Phil Willis Slide #26 (Willis 12)

Object number2002.040.0022

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 Dealey Plaza and the Texas School Book Depository building from Main Street west of Houston Street. The Hertz sign on top of the building reads the temperature of 68 degrees. The Houston Street peristyle is visible on the right, the hood of a red car is in the foreground, and several Dallas police officers are visible along Elm Street. This image is commonly known as "Willis 12" 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