The Secret Journey of JFK's Body: Unveiling the Truth Behind the Aluminum Shipping Casket

Following the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, the secret journey of his body from Parkland Hospital to Bethesda Naval Hospital has long been a subject of intrigue. Many questions have been raised about the transportation and fictional aspects of his body, particularly the role of an aluminum shipping casket. This article aims to explore the various aspects of this journey and the mysteries that surround it.

The Initial Placements: Parkland Hospital and Air Force One

After the assassination in Dallas, President Kennedy's body was initially placed in a bronze casket at Parkland Memorial Hospital. This casket was later transferred to an aluminum shipping casket for the journey to Washington D.C. The transfer of the body from the bronze casket to the aluminum casket occurred during the following timeline:

1:40: Kennedy was moved from a stretcher to a wooden ornate coffin in Parkland Hospital. 2:14: The casket arrived at Love Field, Dallas. 2:18: The casket was loaded and secured on Air Force One. 2:47: Air Force One took off from Love Field. 5:59 EST: Air Force One arrived at Andrews Air Force Base. 6:10: The casket was loaded into an ambulance vehicle and left Andrews.

During the journey, Jackie Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and several security agents attended to the body at all times, ensuring that it was never left unattended. The casket was carefully guarded from the time it left the hospital until its arrival at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

The Casket Journey from Andrews to Bethesda

The journey from Andrews Air Force Base to Bethesda Naval Hospital took around 1.5 hours and involved several stops and people:

6:10: The casket was loaded into an ambulance vehicle. 6:55: The vehicles arrived at Bethesda Naval Hospital. 7:35: The Parkland casket was brought into the hospital morgue, and his body was placed on the autopsy table.

During this journey, medical and security personnel were present to ensure the safety and completion of the transfer. Staff members, including Jack O'Donnell, G. McHugh, and officials like SSAGENTS Greer, Kellerman, and Landis, were crucial in handling the transition of the body.

The Parkland and Bethesda Caskets

At Parkland Memorial Hospital, two caskets were involved in the process:

The Parkland casket was a bronze casket initially used to transport Kennedy's body from the hospital to Air Force One. The aluminum shipping casket was the one used for the journey from Andrews Air Force Base to Bethesda Naval Hospital.

The Parkland casket was not used for the actual burial, which involved a more ornate and elaborate casket. The aluminum casket, however, played a unique role in the subsequent autopsy. Jackie Kennedy, along with FBI and Secret Service agents, were present during this crucial transfer at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

Further Developments and Suspicions

Throughout the journey, several key events and suspicions have emerged, including:

Suspected Deliveries and Stops: One of the morticians, John Liggett, was called to Parkland Hospital after the assassination. According to his wife, Liggett was told that JFK's body was in bad shape and needed his expertise to restore it. Unclear Bullet Wounds: Phyllis Hill, a nurse at Parkland Hospital, stated she could see a bullet or fragment near the right ear and below the shoulder. However, due to threats from government officials and autopsy doctors, she remained silent. Secrets at the Autopsy: Dr. Humes, one of the autopsy doctors, initially dismissed the neck wound as a tracheotomy. It wasn't until later that he admitted to using the bullet wound for the procedure. To cover up this mistake, he destroyed his notes on the matter.

These details spark further inquiries into the authenticity of JFK's body and the role of the aluminum shipping casket. Questions remain about the removal of potential wounds or other modifications made to the body at various stages of the journey.

Secrecy and Cover-Ups

The transition between the Parkland and Bethesda caskets was shrouded in secrecy. The possibility of JFK's body being tampered with or modified in some way during this period cannot be ruled out. Various theories have been proposed, including:

Possibility 1: The body could have been removed and smuggled out of the hospital, immediately raising suspicions when the Secret Service confronted the Dallas Coroner over the control of the casket.

Possibility 2: The casket could have been mounted in the funeral home’s hearse. After the Secret Service drove off, Liggitt could have removed the body and resumed the journey, explaining the numerous oddities in the autopsy process.

These speculations highlight the conspiratorial aspects of the JFK assassination and the intricate timeline surrounding the movement of the presidential body.

Conclusion

The journey of President Kennedy's body from Parkland Hospital to Bethesda Naval Hospital, and the role of the aluminum shipping casket, remain mysteries even decades after the event. The discrepancies, omissions, and cover-ups add layers of complexity to the story, prompting further investigation into one of the darkest chapters in American history. As evidence and testimonies continue to come to light, the truth about Kennedy's body and the unfolding events surrounding his death may yet reveal more about the murky waters of U.S. politics and national security.