Doc Daneeka Is Declared Dead

Because his name was on McWatt's flight log, Doc Daneeka is officially declared dead, even though he is still alive. He is ostracized by the squadron, denied pay and rations, and his wife, believing him dead, collects his insurance and moves away. Doc Daneeka's predicament is a darkly comic illustration of the power of bureaucracy: a piece of paper can override reality. He becomes a ghost, haunting the squadron, a living example of Catch-22's absurd logic.