Phillip Willis

Phillip LaFrance Willis (born 1918 died 1995) was a United States Air Force Major (Ret.) who also served during World War II, a Dallas, Texas "Lincoln" automobile executive, an independent real estate broker, and a close witness and photographer during the assassination of President Kennedy.

Clearly seen in the Zapruder film at the start of the assassination, Willis was wearing a dark colored suit and tie, standing at the Elm Street south curb to the presidential limousine's left, directly across from the Texas School Book Depository.

During the assassination Willis snapped a photograph (his fifth of twelve captured that day) showing the presidential limousine and its occupants, the Secret Service followup car and occupants, parade onlookers, and the grassy knoll visible in the background.

Willis testified to the Warren Commission that his fifth photo was inadvertantly snapped when, just after he had prepared his 35mm "Argus" camera to capture a photo, he was suddenly startled by a gunshot related noise (the first of 3 shots he remembered hearing), and his finger that was already on the camera shutter button reacted to the gunshot related noise, then, he quickly depressed the button and the fifth photo was captured. This photo was captured concurrent with Zapruder film frame 202. (it is important to note that the Warren Commission and subsequent investigations have all determined that [[President Kennedy was hidden by a very large oak tree from the view of anyone firing from the Warren Commission's "lone nut" "snipers lair" from Z-160 through Z-208).

In his fifth photo, the image of a still-unknown person can be seen located up on the grassy knoll, seen near a 3' tall cement wall and near the 5' tall picket fence. The House Select Committee on Assassinations determined that the unknown person was a Caucasian. The angled shape of this persons outline has led to that persons image being called the "black dog man."

Willis also testified to the Warren Commission that based on his previous World War II military and later many hunting experiences, he was sure that this first shot that he remembered hearing a micro-second before Z-202, had also impacted someone.

Importantly, in 1978 when Willis's daughter, Rosemary, was interviewed by investigators from the House Select Committee on Assassinations she stated that Phillip, a U.S. military veteran became upset when the Dallas policemen, sheriffs, and detectives --who first quickly ran onto the grassy knoll where Phillip thought the shots came from-- then ran away from the grassy knoll.

Among others, Phil was friends with Dallas-stationed United States Secret Service agent Forest Sorrels (who was also the Special Agent In Charge of the Dallas presidential motorcade), and then United States Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

When Phillip passed away in 1995, the Texas Senate passed resolution number 129 to honor him.

References

Phillip LaFrance Willis testimony to the Warren Commission, 7-22-64]
[The Men Who Killed Kennedy] video interview of Phillip L. Willis

External link