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San Antonio LL TEX9

For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D- Day

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?
Walter E Rosson

What was your unit and division?
567th Sgn of 389 [illegible] Bombardment Gp.
2nd Dvision of 8th A.F. (B-24)

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
Flew over coast at 6:27 AM 6/6/44

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? B24
1st Lt. Navigator

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 26

Were you married at that time? yes

What is your wife's name? Eleonor [illegible] Rosson

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? Doctor of Optometry

When did you know that you were going to be cart of the invasion?
at 8:00 P.M. 6/5/44

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?

[*interesting*]
Took off at 0222, formed in dark, using
G-130 [?indings], [illegible] smokers and aldis lights
from ships ahead. Saw 2 burning B-24s in
take-off path. Dawn showed all trains
running south, as far as eye could see over
England.

Still have combat log of D-Day flights.

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).
We landed at 9:15 AM. at base and
flew a second bombing mission to St. Lo
taking off at 4:45 P.M. Landed at 10:30 P.M
Flew a total of 13 3/4 hours on D-Day
in 2 missions.