Phil Willis Slide #20 (Willis 11)

Object number2002.040.0017

Date11/22/1963

ClassificationsPhotographs

Photographer Phil Willis

ObjectSlide

Credit LinePhil Willis Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

MediumFilm

Dimensions2 × 2 in. (5.1 × 5.1 cm)

Terms

Collections

DescriptionOriginal 35mm color slide taken by assassination witness Phil Willis showing Dallas police officers, police vehicles, and motorcycles at the southwest corner of Elm Street and Houston Street, looking north on Houston Street, after the Kennedy assassination. Several cars are visible on the left in front of the Texas School Book Depository building while the Dal-Tex building is visible in the background on the right of the image. This image is commonly known as "Willis 11" by assassination researchers.

Curatorial Commentary

Phil Willis' entire family joined him in Dealey Plaza to see the president's motorcade: his wife, Marilyn, their daughters Linda and Rosemary, and Marilyn's parents, Mr. & Mrs. William H. Stubblefield. Neither Rosemary nor the Stubblefields were questioned by the Warren Commission, although the other members of the family were interviewed. - Gary Mack, Curator

Curatorial Commentary

In addition to witnessing the assassination of President Kennedy, Phil Willis was also present at another historic event: the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. A second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, Willis was assigned to the 86th Observation Squadron at Bellows Field in Oahu, Hawaii, during the Japanese attack. During World War II, he flew a total of 52 combat missions.

Mr. Willis passed away in January 1995, before he could record an oral history with the Museum. However, his wife, Marilyn Willis, participated in a videotaped group interview with other assassination eyewitnesses on November 22, 1996. - Stephen Fagin, Curator