From - Thu Jan 16 09:57:47 1997 From: Greg.Jaynes@lana.zippo.com Newsgroups: alt.conspiracy.jfk.moderated Subject: Interview with H.B. McLain Approved: aja@thuntek.net Date: 15 Jan 1997 06:05:58 -0800 Organization: Zip News Lines: 242 Sender: usenet@lana.w1.zippo.com Message-ID: <5bio86$fuu@lana.zippo.com> Content-Type: text Content-Length: 8405 Status: O Originator: jmcadams@homer.thenet.net NNTP-Posting-Host: 206.64.182.2 Path: mcadams.posc.mu.edu!jmcadams The following transcript is from an interview that Mark Oakes, Steve Barber and I did with H.B. McLain. Mark Oakes started the interview and asked McLain general questions about his overall experience. Steve Barber monitored the discussions and interjected relevant questions that Mark or I may not have asked. My part was to ask McLain specifics with the HSCA acoustics conclusions in mind. Mark Oakes will release the entire interview in his next "Eyewitness" video. McLain made some astounding comments regarding his opinion of where the headshot came from. During the interview we showed McLain the DCA film where it looks like he reached down to adjust something on the left side of the motorcycle. The claim has been made that this was when the jamming of police channel one began. September 17, 1996 Jaynes We just saw what may be you reaching down and adjusting something on the left side of the motorcycle. You said that could not be you adjusting your microphone because your microphone was mounted on your handlebars. McLain That's right. Jaynes Ok when you made the turn from Main street onto Houston street I believe you were shown frames from the Hughes film by the HSCA and you said that was you that was swinging wide through the turn onto Houston. McLain Swinging around onto Houston, yeah. Jaynes How far down Houston street did you go before you changed your motorcycles speed? McLain About midway of the block. Then I stopped. Jaynes And what caused you to stop at that point? McLain Well the traffic had slowed up because they was making their turn onto Elm street. And...there was no need in me running up there and getting in that, cause they gotta make their turn, and after they made their turn and take off then I'd pull on up. Jaynes So, was it customary that if the rest of the motorcade stopped, you would generally stop where you were at in the motorcade? McLain Right. Right. Jaynes Ok now, while you were stopped, did you notice anything? McLain Yeah..... Jaynes Ok, did you notice anything pertinent to the assassination while you were stopped? McLain I heard one shot.... I looked up... seen all that bunch of pigeons fly out from behind that schoolbook depository. Jaynes Did you notice anything else while you were stopped? McLain No... not that... well, I turned back around and seen Mrs. Kennedy up on the back of the limousine. Jaynes And you saw her over the wall? Or...how were you able to see her? McLain You can see though that....[retaining wall]....it's sort of like lattice work. You can see through it in places. Jaynes Are you referring to the square ornamental holes that are in the wall? McLain Yeah. Jaynes And you could see Mrs. Kennedy? McLain Yeah. Jaynes At that point? McLain About that time, the chief came on the radio and said head for Parkland. Jaynes Ok, I think you discussed in your HSCA testimony, you thought your radio was set on police channel one. McLain I said it could possibly be. Jaynes Now, do you know what channel the Chief (Curry) broadcast that on? McLain Right now... no .. I couldn't say. We had one and two and it's been a while. Jaynes Right. So, if your microphone was stuck on channel one as some people say, would you be able to hear him (Chief Curry) say that over your radio? McLain No. You couldn't hear anything......Maybe a lot of static. Jaynes Ok now, when you did hear the chief say to go to the hospital, what did you do? McLain I took off headed toward Parkland. Jaynes When did you turn your siren on? McLain Immediately. Jaynes This was while you were on Houston street? McLain Probably not, because it was foot operated and you have to have speed for it to work. And I imagine that it was after I got on Elm street where I could get a little speed to make it make a noise. Jaynes Now when you accelerated from the point where you had stopped on Houston street, were you zig zagging through the stopped cars or did you stay in the left lane? McLain Well I was on the left hand side. Everything was clear. Jaynes You didn't have to zig zag at all? McLain No because everybody went. Except Hargis. Hargis I think stopped at the grassy knoll. But they was, I believe six a leading, plus that two that was directly in front of me that went on to the hospital. Jaynes By the time you reached the triple underpass, do you think you had your siren on? McLain I know I did. Jaynes Were there any cars or confusion on the ramp that would have blocked your way? McLain No. Because they had all that blocked off because that's the way the procession was going to go. Jaynes I believe you said in your HSCA testimony that you caught up with the motorcade at the Hyatt House or the Continental street exit. McLain It was right along in there. Yes. Jaynes Were the other motorcycle sirens operating? McLain Yeah. Jaynes Their sirens were going and your siren was going? McLain Right. Jaynes And then, did your siren continue all the way to Parkland hospital? McLain Yeah. It was louder at points. When we had to slow up to make a turn it would get quieter. Because you can't keep it going while you are turning. Jaynes How long do you think it took you to get to Parkland hospital from the triple underpass? McLain I'd say a minute... minute and a half. Maybe two minutes. Jaynes And what rate of speed were you traveling? McLain All it would do. Jaynes So, you caught the motorcade, did you have to slow down at some point? You were probably going faster than them weren't you? McLain Yeah I slowed down to their level. They was running about seventy (mph) I imagine. Jaynes So you were going in excess of seventy miles per hour when you caught up to the motorcade? McLain Probably close to ninety (mph). Jaynes And everyone's sirens were on as you all went on the hospital? McLain Yes. Jaynes Can you explain the sounds that would be recorded by a stuck microphone that would be different from what you have called a solo motorcycle from a three wheeler? McLain The sound of a three wheeler is loose and chattery like. And on a solo it just hits a solid lick. The three wheelers sound like a thrashing machine. Jaynes Ok, and then when you got to the hospital, of course you slowed down. This would cause your siren to end right? McLain Yeah. Jaynes ......cause you are not going any faster? You already stated (earlier) that you assisted Mrs. Kennedy to get out of the car. Did you see see the president at all or did you pay any attention. McLain I didn't pay any attention to him. I seen some of the skull fragments and stuff in the floorboard after they got him out. But as far as looking directly at his head I didn't. Because I was busy with her and they took him out on the other side of the car. Jaynes When you escorted President Johnson from the hospital to Love field, what vehicle did he go in and where did he ride in the vehicle? McLain I guess he was in one of the cars they were already in. They brought some of them on out after we was already after we got there. They brought some of them on out. But he didn't go in the presidential limousine. Jaynes Right. Did he sit up in the ride all the way there or did he look like he was taking some kind of protective position? McLain I think he did. I don't remember him laying down. Jaynes Thank you.