Mr. Jenner.

It was at least higher than the clearance about which you first spoke?

Mr. Thornley.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

The clearance that you had in mind of which you first spoke

was the clearance to operate radar detection devices?

Mr. Thornley.

Right.

Mr. Jenner.

And your knowledge of his loss of clearance was by hearsay or rumor. As I understand it the circumstances took place off base one day?

Mr. Thornley.

No; this was on base as I understand it. It was in an enlisted club or staff sergeant's club, something of that nature.

Mr. Jenner.

He had gotten into difficulty with a staff sergeant and had poured beer on the person of a staff sergeant and gotten into some kind of an altercation?

Mr. Thornley.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

As a result of that he was court-martialed and had been subjected to the loss of clearance?
Mr. THORNLEY, That is correct.

Mr. Jenner.

Was that clearance of his restored?

Mr. Thornley.

I doubt it very much, because 3 months afterwards, after I had left the outfit--I know it wasn't restored while I was in the outfit.

Mr. Jenner.

When did you leave the outfit?

Mr. Thornley.

I left in June and went overseas.

Mr. Jenner.

Up to that time his clearance had not been restored?

Mr. Thornley.

Definitely not. And shortly thereafter he got out of the service.

Mr. Jenner.

So that as far as you have any personal knowledge Oswald never operated any radar equipment while he was at El Toro, did you say?

Mr. Thornley.

Yes; E1 Toro, LTA. As far as my personal knowledge goes, he didn't.

Mr. Jenner.

Would you state the circumstances under which you became acquainted--let me put it this way first. What was the extent of your acquaintance with Lee Harvey Oswald, and here at the moment I am directing myself only to whether you were friends, were you merely on the base together? Indicate the level of friendship first or acquaintanceship.

Mr. Thornley.

I would say we were close acquaintances in the sense that we weren't friends in that we didn't pull liberty together or seek each other out, yet when we were thrown together in an assignment or something, moving equipment, something of that nature, we spoke and when we were on the base and happened to be in the same area and were not required to be working, we would sometimes sit down and discuss things. That would be my statement there.

Mr. Jenner.

So there was a degree of affinity in the sense that you were friendly in performing your military tasks together whenever you were thrown together in that respect. You felt friendly toward each other. You were never off base with him on liberty?

Mr. Thornley.

No, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

There were times when you were at liberty on the base, I assume and you and he fraternized?

Mr. Thornley.

Yes.

Mr. Jenner.

Now, did you live in the same quarters?

Mr. Thornley.

Well, not actually. We lived in quonset huts there, and he lived in a different hut than I did. We did live in the same general area, however.

Mr. Jenner.

This acquaintance arose in the spring of 1959, is that correct?

Mr. Thornley.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

Can you fix the time a little more definitely than merely the spring?

Mr. Thornley.

I really can't, sir. I have been racking my brain on that one since November, and I can't fix the time. I do remember having taken some time off that year around Easter and going on a trip with some civilian friends of mine, who were out of school for Easter vacation, and I know I was in the outfit that Oswald was in at that time, and I know that either shortly