RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00101
		INDEX CODE:  107.00

		COUNSEL:  

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The entire B-17 Bomber crew was recommended for the DFC.  His commanding officer recommended him for the DFC for his actions in combat from Jun 44 to Nov 44.

In support of his appeal, the applicant provided congressional correspondence, supportive statements, and his separation documents.

Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Available documentation indicates that the applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States (Air Corps) on 23 Mar 43.  His date of entry into active service was 30 Mar 43.  He was honorably discharged on 23 Oct 45.

Applicant served overseas in the European Theater of Operations from 3 Jun 44 to 25 Dec 44.

He was awarded the European-African -Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three (3) Bronze Service Stars, Good Conduct Medal and Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.  On 6 Apr 99, the American 
Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal were added to his records.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommended denial.  AFPC/DPPPR noted that the applicant and his family have been requesting award of the DFC since 1993 for either the 2 Oct 44 mission (in which his aircraft was shot down and the crew bailed out over Belgium) or for the period of Jun 44 to Nov 44.

AFPC/DPPPR indicated that in 1998, a request for award of the DFC was submitted through congressional channels, with a signed recommendation by a retired major who stated he was the aircraft commander on the 2 Oct 44 mission.  No written recommendation was submitted at that time.  On 25 Mar 99, The Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council disapproved award of the DFC because the recommendation did not meet the requirement for award of the DFC.  He received the Air Medal with three (3) Oak Leaf Clusters, and the orders were published on 31 Jul 44, 31 Aug 44, and 31 Oct 44.  It appears that the applicant received the Air Medal for each five combat missions he completed.  A written recommendation was not submitted until 10 Dec 98, when the pilot of the 2 Oct 44 mission informed the applicant’s congressional representative that he was unaware that the applicant had not been recommended for the DFC until they met at a reunion.  He stated that the DFC was awarded for completion of 35 combat flight missions.  The applicant only completed 28 missions.  Neither the recommending official nor the applicant provided any documentation identifying all of the crew members or any documentation showing that all other crew members were awarded the DFC.  Therefore, the basis for the applicant’s claim that all other crew members of the 2 Oct 44 combat flight mission received the DFC is unsubstantiated.  Since the applicant did not complete 35 combat flight missions, he did not meet the established criteria for award of the DFC.  Therefore, no written recommendation was submitted at that time.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant provided additional documentary evidence for the Board’s consideration through his congressman’s office (Exhibit E).

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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.  After a thorough review of the evidence presented, particularly the statements and documentation provided from members of the applicant’s crew, we are sufficiently persuaded that he may not have been awarded the DFC through loss or inadvertence.  Therefore, in view of the foregoing, the applicant’s dedicated service and sacrifice for his country, and having no basis to question the integrity of these individuals, we recommend that the applicant’s records be corrected to reflect award of the DFC.

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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 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during the period ending November 1944.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number 02-00101 in Executive Session on 11 Apr 02, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 4 Jun 01, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 22 Feb 02.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 1 Mar 02.
     Exhibit E.  Letter from Congressman, dated 18 Mar 02,
                 w/atchs.