Declassified: The CIA "Oswald" and Mexico City

[David Josephs]

March 11, 1964 FBI report which becomes CE2195: http://www.history-matters.com/archive/j...E_2195.pdf

Investigation disclosed LEE HARVEY OSWALD made a trip on Fleche Roja Bus leaving Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, 9/26/63 and arrived Mexico City, Mexico, 9/27/63 . OSWALD reportedly sat beside an elderly white male on this bus trip . The elderly white male has been identified by other English speaking passengers that were on the bus as ALBERT OSBORNE who is also known as JOHN HOWARD BOWEN. ALBERT OSBORNE was interviewed 1/7/64 at which time he described JOHN HOWARD BOWEN as an acquaintance but said he had no way of communicating with BOWEN. He was interviewed as BOWEN on 2/8 and 1/7/64 at which times he denied being identical to OSBORNE, but said he was acquainted with OSBORNE, and furnished considerable information regarding OSBOPNE and himself. On 3/3/64 OSBORNE was again interviewed at which time he admitted that he is also known as JOHN HOWARD BOWEN, having used that name since soon after World War I . During latter 3 interviews, OSBORNE admitted making a trip from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, to Mexico City, Mexico, on September 26-27, 1963, but does not identify photographs of LEE HARVEY OSWALD as person he sat beside on trip .
He states he sat beside a young men that appeared to be Mexican or Puerto Rican and claims he, OSBORNE, was only English speaking passenger on bus . OSBORNE is reputed and claims to be a missionary in Mexico for many years and he receives financial assistance from churches and individuals throughout the United States for this work . OSBORNE has not furnished any detailed Information as to his movements and/or activities, claiming he is unable to supply such date . OSBORNE is 75 years of age, born in England, reportedly served in the British Army and migrated to the United States in 1914 . Thereafter, he claim he has lived in Washington, D. C. and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, served in the Canadian Army during World War II, returned to the United States and has traveled throughout the United States and Mexico, being employed as an itinerant rug cleaner, gardener, boys' camp operator, and minister . States he is not a naturalized citizen of the United States .

Informant advised that investigation discloses BOWEN departed Mexico City, October 1, 1963, on Flecha Roja bus, bound for Nuevo Laredo . Mexican Immigration records reflect BOWEN departed Mexico, at Nuevo Laredo, on October 2, 1963, but no information concerning his home address was available.


To be honest Jim, I was not concerned with the who and why of Bowen/Osborne beyond his involvement in the travel as described by the FBI. In one respect he is described as a 75-80 year old man from England traveling with a companion... (based on the McF's having two travelers and the line in space 18 matching line 16)

Remember though this is Flecha Rojas while the McF's and the Aussie's are on a Del Norte bus... Flecha leaves Monterrey at 3:30pm yet only leaves Nuevo Laredo at 2pm. Not possible to cover that much ground in a bus... about 135 miles at 40mph... and make the Monterrey Flecha bus...

I'd have to revisit it as it appears the WCR using OSBORNE as the passenger's name was to keep the BOWEN name out of things.. All three of these names had to have been added to this manifest...