RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  01-00023
		
		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He should be awarded the DFC since he completed 30 missions.

The applicant states that as a member of the 34th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, in Mendelshan, England, he flew 29 aerial missions.  On his 30th mission, the flight ended with their crash landing in Paris, France.  At the time, the standard for award of the DFC was completion of 30 missions.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits statements from crewmembers  of the 30th mission, copies of his Individual Flight Record, a photograph of the plane after the crash landing, a Certificate of Honor (29 missions) and an article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s Master Personnel Records were destroyed by fire in 1973 at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri.  Therefore, the following facts have been extracted from the documention provided by applicant.

The applicant is a former Army Air Corps first lieutenant who served on active duty during the period 24 December 1943 through 13 November 1945.

During the period 30 April 1944 through 8 October 1944, the applicant was assigned to the 4th Bombardment Squadron as a B-24 “Liberator” navigator.  He also completed three missions as a B-17F navigator.  During this period he completed 29 missions over France and Germany, to include two missions on D-Day over Normandy.  He was awarded the Air Medal with third Oak Leaf Clusters (AM, 3 OLC).

The AM is awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.

The Distinguished Flying Cross DFC) was established by Congress on 2 July 1926 and is awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.  The performance of the act of heroism must be evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty.

During World War II, the 8th Air Force had an established policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of 30 combat flight missions and an AM was awarded upon the completion of five missions.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief, Recognition Programs Branch, AFPC/DPPPR, reviewed the application and states that unfortunately, the applicant’s records can not be located by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).  Therefore, they can not verify that the applicant was recommended for award of the DFC, that the recommendation was submitted into official channels, or if such a recommendation was approved or disapproved.  In 1944, the 8th Air Force required completion of 30 combat flight missions; however, the applicant did not complete 30 missions.  The cited flight to Paris, is not considered a completed mission since the aircraft did not return.  In addition, the flight was not a combat flight mission - it was a supply mission.  Furthermore, a written recommendation for the DFC was required then, as it is today.  Although the other crewmembers state that the entire crew received the DFC for having completed 30 missions, no documentation was provided to substantiate this statement.  Therefore, they recommend denial of applicant’s request.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit B.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the Air Force evaluation and states that a 28 June 1944 entry on his AAF Form 5 indicates the flight of four hours and 45 minutes was aborted and was not credited as a combat mission; however, he should have received credit for the flight as a combat mission.  According to the offical records of the 34th Bombarbment Group, the 12 planes involved in the 28 June 1944 mission failed to bomb.  There is a clear distinction in the official records between a plane that aborted and one that failed to bomb.  Documentation regarding the missions on 2 July, 6 July, and 8 July indicate that the credit sorties included the number of planes that failed to bomb.  While they took off and went to the target, they, as a formation, were unable to release their bombs due to adverse weather over the target.  However, the mission was counted as a combat mission by the group.

Applicant’s complete response is attached at Exhibit F.

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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.  The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice warranting award of the DFC.  In this respect, we note that in 1944, the 8th Air Force required completion of 30 combat flight missions for award of the DFC. In support of the appeal, the applicant provides statements from the pilot and co-pilot of his former aircrew indicating that he flew on all of their 31 missions, except one.  Furthermore, these statements also indicate that the entire crew received the DFC for having completed 30 missions.  Although no official documentation has been provided to substantiate these statements, the NPRC has been unable to locate the applicant’s records and it is presumed they were destroyed by fire in 1972.  In view of this, and since we have no reason to question the integrity of these World War II aviators, we believe this doubtful issue should be decided in the applicant’s behalf.  In view of this, and given the total number of missions the applicant completed, we believe he should be awarded the DFC.  Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 7 October 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a Navigator on B-24 airplanes on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 7 June 2001, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

				Mr. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Vice Chair
				Mr. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Member
				Ms. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Member

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended.  The following documentary evidence was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 18 Dec 00, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, undated, w/atchs.
     Exhibit C.  SAF/MIBR, dated 30 Mar 01.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, Applicant, dated 24 Apr 01.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 7 May 01.
     Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, dated 22 May 01, w/atchs.

                                  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
                                  Vice Chair

AFBCMR 01-00023

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

	Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:

	The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 7 October 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a Navigator on B-24 airplanes on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.