Hello everyone. This being my first post here at this Forum.
I have always believed there was some good things that emerged from the HSCA, as well as some less than satisfying aspects. For example, they went beyond the Warren Commission by establishing a panel to actually study the available films and photos, and viewed the autopsy photos and x-rays.
In my personal opinion only, the result of this helped establish the time of the first JFK hit (approx. z190). However, on the “less than satisfying side”, they still went along with the dubious SBT, although in an entirely different time and location on Elm St. from the WC.
My biggest problem with the HSCA’s version of the SBT was that it would have made an already difficult shot from Oswald even more difficult, given that he would have been shooting through the Oak tree at (or about) z190.
Additionally, while the HSCA correctly disagreed with the WC with regard to the location of JFK’s back wound, they incorrectly speculated that JFK would have had to be leaning significantly forward in a manner not evident in any photo or film frame to produce an exit wound that would go on to hit Connally.
So to buy into the HSCA’s version, one must accept that after Oswald completely missed a clear and open shot directly below the window, then less than two seconds later, had only enough time to point-aim his rifle through the Oak tree and still hit both JFK and Connally with a single shot..... and that JFK was leaning substantially forward at the time of the bullet strike.
As far as the establishment of the HSCA goes, this article by a somewhat biased Richard E. Sprague, and his reaction to the change in leadership (as discussed above by Pat Speer) is interesting reading nonetheless:
http://www.acorn.net/jfkplace/09/fp.back_issues/18th_Issue/blakey.html