in the brain. This type of impact is consistent with the bullet from the AR-15 held by the Secret Service agent, but not from the Carcano rifle Oswald used.
Donahue, and author Bonar Menninger, also argue that the entry point and exit point of the shot to the back of the head is consistent with being fired from where the Secret Service agent was located, but not from the position of Oswald.
Donahue also points out that several people remarked that they smelled gunpowder, which would be unlikely to do from Oswald’s weapon which was hundreds of feet away and upwind.
Donahue’s argument that Oswald’s first shot was a miss which ricocheted and hit Kennedy in the back of the head is consistent with Kennedy exclaiming “my God I’m hit” as one person in the vehicle recalls him saying. But him having the capacity to say this would be improbable if he was hit with the more damaging neck shot.
What Happened After the Shot
The book is vague on what is purported to happen after the shootings. At times it is pointed out that the Secret Service acted in shifty ways that may have been due to trying to conceal evidence of an agent’s misfire. Robert Kennedy is implicated too: the author and Donahue argue that some of his actions were suspicious and seemingly were done to prevent a full investigation. The argument is that RFK felt that it would mar his brother’s legacy to die from an accident.
But at other times it is argued that perhaps few or maybe even no one knew that the Secret Service agent’s weapon was fired. In fact, it is argued that it is possible that the agent himself didn’t realize his weapon was fired.
I think Donahue felt like exploring the cover-up was beyond his expertise and just stuck with the ballistics analysis, which is understandable. But it did make it frustrating to have these issues that are still unresolved even if you believe Donahue’s argument.
Evidence Against
I can’t think of a better way to put this, but the strongest argument against this theory is just … “really???” Nobody noticed that somebody shot a weapon a few feet away from them? Or if they did they all conspired to keep quiet?
A trained agent had a misfire happen to them, at this exact time, and the misfire happened to hit Kennedy right in the back of the head?
It would be understandable to just say this is too crazy and ignore it.
It’s also worth noting that 3 shells were found in the Book Depository. The most obvious explanation for this would be that Oswald fired 3 shots, as the Warren Commission Report claims. Donahue has an answer for what he thinks happened, that I won’t try to explain. It may be plausible but doesn’t fare well from an “Ockham’s Razor” point-of-view.
It also seems crazy that Robert Kennedy would have helped suppress this investigation. I can believe him lying to protect his brother’s perceived legacy, but in the immediate aftermath of the assassination I imagine he was very angry and just wanted to do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of what happened.
And in general, I’m always suspicious that conspiracies can survive this long. Eventually someone that doesn’t have a vested interest in keeping the secret will spill the beans.
And it’s hard to believe this could happen without a conspiracy. For one thing, there would be the ejected shell from the AR-15 that somebody would have found.
Counter-arguments
The author and Donahue have responses to the above. Gun accidents are more common than you would think (at least in those days). It is possible that people did not realize one of the shots was from the agent, given the confusion of the events. Consider how many witnesses reported seeing or hearing things that were obviously wrong, like hearing two or four shots instead of three. And in fact, one of the agents said in an interview right after the assassination that he saw the agent holding his AR-15 and thought he fired it.
And we don’t know how often a conspiracy can hold together, since any conspiracy that does hold together, we wouldn’t know about.
Final Thoughts
This reminds me of the Sherlock Holmes adage: “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth”. I think that’s how Donahue and Menninger would think about this. They would say there is no way the bullet from Oswald’s location could have hit Kennedy at that spot on his head, and there is no way Oswald’s gun could have done that kind of damage. The only possible location of the shot was behind the car, and the only weapon in that location was from the Secret Service agent.
But I think a good response is that it might be more likely that you missed something – that there is some explanation for why what you thought was impossible really is possible.
Overall, I’m not sure whether I believe this. The ballistic evidence does seem strong, but I’m not sure it’s enough to shake all the concerns mentioned. I wish someone smart who disagrees with this argument would try a thorough debunking, but I don’t see one. The book and its argument have not really received a ton of attention, which is surprising to me given the persuasiveness along with the huge amount of interest in the assassination. I hope that changes eventually and someone takes up a more thorough examination of this argument.
I’ll also say I thought the book was extremely well written. It was concise and easy to follow. And I appreciated that the author was honest about the weakest points of the argument.
There is a 2013 documentary based on this book: JFK: The Smoking Gun. I thought it was a nice supplement to the book. Being able to visually see everything was great. But it focused more on speculating about the Cover-Up and came across as kind of tabloidy. I’d recommend just going straight to the book if you want to learn about this.
The book describes the efforts of weapons expert Howard Donahue to review the ballistics evidence. Donahue formed a novel argument that contradicted the Warren Commission Report, which he doggedly pursued in subsequent decades.
The Argument
Donahue argues that Kennedy was shot in the head by the accidentally-fired weapon of a Secret Service agent in the car behind him. According to Donahue, the sequence of events is: Lee Harvey Oswald fired two shots (not three as the Warren Commission Report concludes). The first missed but a ricochet hit Kennedy in the back of the head. Kennedy exclaims “by God I’m hit”. Oswald’s second shot hits Kennedy in the lower neck / top of the spine and the bullet continues forward, exiting Kennedy’s body and hitting Governor Connally in the seat ahead of him (this is what is commonly known as the “magic bullet”). At this point the Secret Service agent reached for his AR-15, it accidentally discharged, and hit Kennedy in the back of the head.
Conspiracy Theories Dispelled
Before getting to his own explanation of what happened, Donahue rebuts some of the most common conspiracy theories. He argues that there is no unexplained mystery about the “magic bullet”. Oswald’s 6.5mm Carcano rifle had a “full metal jacket” that would keep the bullet intact as it entered and exited Kennedy’s body. Also, it was powerful enough to continue at a high enough speed to push through and hit Governor Connally. Donahue also rejects that the bullet made an “impossible right turn” as many conspiracy theorists argue, as this argument was based on an incorrect understanding of where Connally was positioned.
Donahue also rejects that any of the shots could have come from in front of the vehicle, or from the "grassy knoll", as it is not consistent with the ballistic evidence.
Donahue also points out that other experts showed that Kennedy’s backward lurch is not inconsistent with a shot from behind, and in fact simulations showed that the backwards lurch is what would be expected to happen.
It’s regarding the other two shots where Donahue disagrees with the Warren Commission Report. Donahue believes Oswald only fired two shots instead of three. Donahue’s belief that Oswald’s first shot was a miss is also a point of disagreement; the Warren Commission Report states that Oswald’s first and third shots were hits, and it was the second shot that was a miss.
The Evidence
The single most persuasive and simple piece of evidence in favor of this argument is from comparing the wounds and bullet fragments from the shot that hit Kennedy in the neck and the shot that hit him in the back of the head. The shot which hit Kennedy in the neck is completely consistent with Oswald’s weapon. The bullet stayed intact and went cleanly through Kennedy’s body. But the shot that hit Kennedy in the back of the head burst after impact, fragmenting into tiny pieces and causing huge damage in the brain. This type of impact is consistent with the bullet from the AR-15 held by the Secret Service agent, but not from the Carcano rifle Oswald used.
Donahue, and author Bonar Menninger, also argue that the entry point and exit point of the shot to the back of the head is consistent with being fired from where the Secret Service agent was located, but not from the position of Oswald.
Donahue also points out that several people remarked that they smelled gunpowder, which would be unlikely to do from Oswald’s weapon which was hundreds of feet away and upwind.
Donahue’s argument that Oswald’s first shot was a miss which ricocheted and hit Kennedy in the back of the head is consistent with Kennedy exclaiming “my God I’m hit” as one person in the vehicle recalls him saying. But him having the capacity to say this would be improbable if he was hit with the more damaging neck shot.
What Happened After the Shot
The book is vague on what is purported to happen after the shootings. At times it is pointed out that the Secret Service acted in shifty ways that may have been due to trying to conceal evidence of an agent’s misfire. Robert Kennedy is implicated too: the author and Donahue argue that some of his actions were suspicious and seemingly were done to prevent a full investigation. The argument is that RFK felt that it would mar his brother’s legacy to die from an accident.
But at other times it is argued that perhaps few or maybe even no one knew that the Secret Service agent’s weapon was fired. In fact, it is argued that it is possible that the agent himself didn’t realize his weapon was fired.
I think Donahue felt like exploring the cover-up was beyond his expertise and just stuck with the ballistics analysis, which is understandable. But it did make it frustrating to have these issues that are still unresolved even if you believe Donahue’s argument.
Evidence Against
I can’t think of a better way to put this, but the strongest argument against this theory is just … “really???” Nobody noticed that somebody shot a weapon a few feet away from them? Or if they did they all conspired to keep quiet?
A trained agent had a misfire happen to them, at this exact time, and the misfire happened to hit Kennedy right in the back of the head?
It would be understandable to just say this is too crazy and ignore it.
It’s also worth noting that 3 shells were found in the Book Depository. The most obvious explanation for this would be that Oswald fired 3 shots, as the Warren Commission Report claims. Donahue has an answer for what he thinks happened, that I won’t try to explain. It may be plausible but doesn’t fare well from an “Ockham’s Razor” point-of-view.
It also seems crazy that Robert Kennedy would have helped suppress this investigation. I can believe him lying to protect his brother’s perceived legacy, but in the immediate aftermath of the assassination I imagine he was very angry and just wanted to do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of what happened.
And in general, I’m always suspicious that conspiracies can survive this long. Eventually someone that doesn’t have a vested interest in keeping the secret will spill the beans.
And it’s hard to believe this could happen without a conspiracy. For one thing, there would be the ejected shell from the AR-15 that somebody would have found.
Counter-arguments
The author and Donahue have responses to the above. Gun accidents are more common than you would think (at least in those days). It is possible that people did not realize one of the shots was from the agent, given the confusion of the events. Consider how many witnesses reported seeing or hearing things that were obviously wrong, like hearing two or four shots instead of three. And in fact, one of the agents said in an interview right after the assassination that he saw the agent holding his AR-15 and thought he fired it.
And we don’t know how often a conspiracy can hold together, since any conspiracy that does hold together, we wouldn’t know about.
Final Thoughts
This reminds me of the Sherlock Holmes adage: “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth”. I think that’s how Donahue and Menninger would think about this. They would say there is no way the bullet from Oswald’s location could have hit Kennedy at that spot on his head, and there is no way Oswald’s gun could have done that kind of damage. The only possible location of the shot was behind the car, and the only weapon in that location was from the Secret Service agent.
But I think a good response is that it might be more likely that you missed something – that there is some explanation for why what you thought was impossible really is possible.
Overall, I’m not sure whether I believe this. The ballistic evidence does seem strong, but I’m not sure it’s enough to shake all the concerns mentioned. I wish someone smart who disagrees with this argument would try a thorough debunking, but I don’t see one. The book and its argument have not really received a ton of attention, which is surprising to me given the persuasiveness along with the huge amount of interest in the assassination. I hope that changes eventually and someone takes up a more thorough examination of this argument.
I’ll also say I thought the book was extremely well written. It was concise and easy to follow. And I appreciated that the author was honest about the weakest points of the argument.
There is a 2013 documentary based on this book: JFK: The Smoking Gun. I thought it was a nice supplement to the book. Being able to visually see everything was great. But it focused more on speculating about the Cover-Up and came across as kind of tabloidy. I’d recommend just going straight to the book if you want to learn about this.
February 4, 2024
A ballistics expert, Howard Donahue, was asked by CBS to conduct a firearms demonstration with other shooters. This led him on a 25-year inquiry into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy by examining the ballistics evidence from Nov. 22, 1963.
Bonar Menninger chronicles Donahue's methodology and conclusions. He provides a methodical and detailed analysis, uncovers errors in the Warren Commission and the U.S. House Select Committee on Assassinations findings (including debunking the "magic bullet" theory), while providing a few ballistic surprises of his own.
This is one of the best books that I have ever read about the Kennedy Assassination. I've now read it twice and listened to the audiobook. Every time I examine this book I learn something new.
Bonar Menninger chronicles Donahue's methodology and conclusions. He provides a methodical and detailed analysis, uncovers errors in the Warren Commission and the U.S. House Select Committee on Assassinations findings (including debunking the "magic bullet" theory), while providing a few ballistic surprises of his own.
This is one of the best books that I have ever read about the Kennedy Assassination. I've now read it twice and listened to the audiobook. Every time I examine this book I learn something new.
January 19, 2014
What an AMAZING book!!!! At first I could not believe that this book has stayed hidden for so many years, but after reading it, I understand why. The only true conspiracy theory is in the cover up of the truth, which is right before our eyes. And there have been so many other incidents in history that substantiate their incapability's, and mistakes. I can't give away this book; you have to understand the simplicity and facts to see the truth. Ballistics, math, and physics do not lie. But the numerous conspiracy theories have hidden these basic facts. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said it best when he penned the words "once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."
Please, READ THIS BOOK!!! Also, if you get a chance, watch the movie "JFK: The Smoking Gun", as it is a documentary about this book, the author, and a new detective who continued the investigation and came to his own conclusions.
Also, ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO READ THIS BOOK! This has to be known by all!
Please, READ THIS BOOK!!! Also, if you get a chance, watch the movie "JFK: The Smoking Gun", as it is a documentary about this book, the author, and a new detective who continued the investigation and came to his own conclusions.
Also, ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO READ THIS BOOK! This has to be known by all!
March 27, 2008
An outstanding book, really, despite the fact I could never accept the fundamental assertion that it was a secret service agent riding in the convertible behind who accidentally dealt the fatal blow.
As a scientific man, I can say that the development of evidence in this mature book is absolutely astounding: ballistic theory postulated and methodically proven.
I for one had to accept that previously held notions - some learned from Mark Lane - were false. The "single bullet" or "magical bullet" is true, although it didn't hang in the air for 1-point-something seconds. The bodies of Connally and Kennedy lined up, and Connally was already turning for a second look backwards when he was pierced.
A wealth of documentary evidence, including dozens a eye-witness testimony accounts that had been pigeon-holed by the Warren Commission, is not only presented but coordinated into a very coherent time sequence.
A must-read if you want to pinpoint the mechanisms of a state coverup, but I think the rear horizontal shot came from a more distant unknown gunman directly behind the lead cars.
As a scientific man, I can say that the development of evidence in this mature book is absolutely astounding: ballistic theory postulated and methodically proven.
I for one had to accept that previously held notions - some learned from Mark Lane - were false. The "single bullet" or "magical bullet" is true, although it didn't hang in the air for 1-point-something seconds. The bodies of Connally and Kennedy lined up, and Connally was already turning for a second look backwards when he was pierced.
A wealth of documentary evidence, including dozens a eye-witness testimony accounts that had been pigeon-holed by the Warren Commission, is not only presented but coordinated into a very coherent time sequence.
A must-read if you want to pinpoint the mechanisms of a state coverup, but I think the rear horizontal shot came from a more distant unknown gunman directly behind the lead cars.
March 3, 2015
Intriguing plausible theory that, if true, would certainly explain the Secret Service's inane behavior following the shooting.
February 6, 2015
If you think you know about Oswald and the JFK Assassination, this book will give you a lot to think about. The author presents incredible research and evidence about the shot that killed Kennedy. Definitely worth a read. Enjoy!
February 23, 2014
It's hard to believe I have never heard of Howard Donahue or his ballistics work.
Donahue does a masterful job of laying out the physics of the assassination of President Kennedy. At each point in the story he attempts to show the Warren Commission was correct, but the facts consistently demonstrate otherwise.
For me the most startling information presented is that of the bullet analysis. The bullet fired by Oswald from his Carcano which entered through Kennedy's back, exited through his throat and then passed through Connally had a thick casing, which is deliberately designed to prevent fragmentation of the inner lead bullet. Yet the bullet that entered the back of Kennedy's head did not behave in a similar manner. Instead, a great number of tiny lead fragments were spread throughout his brain. Tests performed on sample skulls showed that only an AR-15 round (predecessor to the M-16) could have resulted in that dispersal. A Carcano round would have passed directly through the brain and out the front of Kennedy's face.
The second intriguing piece of information is the investigation of the trajectory of the head shot. We all know that Oswald was on the six floor of the Schoolbook Depositor, above and to the right of the presidential limousine. Yet carefully evaluation of the inshot and outshot demonstrate the line of fire was from left to right, at a much lower angle.
Finally, it is somewhat incredible how much evidence disappeared after in the 2-3 years after the assassination, including the president's brain and other physical autopsy evidence. It is also curious that the Secret Service refused to refute any of the evidence presented to them
There is much more, of course. Author Menninger documents Donahue's painstaking efforts to track down every lead, always trying to disprove what the facts seem to indicate.
We're taught as children that it can't happen here. Donahue show's that it can.
Donahue does a masterful job of laying out the physics of the assassination of President Kennedy. At each point in the story he attempts to show the Warren Commission was correct, but the facts consistently demonstrate otherwise.
For me the most startling information presented is that of the bullet analysis. The bullet fired by Oswald from his Carcano which entered through Kennedy's back, exited through his throat and then passed through Connally had a thick casing, which is deliberately designed to prevent fragmentation of the inner lead bullet. Yet the bullet that entered the back of Kennedy's head did not behave in a similar manner. Instead, a great number of tiny lead fragments were spread throughout his brain. Tests performed on sample skulls showed that only an AR-15 round (predecessor to the M-16) could have resulted in that dispersal. A Carcano round would have passed directly through the brain and out the front of Kennedy's face.
The second intriguing piece of information is the investigation of the trajectory of the head shot. We all know that Oswald was on the six floor of the Schoolbook Depositor, above and to the right of the presidential limousine. Yet carefully evaluation of the inshot and outshot demonstrate the line of fire was from left to right, at a much lower angle.
Finally, it is somewhat incredible how much evidence disappeared after in the 2-3 years after the assassination, including the president's brain and other physical autopsy evidence. It is also curious that the Secret Service refused to refute any of the evidence presented to them
There is much more, of course. Author Menninger documents Donahue's painstaking efforts to track down every lead, always trying to disprove what the facts seem to indicate.
We're taught as children that it can't happen here. Donahue show's that it can.
August 11, 2013
simply the most important book ever written about the Kennedy assassination.
December 23, 2015
We'll never know with 100% certitude what exactly happened that day in Dallas. I would love to know what and/or who put Lee Harvey Oswald in that window of the Texas Book Depository. But Howard Donahue's lifelong pursuit of the facts, re: the ballistics of the shots, has the ring of truth. His conclusions are highly plausible. I'm surprised this book didn't get more notice. Perhaps we (of my generation) are too numbed by the many conspiracy theories to give any single one much credence.
June 2, 2012
Very detailed analysis of the ballistics. Single shot ... ? I doubt it.
January 15, 2016
loved it, one of the best on the subject I've ever read
March 13, 2015
This book lays out the thesis of Harold Donahue, a ballistics expert who believed he had proven that the fatal shot that killed John F. Kennedy was fired by mistake in the confusion of the moment by one of his bodyguards, in the car behind his. Donahue died before he could present his discoveries in his own book, and Menninger does a fine job of laying out the evidence. I especially appreciate that he takes a narrative approach, presenting the data and the questions and the leads in the order in which they arose in Donahue's investigations. This makes it all easier to keep track of. Not being a ballistics expert myself, I have no reason to believe or disbelieve anything based on ballistics evidence; it's all Greek to me; it could be half made up and sound just as convincing to me--including the assertion that shots from the Grassy Knoll are incompatible with the ballistics; hey, could be. But I will say that I disagree with Donahue and Menninger that the significance of the theory, if true, is that it, and possibly it alone, would justify the extraordinarily suspicious-looking behavior of the government in the years following, including the intentional disposal of key pieces of evidence and the blatant whitewashing in the Warren Report. In my opinion, the American public would NOT have a hard time assimilating the fact that the president had died from an accidental gunshot wound, and I also don't believe that a conspiracy theory is more comforting to anyone than a lone-nut gunman theory; I think the part of the public that accepts the lone-gunman theory finds it far more comforting than the alternative. Nor do I accept that anyone was engaging in a cover-up just to protect the bodyguard in question: the U.S. government has ruined far more lives than that of a lone secret servicemen, and done so in the service of far more trivial agendas. As Menninger points out, Donahue's scenario includes other shots fired by Lee Harvey Oswald, as per the facts that nearly everyone agrees on, and indeed at the end of the day, with Oswald dead, it does not matter much which of these rapid-fire shots was the fatal one. But we should not forget all of the other things that the Warren Commission and its sponsors and supporters have endeavored to downplay, suppress, or deny over the decades, namely that Oswald was embroiled in a network of C.I.A. assets and bitter anti-Communist militants in Dallas, a network that also included people with troubling ties to later presidential administrations. It's important that we all know which bullet killed Kennedy, I suppose, but it's far more important to know who set up Oswald and why. That's my two cents.
March 7, 2018
This was a fantastic book. I realize that every conspiracy book, especially on the Kennedy assassination, makes a very strong case for their individual theory, this book seems hard to dispute if the angles and ballistics are correct. No one has apparently stepped forward to say they are wrong though.
The premis of this book is that the killing as an accident, that Oswald did shoot but did not kill him, he was killed by an accidental discharge. The book was fascinating in the way it laid out the possibility and it was also interesting to hear what the writer went through.
Bottom line - oh yeah, read this one.
The premis of this book is that the killing as an accident, that Oswald did shoot but did not kill him, he was killed by an accidental discharge. The book was fascinating in the way it laid out the possibility and it was also interesting to hear what the writer went through.
Bottom line - oh yeah, read this one.
August 11, 2020
I saw a new documentary on Netflix and it was fascinating, reveling in its conclusions about the JFK assassination. At the end it mentioned this book had come to the same conclusions back in the early 1990's. So I just finished the book and finally feel as if I cracked the mystery of this event. It's a must read.
June 1, 2014
Superb research. I think this is what really happened and the only conspiracy was the cover up. It gets a little repetitive and is a bit long.
March 18, 2022
After reading Colin McLaren's book "JFK: The Smoking Gun," I had to get this book. Bonar Menninger's 1992 book tells of Howard Donahue's extensive ballistics research into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Donahue, a Maryland ballistics expert, took a long, hard look at when and where the shots were fired at Kennedy. His research came to a most startling conclusion that challenges everything that virtually everyone has held about that day in Dallas. This and McLaren's book have changed everything I have held on the JFK assassination. Highly recommended.
February 12, 2022
I believe this could truly be how it actually happened, it really makes a lot of sense!
April 26, 2020
After dealing with assassination conspiracy theories for more than 55 years, Mortal Error details what most likely happened on that fateful Friday in November of 1963: An accident. Bonar Menninger relays the diligent efforts of firearms and ballistics expert Howard Donahue to unravel who killed President John F. Kennedy.
Donahue analyzed the Zapruder film, eye-witness testimony, and every bit of evidence he could find. He reconstructed scenarios and verified Oswald could have been able to get off three shots in the time alleged--but then he disproved what the Warren Commission determined. He believed, and it makes sense, that Oswald's first shot was a ricochet that hit the pavement and pieces hit the president, causing to exclaim he'd been hit.
The second shot also came from Oswald's rifle and went through President Kennedy into Texas Governor John Connolly. What Donahue found that makes sense but is denied by others despite mixed testimony is that the accidental discharge of a Secret Service AR-15 likely killed the president. Mystery solved with a logical explanation that is likely to never be accepted.
Donahue analyzed the Zapruder film, eye-witness testimony, and every bit of evidence he could find. He reconstructed scenarios and verified Oswald could have been able to get off three shots in the time alleged--but then he disproved what the Warren Commission determined. He believed, and it makes sense, that Oswald's first shot was a ricochet that hit the pavement and pieces hit the president, causing to exclaim he'd been hit.
The second shot also came from Oswald's rifle and went through President Kennedy into Texas Governor John Connolly. What Donahue found that makes sense but is denied by others despite mixed testimony is that the accidental discharge of a Secret Service AR-15 likely killed the president. Mystery solved with a logical explanation that is likely to never be accepted.
April 15, 2014
I recommend this book for anyone interested in the JFK conspiracy or doing heavy analysis on it. I have not (nor would I attempt) to every say one book or theory is “definitive” – but the analysis does provide thought provoking components.
The book itself is written with the intent of giving background on Donahue and the avenues of his life (and interest) that guided him to this overall testing and theory. Along the way the book will give you pause to say “I didn’t think of that” or “that is interesting to consider” and is worth reading for that reason. The book starts off well and keeps you engaged at a good pace – it sort of drifts off a bit about three quarters of the way along and sort of fizzles out in the end. So it is not the best book I have ever read – but nonetheless – though inciting.
I would have liked to see some more analysis of other “odd factors” that took place that day in Dallas with secret service, the handling of the body, etc. Even post death accounts of witnesses and so on – but the book only touches on some of those parts and really leans on the ballistics (which if important – but is highly technical and not always an inspiring read).
The book itself is written with the intent of giving background on Donahue and the avenues of his life (and interest) that guided him to this overall testing and theory. Along the way the book will give you pause to say “I didn’t think of that” or “that is interesting to consider” and is worth reading for that reason. The book starts off well and keeps you engaged at a good pace – it sort of drifts off a bit about three quarters of the way along and sort of fizzles out in the end. So it is not the best book I have ever read – but nonetheless – though inciting.
I would have liked to see some more analysis of other “odd factors” that took place that day in Dallas with secret service, the handling of the body, etc. Even post death accounts of witnesses and so on – but the book only touches on some of those parts and really leans on the ballistics (which if important – but is highly technical and not always an inspiring read).
September 12, 2014
This book is going to be very troubling to people who believe in the version of America they see in the news media.
While it is certainly possible that ballistics expert Howard Donahue's conclusion about the source of the final kill shot could be wrong, it seems very unlikely. A great deal of research went into this, and it is well documented here. A fascinating and compelling read!
What I find most amazing is Donahue's assumption that it was an accident. I find that highly unlikely. He even points out the suspicious circumstances of the shooter's inclusion in the motorcade. He had only been in the secret service a few months!
JFK and RFK together made a lot of enemies among big oil, organized crime, the military establishment (arms), and made no secret of their intentions to significantly reduce the powers of the intelligence services. Apparently they did not take their Sun Tzu to heart or they would have tried to fight fewer battles at a time.
At any rate, whether you accept his evidence or not, this is a must-read for those interested in this significant event in U.S. history.
While it is certainly possible that ballistics expert Howard Donahue's conclusion about the source of the final kill shot could be wrong, it seems very unlikely. A great deal of research went into this, and it is well documented here. A fascinating and compelling read!
What I find most amazing is Donahue's assumption that it was an accident. I find that highly unlikely. He even points out the suspicious circumstances of the shooter's inclusion in the motorcade. He had only been in the secret service a few months!
JFK and RFK together made a lot of enemies among big oil, organized crime, the military establishment (arms), and made no secret of their intentions to significantly reduce the powers of the intelligence services. Apparently they did not take their Sun Tzu to heart or they would have tried to fight fewer battles at a time.
At any rate, whether you accept his evidence or not, this is a must-read for those interested in this significant event in U.S. history.
January 9, 2014
First, the science behind this is hard to dispute. In fact, no one has come forth to disprove this theory. Second, in my opinion, the main strength is that there was no preconceived idea/theory prior to starting this project. The science led to the theory. And since the theory, that a secret service agent accidentally fired the third shot was so hard to believe, additional research and testing continued to be performed until the results made it the most likely conclusion. Howard Donahue died in 1999 and still no one has disproved his results. All along Donahue said he welcomed someone to examine his work and find an error that would make this theory improbable. No one has done that. I would love to see The Science Channel or National Geographic or PBS, some organization with credibility do a special on this. Why hasn't someone done that? Is there not enough evidence allowed to be tested that would provide us with a definitive answer? I bet there is but I bet the government doesn't want the truth known.
January 31, 2023
There's very little "conspiracy" theory here. The book is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in the assassination and, in particular, anyone that does not want a convoluted take that involves the mob, CIA, Castro, etc. The honest and raw, albeit potentially flawed, ballistics argument paints a picture that is at least as believable a the Warren Commission.
The book and its theory are revealed through a narrative of ballistics expert Howard Donahue's chance association with the Kennedy assassination that ultimately culminated in 25 years of research. This writing style, for me, made much or the drier, technical sections of the book far more accessible and entertaining, though I could see how it might turn others off.
Ultimately, the argument is based almost entirely on circumstantial evidence, and while this is an obvious problem, it still manages to be satisfying, if not truly putting to bed mysteries of that day. At any rate, the book is worth checking out, particularly as a companion to the documentary, JFK: the smoking gun.
The book and its theory are revealed through a narrative of ballistics expert Howard Donahue's chance association with the Kennedy assassination that ultimately culminated in 25 years of research. This writing style, for me, made much or the drier, technical sections of the book far more accessible and entertaining, though I could see how it might turn others off.
Ultimately, the argument is based almost entirely on circumstantial evidence, and while this is an obvious problem, it still manages to be satisfying, if not truly putting to bed mysteries of that day. At any rate, the book is worth checking out, particularly as a companion to the documentary, JFK: the smoking gun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2016
The main thing that stands out for me with this book and the theory within is that there seems to have been no one who argues against. At least no one in any official capacity. Of all the other multitudes of theories that have been put out, from the plausible to the ridiculous, this one seems to have no rebuttal. No other ballistics experts have offered to argue any of Donahue's points. No one involved in any direct way with the assassination or its subsequent investigations have offered anything but terse comments to the affect of, " That's ludicrous!"
So what are we to make if it other than to say that it seem worthy of much more attention than it has received?
So what are we to make if it other than to say that it seem worthy of much more attention than it has received?
June 7, 2012
The theory is pretty good and backed by solid evidence. I did some searching to see if anyone had debunked it and didn't find anything (one person discredited it because it ignored the signs of a conspiracy...what?!?!). The theory is also amazing in its simplicity, which in turn makes it much more believable than any conspiracy theory.
The writing is so-so, which is why I give it the rating that I did. Definitely worth a read if you are at all interested in JFK.
The writing is so-so, which is why I give it the rating that I did. Definitely worth a read if you are at all interested in JFK.
July 13, 2016
The book's premise relies upon not a single verifiable eyewitness near Agent Hickey observing him accidentally discharge the gun, nor did they hear it occur. No photography, video, or forensic evidence substantiate the claims of this book. It is but one of many unverifiable speculations that litter the case. Additionally it is notable the book re-emerged after the death of its alleged suspect.
December 9, 2013
A very interesting treatise on a theory of the rogue bullet that could have killed JFK. I have always been fascinated by this moment in history. According to Mr Menninger, most likely the second shot by Oswald would have proved fatal( the shot through the president's neck) but the rogue bullet that delivered the massive head wound possibly came from one of the Secret Service Agents totally by accident. Something to consider...
February 3, 2015
Interesting read. I've read a fair amount of conspiracy books, and this is about the best one yet. Hard to believe that the whole thing may have been an accident. Another fact is that the throat shot probably would have killed Kennedy anyway. The most interesting thing of the whole book to me is how the government just buried this guys work. The Warren commission would chase down the grassy knoll theory but not give this guy 5 minutes. Sounds familiar?
August 2, 2016
I've read a lot of stuff about the JFK shooting and I must say that this is one of the most convincing theories I have ever read. I won't spoil it but I will just say that this theory not only explains the ballistics evidence and the inconsistencies in the Warren Report, but also the reactions of the Secret Service and the government afterwards. If you are interested in this topic at all, this is a book not to be missed. Rating; 5 stars.
October 31, 2009
This is a very interesting theory and would drive my sister crazy, cause she really wants to know who really shot JFK. In this book, the author theorizes that the Secret Service agent behind the car that carried the President, is looking for where the first shot came from when his weapon accidently discharges as his car speeds up and kills the President.
December 29, 2013
Admittedly I did not have a lot of knowledge about the Kennedy assassination prior to reading this book. However, the detail, expertise and knowledge of the thesis really does seem to point to what happened. Personally, I don't think we'll ever know but it's definitely a good read and not one of those crazy "Aliens did it" conspiracy books.
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