Record Number 180-10080-10167 Agency File Number 008589 Originator-HSCA From: Blakey, G. R. To: Osborne, David Date: 5/22/78 Pages: 4 Subjects: Osborne, David Kennedy, John; Autopsy "Gag Order" Date Released: not on document Contents: Three letters regarding the "gag order." All three follow in full. Select Committee on Assassinations U. S. House of Representatives 3331 House Office Building, Annex 2 Washington, D.C. 20515 May 22, 1978 Captain David Osborne R. D. #1 Smethport, Pennsylvania 16749 Dear Captain Osborne: In connection with its investigation into the death of President John F. Kennedy, the Select Committee on Assassinations would like to speak to you regarding your presence at the autopsy of President Kennedy. This letter serves as notification that notwithstanding any order of silence it is permissible for you to divulge information concerning the autopsy to this Committee. The attached letter from the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy are affirmative responses to the Committee's request that the Defense Department rescind the order of silence. The Committee requested the Defense Department of contact you directly but the Department stated that the Committee could distribute the attached letters and that this would suffice to allow you to speak with the Committee. If you prefer further verification, please call Judy Miller, Office of the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, at (202) 697-3133. Committee staff members will contact you in the near future concerning any information you can provide. Your assistance and cooperation in this investigation will be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, /s/ G. Robert Blakey G. Robert Blakey Chief Counsel and Director Attachments - 2 GRB:mfj [end of first letter] OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE Washington, D.C. 20301 March 1, 1978 Honorable Louis Stokes Chairman Select Committee on Assassinations House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Mr. Chairman: Secretary Brown has asked me to reply to your request of February 27, 1978, regarding personnel present at the autopsy of President John F. Kennedy. I believe that the accompanying letter stating the Department of the Navy's position responds to the concerns you expressed. The other matters you referred to in your letter are receiving attention and have discussed with your Chief Counsel. With your permission, I shall be in touch with him directly to seek a satisfactory arrangement. Sincerely, /s/ John G. Kester John G. Kester The Special Assistant [end of second letter] GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE NAVY Washington, D.C. 20350 1 March 1978 Honorable Louis Stokes Chairman Select Committee on Assassinations House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Mr. Chairman: In response to your request of February 27, 1978, regarding Navy personnel present at the autopsy of President John F. Kennedy, the Department of the Navy interposes no objection to such persons, should they wish to do so, discussing with designated members of the Select Committee's staff, matters pertaining to the request that are within the Select Committee's jurisdiction. Sincerely, /s/ Togo D. West, Jr. TOGO D. WEST, JR. [end of third letter] Record Number 180-10102-10401 Agency File Number 013609 Originator-HSCA From: Osborne, David To: Date: 6/19/78 Pages: 3 Subjects: Osborne, David Kennedy, John; Autopsy Date Released: not on document Contents: Very brief Outside Contact Report (handwritten), dated 6/19/78 on telephone interview with Admiral David Osborne by Mark Flanagan. Document follows in full. KENNEDY OUTSIDE CONTACT REPORT DATE 6/19/78 TIME [blank] I. Identifying Information: Name Capt. David Osborne Telephone (814) 887-919? [last digit of phone number cut off by Archives] Address Smithsport, [sic] PA. now an Admiral Type of Contact: X Telephone Person II. Summary of Contact: 6-19 -- reached him at 7:4 [sic] (p [sic] -- calling about his presence at the autopsy -- made arrangements to conduct the interview at 10:30, tomorrow morning. III. Recommended Follow-up (if any): [blank] /s/ Mark Flanagan [end of report] Record Number 180-10102-10415 Agency File Number 013623 Originator-HSCA From: Osborne, David To: Date: 6/20/78 Pages: 3 Subjects: Osborne, David Kennedy, John; Autopsy Date Released: 12/17/93 Contents: Outside Contact Report on 6/20/78 telephone interview with Admiral David Osborne by Mark Flanagan. Document follows in full. KENNEDY OUTSIDE CONTACT REPORT DATE 6/20/78 TIME [blank] I. Identifying Information: Name Admiral David Osborne Telephone (814) 887-9190 Address RD #1, Smethport, Pennsylvania 16749 Type of Contact: X Telephone Person II. Summary of Contact: I contacted Admiral Osborne in regard to his presence at the autopsy of President Kennedy. In November, 1963, Admiral Osborne was a Captain in the Navy and Chief of Surgery at Bethesda Naval Hospital. On the evening of November 22, 1963, Captain Osborne had the Command Watch and the Telephone Watch. Upon learning that the autopsy would be performed at Bethesda, Osborne went there to see if he could be of any assistance. Osborne said the Kennedy family stayed on the seventeenth floor of the Naval Center during the autopsy. Osborne recalls going to his home on the Naval Base and acquiring some Scotch and Canadian Club which he then sent up to the Kennedy family. Osborne said that when he entered the autopsy room the III. Recommended Follow-up (if any): [blank] [end of page one] OCR - David Osborne Page Two President's body was in the passageway. He said that Dr. Humes called Dr. Pierre Finck to assist in the autopsy. Osborne said that at that point there was tremendous pressure of perform a "quick post" and to "get out of there." He feels that Dr. Humes was trying to resist this pressure and was successful in doing so. Osborne could not recall anyone issuing any orders limiting the scope of the autopsy. He does feel, however, that the word was passed to hurry the autopsy and that Dr. Humes kept resisting that pressure. Osborne recalled that the Surgeon General and Admiral Galloway were present. Osborne also recalls Gregory Cross being present. Osborne said that X-rays and photographs were taken. He could not remember anyone taking any notes. Osborne said that during the autopsy persons were telephoning into the room and that persons were constantly coming in and out. Osborne said that various organs and the brain were removed during the autopsy and subsequently examined by Humes and Boswell. Osborne said that the prosectors could not find any adrenal glands because they had undergone atrophy. He further stated that Commander Humes could find no gross or microscopic evidence of the adrenal glands. [end of page two] OCR - David Osborne Page Three Osborne said that the President was fully dressed when the coffin was opened. Upon raising his shoulders to remove the coat, Osborne said that a slug rolled out of his clothing and onto the table. Osborne said that the slug was copper-clad and that the Secret Service of FBI took possession of this. Upon further inquiry, Osborne emphasized that the slug was a fully intact missile and not a fragment. Osborne next said that a tracheostomy obscured the wound to the throat. He said, however, that once the doctors examined the wound closely they could determine that the bullet which entered the back passed through the throat. In regard to the head wound Osborne said that there was no question that the bullet entered the back of the head and blew off the top of the head. Osborne said that to his knowledge the morticians did not come to Bethesda. Osborne did not have any additional information. I informed him that I would probably contact him again to review some of his recollections. [end of page three and end of document] Record Number 180-10102-10403 Agency File Number 013611 Originator-HSCA From: Osborne, David To: Date: 6/21/78 Pages: 1 Subjects: Osborne, David General Correspondence Kennedy, John; Autopsy Date Released: not on document Contents: Outside Contact Report on 6/21/78 telephone interview by Mark Flanagan (?) with Admiral David Osborne on 6/21/78 (handwritten). Document follows in full. KENNEDY OUTSIDE CONTACT REPORT DATE 6/21/78 TIME [blank] I. Identifying Information: Name Adm. Osborne Telephone (814) 887-9190 Address Smethport, PA Type of Contact: X Telephone Person II. Summary of Contact: contacted [sic] Adm. Osborne re: presence at the autopsy of Pres. Kennedy. Received his statement regarding the discovery of a fully intact missile at Bethesda. 6-30 -- 10:25 no answer 7-7-78 = 11:10 a. [sic] no answer 7-12-78 11:05 a.m. -- said I needed to talk to him for a while -- 30 minutes or so -- he said it would be best to call him back later in the day or during the next few mornings. 7-14-78 4:00 -- not available, resting; recovered from surgery just recently -- said I would try and call tomorrow morning. 7-15-78 12:00 -- reached and spoke to in depth. III. Recommended Follow-up (if any): [blank] [end of document]