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Phil Willis Slide #27
Phil Willis Slide #27

Phil Willis Slide #27

Object number2002.040.0023
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)
DescriptionOriginal 35mm color slide taken by assassination witness Phil Willis showing Dealey Plaza with the Texas School Book Depository building and the Dal-Tex building in the background. The image is taken from Commerce Street by the triple underpass, and several vehicles and a red motorcylcle are visible in the foreground. Dallas police officers and police vehicles are visible along Elm Street.
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
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
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