Civil Air Patrol Association
The HSCA later concluded that Oswald and Ferrie apparently first came into contact during Oswald's teenage participation in a New Orleans Civil Air Patrol unit where Ferrie served as an instructor.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
David Ferrie Biography and Timeline
Follow David Ferrie through 40 dated historical records for United States of America.
David Ferrie, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
40Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1955–1978Years on this page
1955
1960
G. Wray Gill Agreement
Ferrie later stated that attorney G. Wray Gill agreed to represent him in his Eastern Airlines dismissal dispute in exchange for Ferrie's investigative work on other cases.
1961
Anti-Castro Activities
The HSCA developed information that Ferrie, Guy Banister and Sergio Arcacha Smith were working together in New Orleans on anti-Castro activities during 1961.
1962
Carlos Marcello Flight Allegation
The HSCA noted an unconfirmed Border Patrol report alleging that Ferrie flew Carlos Marcello back to the United States in 1962; Marcello denied that account.
1963
Eastern Airlines Litigation
Ferrie's litigation over his dismissal from Eastern Airlines continued through August 1963, with New Orleans attorney G. Wray Gill representing him.
Marcello Court Proceedings
Ferrie stated that he was in a federal courtroom in New Orleans on the morning of November 22 while proceedings involving Carlos Marcello were underway.
Texas Trip
On the evening of November 22, Ferrie left New Orleans with two young companions and drove toward Houston, Texas.
Galveston Visit
Ferrie and his companions traveled from Houston to Galveston on November 23 during the Texas trip that investigators later examined.
Jack Martin Allegation
Jack Martin told the New Orleans District Attorney's office that former Eastern Airlines pilot David Ferrie might have aided Lee Harvey Oswald in the assassination.
Hammond Stay
Ferrie drove to Hammond, Louisiana, and spent the night with a friend before surrendering to the New Orleans District Attorney's office the next day.
Martin Allegation Notification
While returning toward New Orleans, Ferrie learned from attorney G. Wray Gill that Jack Martin had implicated him in the Kennedy assassination.
Return to Residence
After returning to New Orleans, Ferrie sent Alvin Beauboeuf into his residence, where authorities had detained Beauboeuf and Ferrie's roommate Layton Martens.
Arrest of David Ferrie
Ferrie surrendered to the New Orleans District Attorney's office and was arrested on suspicion of involvement in President Kennedy's assassination.
Hypnotism Allegation
Jack Martin told the FBI that Ferrie was an amateur hypnotist and suggested that he might have been capable of hypnotizing Lee Harvey Oswald.
Civil Air Patrol Firearms Role
Ferrie told the FBI that his firearms-related role at Civil Air Patrol bivouacs had been limited to range-safety assistance.
FBI Interviews
The FBI interviewed Ferrie on November 26 and again on November 27 while investigating Jack Martin's allegations and Ferrie's possible association with Lee Harvey Oswald.
Jack Martin Dispute
Ferrie acknowledged knowing Jack Martin and said Martin resented him because Ferrie had forcibly removed Martin from G. Wray Gill's office earlier in 1963.
Marcello Case Work
Ferrie told investigators that he had been working intensively for attorney G. Wray Gill on the Carlos Marcello case during the days preceding November 22.
Martin Recantation Report
On November 26, the FBI informed the Secret Service that Jack Martin had described his information about Ferrie as a product of his imagination.
Stinson Aircraft Statement
Ferrie told the FBI that his Stinson single-engine aircraft had not been airworthy since its license expired in the spring of 1962.
Telescopic Sight Denial
Ferrie told the FBI that he had never owned a telescopic sight or a rifle equipped with one and did not know how to use such a sight.
Texas Flight Denial
Ferrie told the FBI that he had never flown Lee Harvey Oswald to Dallas or to any other Texas location.
Texas Trip Explanation
During questioning, Ferrie told investigators that his weekend trip to Texas had been undertaken for relaxation rather than for any role in the assassination.
Civil Air Patrol Allegation
Jack Martin alleged that Ferrie had known Oswald through the New Orleans Civil Air Patrol and might have trained him to use a rifle.
Getaway Pilot Allegation
Jack Martin alleged that Ferrie had traveled to Texas and was intended to act as a getaway pilot after the assassination; Ferrie denied involvement.
Secret Service Report
A Secret Service report concluded that Jack Martin's claims that Ferrie had associated with Oswald and trained him to fire a rifle were without foundation.
544 Camp Street
During the summer of 1963, Ferrie regularly frequented the Newman Building at 544 Camp Street because of his working relationship with Guy Banister.
Carlos Marcello Contact
Ferrie later acknowledged that he had been in personal contact with Carlos Marcello during the fall of 1963 while working on matters connected with attorney G. Wray Gill.
Investigation Closed
The FBI and Secret Service inquiry into Ferrie's possible association with Oswald was closed after investigators found insufficient evidence against Ferrie.
1966
Garrison Investigation
Jim Garrison began re-examining the Kennedy assassination in the fall of 1966 and later focused part of his investigation on David Ferrie.
1967
Death of David Ferrie
David Ferrie died in New Orleans from a ruptured blood vessel at the base of the brain shortly after being named in Jim Garrison's assassination investigation.
Garrison Suspect
Ferrie was publicly identified as a suspect in Jim Garrison's New Orleans assassination investigation shortly before Ferrie's death on February 22, 1967.
1968
Civil Air Patrol Photograph
Jim Garrison released a photograph of Oswald in a Civil Air Patrol uniform and publicly claimed that it supported his assertion that Oswald had known Ferrie.
1969
Garrison Opening Statement
In his opening statement at Clay Shaw's trial, Garrison alleged that Shaw, Ferrie and Oswald had participated in meetings concerning a plan to assassinate President Kennedy.
Clay Shaw Trial
During Clay Shaw's trial, Perry Russo testified that he had attended a September 1963 gathering at Ferrie's apartment where, he said, Ferrie, Shaw and Oswald discussed assassinating President Kennedy.
1978
544 Camp Street Review
The HSCA confirmed that Ferrie was working at least part time in 1963 in the building whose 544 Camp Street address appeared on some of Oswald's Fair Play for Cuba Committee handouts.
Clinton Witness Review
The HSCA found the Clinton witnesses credible and was inclined to believe that Oswald had been in Clinton, Louisiana, with Ferrie in late summer 1963.
HSCA Association Assessment
The HSCA stated that the nature of the possible association between Oswald and Ferrie remained largely unexplained despite the evidence it reviewed.
HSCA Ferrie Review
The HSCA reported that it had developed credible evidence and testimony indicating a possible association between Lee Harvey Oswald and David Ferrie.
HSCA Review of Martin Recantation
The HSCA concluded that the FBI had overstated Jack Martin's recantation, noting that Martin said he lacked evidence but believed his suspicions about Ferrie warranted investigation.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.