Lee Harvey Oswald Timeline 1939-1963

Lee Harvey Oswald was born to Robert Edward Lee Oswald and Marguerite Frances Claverie in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. He was the couple’s second child, his elder brother Robert had been born in 1934. Oswald never knew his father because he died of a heart attack in August 1939.

The family moved to Dallas, Texas.

Oswald began his education. Due to family circumstances, he changed schools several times during his primary education.

Lee Harvey Oswald and his mother moved to New York City. Oswald frequently skipped school. He was assessed by a psychiatrist who determined he had schizoid and passive-aggressive tendencies that were caused by a lack of affection and emotional stability.

Lee and his mother moved to New Orleans.

Lee Harvey Oswald left school and began working as an office clerk in New Orleans.

The family moved to Fort Worth Texas.

Lee Harvey attended Arlington Heights High School. This was the 12th school he had attended.

Lee Harvey Oswald left school and joined the United States Marine Corps.

Having completed his training, Oswald was assigned to the Marine Air Control Squadron 1 at Atsugi Naval Air Facility near Tokyo.

Having spent a turbulent three years in the military, where he was frequently in trouble for breaking rules, fighting and misuse of weapons, Oswald was discharged from the Marines. He claimed his mother needed his support and care.

Lee Harvey Oswald travelled to the Soviet Union and was given an Intourist guide. He told the guide that he wanted to become a Soviet citizen.

Oswald’s application to become a Soviet citizen was declined. In order to delay his return to the United States, Oswald cut his arm before his guide arrived to take him to the airport. Because of his wound he was taken to a psychiatric hospital.

Oswald told officials at the US embassy in Moscow that he wanted to defect to Russia.

Oswald had wanted to attend Moscow University, but he was sent to Minsk, Belarus to work in an electronics factory. He accommodated in a studio apartment in the city. Stanislau Shushkevich was assigned to teach him Russian.

Oswald began a relationship with Ella German, a co-worker at the electronics factory.

Lee Harvey Oswald’s relationship with Ella German ended after she rejected his proposal of marriage. Soon afterwards he decided to return to the United States and asked the US embassy to return his passport.

Oswald met Marina Prusakova at a dance and they began dating.

Lee Harvey Oswald married Marina Pruskova.

A daughter, June Lee was born to Lee Harvey and Marina in the Soviet Union.

Lee Harvey Oswald, his wife and daughter travelled to the United States and made their home in Dallas, Texas.

Oswald gained employment at the Leslie Welding Company.

Lee Harvey left the Leslie Welding Company and began working as a photo print trainee at Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall. Oswald did not get on with the other employees and was frequently involved in confrontations.

Oswald purchased a second hand rifle and a Smith and Weston revolver under the pseudonym A Hidell.

Oswald was sacked from his job at Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall.

Oswald attempted to kill retired Major General Edwin Walker by firing his rifle through the Major’s window. The bullet missed and was too damaged to be analysed. Oswald’s wife, Marina later testified that Oswald carried out the shooting.

Lee Harvey Oswald left Dallas and moved to New Orleans. He gained employment as a machine greaser by the Reily Coffee Company.

Oswald’s wife, Marina and their daughter joined him in New Orleans.

Oswald sympathised with Fidel Castro and Communist Cuba. Against the wishes of the society, Oswald founded a branch of the Fidel Castro Fair Play for Cuba Committee (FPCC) in New Orleans. He used the alias A J Hidell and proclaimed himself Chapter President.

Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for disturbing the peace after handing out pro-Castro leaflets in New Orleans. He was released with a caution.

Oswald’s wife and daughter returned to Texas. They lived with Ruth Paine, a friend of Marina’s.

Lee Harvey Oswald had travelled to Mexico City by bus. He applied for a visa to travel to Cuba. Cuban authorities requested Soviet approval for his move to Cuba but he was unable to gain this approval.

Having given up on his plans to visit Cuba, Oswald returned to Dallas, United States.

Oswald gained employment at the Texas School Book Depository. He rented a room in Dallas where he lived during the week. Marina and his daughter remained in the home of her friend Ruth Paine.

A daughter, Audrey Marina Rachel was born to Lee Harvey and Marina.

Oswald became a person of interest to the CIA after they learned of his visit to the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City. They interviewed Ruth Paine and Marina Oswald to gain more information. Oswald was furious when he learned of the visit.

Harvey asked a friend to give him a lift to visit his wife as he needed to collect some curtain rods.

Oswald and his friend returned to Dallas. Oswald carried a large package which he said contained the curtain rods. It was later assumed that the package contained his rifle.

A number of colleagues testified that Lee Harvey Oswald was at work in the Texas School Book Depository.

President John F Kennedy was shot in the head in Dealey Plaza, Elm Street, Dallas, Texas as he was riding in an open-top limousine. Governor of Texas, John Conally was also hit. Both casualties were rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital. It was later determined that three shots had been fired from the sixth floor of the book depository building. A witness described looking up after the first shot and seeing a man with a rifle in a window of the sixth floor. The description given by the witness was immediately circulated.

Oswald returned to his rented room and put on a jacket before leaving.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was pronounced dead by doctors at the Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Police Officer J D Tippit was shot and killed. Witnesses identified Oswald as the shooter.

A shoe shop manager saw a man acting suspiciously enter the Texas Theatre without paying. He alerted the theatre ticket office who called the police.

Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested in the Texas Theatre.

Lee Harvey Oswald was formally charged with the murder of Officer Tippit.

Lee Harvey Oswald was formally charged with the assassination of President John F Kennedy.

Oswald was interviewed by Police several times but continually denied the murders of Officer Tippit and John F Kennedy. He claimed that at the time of the President’s assassination he was eating lunch.

Lee Harvey Oswald was being led through the basement of the Dallas Police Headquarters when he was fatally shot by Dallas nightclub owner, Jack Ruby. Oswald was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Lee Harvey Oswald was pronounced dead by hospital doctors.