Record Number 180-10093-10414  Agency File Number 002054
     Originator-HSCA
     From:     Kelly, James P.
     To:
     Date:     8/16/77
     Pages:    4

     Subjects:Kennedy, John, Autopsy
          Benson, Leland

     Date of release:  10/23/93
     
     Contents:Memorandum written by James P. Kelly to HSCA
          "File" on interview with Leland Benson, Augusts 16,
          1977.  Document follows in full.










































MEMORANDUM TO FILE
FROM:     JAMES P. KELLY
DATE:     AUGUST 16, 1977
RE:  INTERVIEW WITH LELAND BENSON RE: KENNEDY AUTOPSY
CC:  Clifford Fenton

     Leland W. Benson, residing at 10028 Sinnott Drive, Bethesda,
Maryland (301 530 4972) was interviewed this date at Bethesda
Naval Hospital by the writer regarding his activities in
connection with the autopsy of President John F. Kennedy
performed at Bethesda Naval Hospital on November 22, 1973 [sic].

     Benson was Supervising Histo-Pathology Technician at the
time and supervised the processing of tissue from JFK's autopsy. 
He was not on duty after 4PM on the 22nd of November and did not
return to duty at the Lab until Monday morning, November 25,
1963.

     The normal procedure at that time was for the Pathologist
performing the autopsy to forward sections of tissue from either
autopsies or surgery to the Lab.  In Autopsy [sic], a routing
slip was filled out with the numerical notation of how many
sections of tissue were being forwarded to the lab and sent along
with the sections up to Benson's Histo-Pathology Lab.

     In Kennedy's case, Benson recalls that a routing slip was
sent on Monday morning and the sections were processed into wax
blocks which were then shaved into micro sections and stained by
hand.

     The finished slides were then given to a pathologists to
read.  All slides and gross tissue were returned to Dr. James
Humes, the Pathologists [sic] who handled the Kennedy autopsy on
November 22, 1963.  Nothing was kept in the Lab and no record
made of intake or processing.

     Humes would make whatever notes were necessary.

     Benson said Bethesda did an average of 300 autopsies a year.

     The brain tissue was processed to the best of his
recollection.  Brains removed at autopsies are usually fixed in
formalin and then kept in a chrome "bucket" of formalin.  He said
that he did not see Kennedy's brain at any time and does not know
where it is today.  He said that is possible that the brain and
tissues were sent to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at
Walter Reed Hospital on 16th Street.  Sometimes teaching slides
are made and the brain is used as a teaching specimen.

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                               Page 2
                                 
     MEMO RE INTERVIEW WITH LELAND BENSON RE: KENNEDY AUTOPSY
                                 
     Benson said he was questioned in 1964 by representatives
from the Warren Commission about his knowledge of the autopsy and
NNMC procedures.  He could not recall who questioned him.

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