My question, then, is how would you characterize the difficulty or ease of that shot for a marksman with Mr. Oswald's capabilities?
Major Anderson. In my opinion this is not a particularly difficult shot, and that Oswald had full capabilities to make this shot.
Mr. Specter. I now show you a document marked as Commission Exhibit No. 902, which characterizes what was believed to have been the shot which struck President Kennedy in the head at a distance from rifle in window to the President of 265.3 feet, with the photograph through rifle scope identified on the document being the view which the marksman had of the President at the time the President was struck in the head, and I ask you again for an opinion as to the ease or difficulty of that shot, taking into consideration the capabilities of Mr. Oswald as a marksman, evidenced by the Marine Corps documents on him.
Major Anderson. I consider it to be not a particularly difficult shot at this short range, and that Oswald had full capabilities to make such a shot.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. Specter. May the record show that we have been off the record because Mr. Rankin stepped out, but we will proceed now to complete the deposition since he hasn't returned at this time.
Major Anderson, assume if you will that there were three shots fired by the assassin with a Mannlicher-Carcano rifle in a time span of 4.8 to 5.6 seconds. Would that speed of firing be within the capabilities of Mr. Oswald based upon the information as to his marksmanship ability from the Marine Corps records?
Major Anderson. Yes, sir; it would.
Mr. Specter. Major Anderson, are you as familiar with the telescopic sights as is Master Sergeant Zahm?
Major Anderson. No, sir; I am not. Sergeant Zahm is far more familiar and much more of an expert on telescopic sights than I am.