Dr. David Mantik, M.D., Ph.D., in conducting his optical density (OD) measurements of the three extant JFK autopsy skull X-rays in the National Archives, was perplexed at finding a 6.5 mm object inside JFK’s right orbit on the anterior-posterior (AP) skull X-ray. This (apparent) bullet cross-section was clearly the largest metal-like object in the X-ray films. But—under oath—none of the three autopsy pathologists could recall seeing it at the autopsy, nor did they remove it. Even more mysteriously, that piece of “metal” is not in the National Archives.

As noted in the new book, The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: The Final Analysis, which Dr. Mantik and I recently co-authored, Dr. Mantik has seen the JFK autopsy skull X-rays more than anyone else. Using a densitometer, he measured the light coming through the X-rays millimeter-by-millimeter (with some measurements at a tenth-of-a-millimeter calibration). With regard to the 6.5 mm object, Dr. Mantik sought to determine if the X-ray image was authentic or if the 6.5 mm object was an artifact of forgery.

In January 1969, the (Ramsey) Clark Panel finally released its long-awaited (1968) review of the JFK autopsy. That report described a 6.5 mm (nearly circular) cross-section of an apparent bullet fragment inside JFK’s right orbit on the anterior-posterior (AP) X-ray film (Figure 1).1/

Figure 1: This is the anterior-posterior autopsy (AP) X-ray film, often abbreviated “AP.” This view is also sometimes called a “frontal X-ray film.” JFK was lying on his back. The film was placed directly behind his head, with the X-rays entering from the front. The arrow identifies the 6.5 mm object within JFK’s right orbit.

Curiously, although this was by far the largest metal-like object, it had not been described in the autopsy report. In fact, this was its first appearance in history. Furthermore, it had not been removed during the........

© American Thinker