The Flying Skull Fragment (Animated) - by Frank Caramelli Jr.

The Flying Skull Fragment

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A few words from
the Webmaster...

Free hand to Frank Caramelli Jr.
What follows doesn’t change the loyalty and respect I have for my friends: Jim Fetzer, Jack White, John Costella, David Healy and others. I found simply interesting to publish a new interpretation (that I find very plausible) of a phenomenon present within the Zapruder film.

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DETAIL IN ZAPRUDER FILM UNNOTICED FOR FORTY-THREE YEARS
© 2006-2010 by Frank Caramelli Jr.

"The skull fragment doesn't just fly forward; it floats backward. My eye tells me that is because it is spinning. "Helicoptering" as a friend of mine said; above and then to the side of the limousine."

Frank Caramelli Jr.

The Flying Skull Fragment - Highlights

The Skull Fragment is "Helicoptering"	Reflection in the trunk lid

Zf-313 to Zf-337 in Slow Motion	Frames 327 & 328, the fragment is undoubtedly reflected in the trunk lid

The Flying Skull Fragment reflected in the trunk lid
Demonstration by Frank Caramelli Jr.

Explanations, frame by frame...

	Frame 313: We see a curiosity known to researchers as the "white spot", or "white blob". It is visible in 313 at the right edge of the screen, about twenty percent up the frame from the bottom. It looks to be a foot or so in front of the windshield.
	Frame 314: The object is just above the windshield, still blurred, and more of a square shape in this frame. It is slightly higher than it is in frame 313. It looks like what it has been called for more than four decades; "...something in the grass...", "A spot in the grass..."
	Frame 315: The object has moved the same relative distance that every other object in the screen has moved, allowing for Zapruder's natural movements. The "white spot" is just above driver Greer's head. A little less blurred than frames 313 and 314, but now starting to show a motion all it's own.
	Frame 316: A white blur, just behind Greer's head. Greer's head is turned, looking back. Kennedy's body is twisted, his right shoulder well ahead and higher than his left. One of the most telling frames as far as a demonstration of motion and momentum, the "spot", the skull fragment, very much looks to be both flying and spinning in this frame.
	Frame 317: The spot is just above the jump seat windshield, appearing as a smaller oval, with blur resulting from it's own motion.
	Frame 318: Zapruder's big move. You would too if someone was shooting. I'm surprised he didn't move more. In thirty years of TV news editing, there have been many times I've seen seasoned photographers jump at loud, unexpected sounds. In 318 the entire frame blurs. It is an up and down motion, which is more noticeable (at speed), than a side to side motion. The skull fragment blurs to exactly the same extent all the other objects in the frame do. This blurred motion, from Zapruder's movement, verifies the unchanged authenticity of the film itself; at least in these critical frames. As far as this part of the film, I see no discrepancies in the continuity of motion. And that continuity is verified by Zapruder's jump.
	Frame 319: The fragment is just above Connally's head. It is a bit more defined; appearing round and smaller. The spin of the fragment is very apparent here.There is a slight upward tilt. It does not look like something on the lawn.
	Frame 320: Right between Jackie Kennedy and Connally. Looking disk like. The upward tilt has flattened a bit, and the speed of flight in this frame appears greater than almost any other frame. Another good example of a frame where it really looks to be flying. It is just a bit lower than in 319, appearing closer to the curb; though Zapruders movements could be a factor.
	Frame 321: Still flying with a disk like motion; nearly to Jackie's pink hat.
	Frame 322: Some in frame movement by the skull fragment, notably elevation. The left leading edge tipping up again. The limousine is now moving away from Zapruder, and more of the car is visible; however, the skull piece could be elevated relative to other objects, that is, it has drifted higher off the ground. Watch Zapruder in play speed to better see this drift and change in elevation. The motion in these frames (321-332) is like a rock skipping on water. There is a wobble and flutter motion; which slows it's flight. In frame 322 the fragment is just above Jackie's hat.
	Frame 323: One of the most telling frames. It is this frame as much as any other that demonstrates the flight of the object. Still above Jackie's hat. Elevated even a bit more. The fragment shows more blur than other objects in the frame. This is one of Zapruder's steadiest and clearest frames, yet the "white spot" has more blur and streak. A very important frame as far as separating the fragment from stationary objects. Look at Jackie Kennedy; the frame is steady and clear enough that we can see the texture of her hat - yet the "white spot" is streaking in flight!
	Frame 324: The fragment is between Jack and Jackie. The tip of Jackie's white glove can be seen just above the President's head. Blurred with both Zapruder's panning motion and it's own flight. Again, as in 323, there is more blur with the flying fragment than the rest of the frame.
	Frame 325: The relationship between frames 324 and 325 is an interesting one. The angle in 325 is downward. 324 dead flat. This relationship is a good indication that this object is not lying in the grass. In just one eighteenth of a second, it's appearance has changed. The pitch of the moving fragment's angle is different. This change would not be seen if we were looking at a something lying in the grass. Another Zapruder jolt. Attendant up and down blur and motion throughout frame. Yet on close examination we see more side to side motion with the fragment, though it is also, of course, subject to Zapruder's (mainly up and down) movement. The downward pitch of the leading edge is very visible.
	Frame 326: Leading edge tilted up now, as the rock skipping on water motion becomes more apparent. Jackie's hand and arm are now a bit more in view (she is just beginning to reach out). The fragment, being propelled through the air, again disk like and spinning. Another steady and clear frame that shows the fragment with more motion than objects in the rest of the frame. Keep in mind the Harper Fragment is slightly cupped shaped. It has possibly flipped over. This is the first frame where the fragment can be seen reflected in the trunk lid. It is visible, though indistinct, in the trunk lid.
	Frame 327: That white object, previously called the "white spot" or "white blob", is a piece of the President's skull, blown off by his assassin. We have traced it's flight through the air. In frame 327, it is undoubtedly being reflected in the trunk lid of the car. It is a very shiny car. For reference to how reflective the car is, look at frame 371, and notice the clear reflection of Jackie's arm in the trunk lid. In frame 327, the triangular shape of the skull fragment is plainly visible. The Harper Fragment, discovered the next day in Dealey Plaza will have a very similar triangular shape. And because it is moving through the air; not lying in the grass, it's reflection can be seen in the trunk lid. It is impossible for an object lying in the grass to be reflected in the trunk lid of the car. I'll say it again. It is impossible for an object lying in the grass to be reflected in the trunk lid of the car. But that reflection is easily seen in this, frame 327, the best frame showing the reflection in the trunk lid. And this is yet another frame that shows the fragment with more streak and blur than other objects in the frame.
	Frame 328: Our second frame where the reflection is clearly visible. Some camera movement, but the second best (to 327) proof that the skull fragment is flying through the air at a height of about four to five feet. Keep in mind the car is moving under the fragment. The fragment is winging it's way toward the center median area where it will somehow be overlooked by investigators and bystanders for more than sixteen hours. Clearly reflected in the top of the trunk. This could not happen if it were on the grass.
	Frame 329: Another frame forward, another reflection. This one intersecting with the antenna base on the rear deck of the car, and possibly the most important frame as far as reflection goes. There is a slight distortion in the reflection itself. Not the fragment , but the reflection. The distortion caused by the antenna seating proves again we are seeing an airborne object, almost directly above the car. The rock skipping on water motion again apparent as the leading edge tilted upward. An easily noticeable change in shape in relation to frame 328; something that would not occur if the object were stationary.
	Frame 330: The fragment continues to fly, spinning toward the left side of the frame. The front edge is tilted upward, which is slowing it's flight. It's reflection is barely discernable in the trunk lid; just below the motorcycle escort's fender, which shows as a much brighter white.
	Frame 331: The most intriguing shape of the fragment. It looks triangular in this frame, with the pointed edge at the left. The Harper Fragment will prove to be triangular. The reflection, though faint, shows this; but it is hard to separate the reflection from the top edge of Hargis's motorcycle fender. This is a relatively blurred frame. The fragment looks to be less than a foot from the motorcycle's wind screen.
	Frame 332: A white smear barely in front of the motorcycle windscreen of Bobby Hargis. Hargis stated he was hit with bone, blood, and brain matter, as a result of the shooting. He said the hit was so hard he briefly thought he had been hit with a bullet. Again a blurry frame.
	Frame 333: Just past Hargis's windscreen. Did the fragment hit the outer edge of the windscreen? Hard to tell. Watch Zapruder at play speed to get a better look at this. In the sprocket area, agent Hill can be seen running toward the car. The fragment has possibly gained a bit of elevation.
	Frame 334: A flat line. Just ahead of the sprocket area.
	Frame 335: Into the sprocket area, squarish, again showing more side to side (right to left) movement than objects in the rest of the frame.
	Frame 336: The fragment is just at Hargis's face, still showing a flight like motion. Well into the sprocket area. Agent Hill, though running, shows less blur than the fragment.
	Frame 337: A tiny spot at the far left, past Hargis. This frame however, is a good example of how reflective the trunk lid is. Following this frame, the Harper Fragment, is not apparent; but there may be other, smaller fragments reflected in the trunk lid in various frames. This will be addressed in closing.