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Co A, Abn 15D W. Benning Ga. LL
GA33
For Cornelius Ryan Book ahout D-day
GREEN - see pages attached
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR , PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE 6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
What is your full name? STC Noran William Billiter
What was your unit and division ? 506th Regt 101st Abn.Div
Where did you arrive in Normandy , and at what time ? 250 yds NE of Ste Marie Dumont. 0130 6 June 1944
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Sgt.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 28
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? Grace
Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? Chief Parachute Inspector Parachute Maintenance Section Abn Air Mob. Dept. Ft Benning Ga.
When did you know that you were going to he part of the invasion? 1 week before 6 June
What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel ? Do you remember , for example , any conversations you had or how you passed the time ? Sorry I went to sleep soon as we were in the air.
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What were the rumors on board the boat , ship or plane in which you made the crossing ? ( Some people remember scuttlebut to the effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in ). AA gunfire awaken me as we flew across the Jersey & Gornser Islands There was no talk that I could hear to much flak coming up to hear talk. any way
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -
Your name NW Billiter
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? yes
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties ? one young married couple my wife and I lived with before going overseas He talked of his wife, his plans after getting back home. They were very devoted to each other.
Were you wounded ? Yes
Do you remember what it was like—that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing? shrapnel across the wrist not deep Burning sensation scared me so bad I fell in a creek almost drowned.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time ? I crawled into a Barn one night tired & sleepy laid my head on what I thought was my buddys leg when I woke up it turned out to be a dead Germans leg. My buddys teased me quite a bit about it Anothe rwas an order I received about 10 min after landing in a field, from a Capt. who was in the group of about 6 we were huddled in a ditch, the Capt. came over to me and said: Sgt. Go out and find out where we are? What took place after that strikes me as funny now, but not then.
Not D-Day
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic you more than anything else? The one that sticks most was the amazing Chaplin Mahoney. The way he could go from one wounded to antoher never ducking or taking cover during a hot fire fight or when the Krauts [strikethrough] we lot were throwing mortar shells in. He not only inspired the men he did what he could for the wounded & dead. His disregard for his own safety and the way he could wak around with all that lead flying has often made me wonder. I saw some of th is happen and have heard the same thing from [cut off]
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name NW Billiter
In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance^ others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either from D-day? [left blank]
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? In a C-47 flying we took off from England 2300 hr 5 June 1944
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? In a barn at Hiesville France
Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? [left blank]
PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM. FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED ’’WHERE THEY ARE NOW;” YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. Cornelius Ryan Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest
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SfC Norman W Billiter
I was a member of the 506th Regt. 101st Abn. Div and this was DDay 6 June 1944 as I saw it. When we apporached the Drop Zone lots of flak was coming up. I could hear some ripping throught he plane. Even though the Pilot was flying evasive action as we approached the DZ he steadied the Plane and cut the speed same as training Jumps. I'd say we jumped at about 800 ft. after my Parachute opened I could see from flares row I was undecided which way to slip. 2 I started slipping to my left I found out later there was a machine gun mast on my fight other side of Hedge row. A Kraut was directly under me but he ran to the Hedge row. Oft in the Brush using a low place in the ground I had landed in. Pretty soon I heard signals from others, we used Prearranged signals a napping Bug. One snap must be answered by tow. Two snaps ans. one. This confused the Krauts they picked up the snapping Bugs from Boys that had been killed they would keep signalling but it was easy to tell they were the Krauts. I crawled in a ditch close to the DZ