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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -
Your name PATRICK H. RAFTERY JR

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day?
NO- WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or
during the day?
VERY POSSIBLE
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became
casualties?
NO
Were you wounded ? NOT UNTIL THE RHINE CROSSING- MARCH 24, 1945

Do you remember what it was like--that is, do you remember whether you
felt any pain or were you so surprised that you felt nothing?
REMEMBER EVERYTHING CLEARLY
Do you remember seeing or bearing anything that seems funny now,
even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
YES - THE NAVIGATOR WAS A NERVOUS WRECK AFTER SEEING
THIS TROOPER WITH A HOLE IN HIS HEAD- I FLEW CO-PILOT ON THIS
MISSION- JOSEPH ROZNECK (THE MAD POLLUCK) WAS 1st PILOT- HE SENT
ME TO SEE THE TROOPER AFTER OUR CREW CHIEF DON CAVANAUGH
REPORTED THE CIRCUMSTANCE. IT WASN'T PRACTICAL FOR
ME TO LEAVE THE COCKPIT BECAUSE IF THE PILOT WOULD HAVE
BEEN HIT WE WOULD ALL HAVE GONE DOWN
How did it happen? Who sd what?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which
struck you more than anything else?
ONE STORY ABOUT A TROOPER WHOSE CHUTE WAS CAUGHT ON A
WING TIP- HE DIDN'T SURVIVE. 1st LT. ARTHUR DOUGLASS ONE OF MY
BOYHOOD BUDDIES WAS IN MY GROUP. HE MADE SEVERAL PASSES OVER
THE TARGET TO MAKE SURE ALL HIS MEN GOT OUT
AFTER HIS SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE SHOT OUT. HE WAS KILLED
ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO WHILE CROP DUSTING
/What is story?