Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 45: William G. Burlingame

Burlingame, Maj. Wm. G. Tenn. [?NEG?] 82 1713 BOX 7, #45

ADDRESS ON CARD Tennessee

Amarillo, Texas

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. Nothing

What is your full name? WILLIAM G. BURLINGAME

What was your unit and division? 358th FTR Sq, 355th FTR Gp 8th AIR FORCE

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? APPROXAMATELY 0500 hrs OVER THE BEACH

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? 1st LT

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 20

Were you married at that time? NO

What is your wife's name? MARGARET C. BURLINGAME

Did you have any children at that time? NO

What do you do now? MAJOR, USAF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 513th TROOP CARRIER WING. SEWART AFB TENN.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? APPROX 1600 hrs 5 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? FLEW ACROSS

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). NO RUMORS ON BOARD THE PLANE, WAS SINGLE PLACE P-51.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Wm G. BURLINGAME

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? NO

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? NO

Were you wounded? NO

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? NO

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? NO

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? NO

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Wm G. BURLINGAME

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? NO

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? STEEPLE MORDAN, ENG

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? STEEPLE MORDAN ENG

Do you know of anybody else who landed within those 24 hours (midnight June 5 to midnight June 6) as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? NO

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 France Ward 4/30/58 Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest

Sorry about the delay, but have been out of the country.

WGB