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; El 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.