Commander Humes. Scientifically, sir, it is impossible for it to have been fired from other than behind. Or to have exited from other than behind.
Mr. McCloy. This is so obvious that I rather hesitate to ask it. There is no question in your mind that it was a lethal bullet?
Commander Humes. The President, sir, could not possibly have survived the effect of that injury no matter what would have been done for him.
The Chairman. Mr. Specter.
Mr. Specter. What conclusions did you reach then as to the trajectory or point of origin of the bullet, Dr. Humes, based on 388?
Commander Humes. We reached the conclusion that this missile was fired toward the President from a point above and behind him, sir.
Mr. Specter. Now, on one detail on your report, Dr. Humes, on page 4, on the third line down, you note that there is a lacerated wound measuring 15 by 6 mm. which on the smaller size is, of course, less than 6.5 mm.?
Commander Humes. Yes, sir.
Mr. Specter. What would be the explanation for that variation?
Commander Humes. This is in the scalp, sir, and I believe that this is explainable on the elastic recoil of the tissues of the skin, sir. It is not infrequent in missile wounds of this type that the measured wound is slightly smaller than the caliber of the missile that traversed it.