Oswald in the doorway: the blog of the Oswald Innocence Campaign, by Ralph Cinque

Here is another image of Johnson's limo from an earlier moment, before reaching Dealey Plaza. 

I have drawn a straight line through the napes of their necks in back, so obviously I could do that. So, let's assume I should be able to do it in the Altgens photo.

Above, I drew the line right through their eyes. So, starting at Yarborough, I went to Lady Bird and then onward. Let's move in a little closer. First look at it au natural. 

First, notice that you get the distinct impression that the man in question is forward of Lady Bird. His eyes are not visible to us, but you get the definite sense that they are out of view to Lady Bird as well, that she is seeing the back of his head.

Here it is again with a line:

This time I drew the line farther, and too far in my opinion, but I wanted to show you that the front of her head aligns with the back of the mystery man's head, that she is sitting behind him. Now, let's really come in. 

His eyes aren't visible to us, but ask yourself why. What is causing all that shadow? Would it reach the back seat of the limo? 

Some may try to argue that the man is sitting in line with Lady Bird, but he is leaning forward, but that isn't right. Let's consider Youngblood's statement:

"I heard an explosion -- I was not sure whether it was a firecracker, bomb, bullet, or other explosion. I looked at whatever I could quickly survey, and could not see anything which would indicate the origin of this noise. I noticed that the movements in the Presidential car were very abnormal and, at practically the same time, the movements in the Presidential follow-up car were abnormal. I turned in my seat and with my left arm grasped and shoved the Vice President, at his right shoulder, down and toward Mrs. Johnson and Senator Yarborough. At the same time, I shouted "get down!" I believe I said this more than once and directed it to the Vice President and the other occupants of the rear seat. They all responded very rapidly."

Hmm. It couldn't have been too rapidly because the other two are sitting upright in the Altgens photo, and by that time at least two shots had occurred. Three in my book: the first shot that missed; the second shot which struck Kennedy in the back; and the third shot that struck him in the throat. So, at least two gunfire explosions had taken place which nobody questions, but it actually had to be at least three.

Don't Lady Bird and Yarborough both seem to be smiling to some extent? There certainly are no signs of distress on their faces. They look pretty happy to me. But, officially, two shots have already gone off, and I'm telling that it was at least three.  

"I quickly looked all around again and could see nothing to shoot at, so I stepped over into the back seat and sat on top of the Vice President."

He looked all around? While shoving Johnson down and towards his wife? How could he be doing that and also look all around? 

"I sat in a crouched position (on top of Johnson) and issued orders to the driver. During this time, I heard two more explosion noises and observed SA Hickey in the Presidential follow-up car poised on the car with the AR-15 rifle looking toward the buildings."

So, Youngblood claimed to be on top of Johnson prior to the second shot?  But, that's impossible. In the Altgens photo, we can see JFK reacting to the second shot. I say it was at least the third shot, but officially, it was the second shot. 

"The second and third explosions made the same type of sound that the first one did as far as I could tell, but by this time I was of the belief that they definitely were shots--not bombs or firecrackers. I am not sure that I was on top of the Vice President before the second shot--he says I was."

Of course he was because he (LBJ) had taken cover before the first shot. But, according to Youngblood's chronology, he himself was sitting "in a crouched position" ON TOP OF JOHNSON when he heard two more explosions. Hence, he was claiming to be on top of Johnson before the second shot. 

So, this all arrives at the idea that Youngblood was on top of Johnson before the second shot, but we can see in the Altgens photo that it was not true.

Here is what Senator Ralph Yarborough said about it:

"There is the well-publicized story of Agent Rufus Youngblood, who reportedly threw himself on top of Vice President Johnson after the shooting began in Dealey Plaza.  It just didn't happen. It was a small car, Johnson was a big man, tall. His knees were up against his chin as it was. There was no room for that to happen."