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121 Eighth Avenue
Sea Cliff, New York
March 7, 1959

Dear Mr. Ryan:
First I want to thank you for your hospitality to me and
my buddies January 6, 1959. I enjoyed the dinner very much
as well as listening to the many experiences that were ex-
changed.
Want to wish you success in the job you have undertaken
and anxiously await the finished story which I'm sure I, and
many others, will enjoy reading.
Before I give account of myself that day and the following
one, I want to say that fifteen years is a long time but I never
realized how long until last night. The maps, etc. gave me
places and directions, mainly north and south, [crossed out] of [end crossed out] [inserted] about [end inserted] which I
had completely forgotten.
We left England sometime about ten or ten-thirty PM. Rumors
claimed that it would be about a two hour ride. Upon becoming
airborne we could smoke and although I can't recall any lengthy
conversations, there was some exchange of words, comments, etc.
I lit a cigarette and do remember feeling very uncomfortable.
My mind was full of many thoughts but I was mainly concerned
with what it would be like when we reached our goal, for I an-
ticipated the worst. My harness was a tight one and pinched at
the crotch, so I gave an upward pull at the buckles, was re-
lieved and shortly thereafter I dozed, only to be awakened by
a lot of commotion. I remember hooking myself to the cable and
in only a few seconds we were on our way to the door. Then
I remember feeling something under my feet -- as if I was for