RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: 02-01091
		INDEX CODE 131.05
	 	COUNSEL:  NONE

	 	HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to show that he was promoted to the grade of staff sergeant on 1 June 1944, rather than 31 July 1945.

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THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was recommended for promotion with the rest of his enlisted crewmembers by their pilot; however, since he was shot down while flying a mission with another crew and was interned as a Prisoner of War (POW), he was not promoted with his fellow crew members.

The applicant states that during the period in question, it was European Theatre of Operation (ETO) policy to promote one rank after five or ten combat missions, and he was on his 13th mission.  Due to a reduction from ten to nine crew members, he was flying with a make-up crew.  His original crew members were flying the mission beside him, completed the mission, and returned to base.  All five of the original enlisted crew members received their promotions on or about, 1 June 1944.  However, since he was a POW, he was not promoted until 31 July 1945.  He inquired in 1946 regarding his promotion and was told there was no evidence of his promotion prior to 31 July 1945.  He assumed this was final until he recently contacted some of his fellow crew members and was told they were promoted in 1944.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits a copy of an order listing his original crew members and a special order promoting one of the members on 1 July 1944.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant was inducted into the Army Air Corps on 14 January 1943 and entered active duty on 21 January 1943.

The applicant was promoted to the grade of private first class effective 17 April 1943 and to the grade of sergeant effective 25 September 1943.

The applicant was assigned to the 325th Bombardment Squadron, 92nd Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force on 8 March 1944, in the European Theatre of Operation (ETO) as a B-17 (Flying Fortress) Engineer Gunner.

While on a bombing mission over Cotfuss, Germany, on 29 May 1944, his aircraft was shot down and he was captured by the German army and interned as a Prisoner-of-War (POW).

The applicant was returned to United States military control on 16 April 1945.

The applicant was promoted to the grade of staff sergeant effective 31 July 1945.

The applicant was honorably discharged for the convenience of the government (Demobilization) on 7 November 1945, in the grade of staff sergeant.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPWB states, in part, that while the applicant may have been deserving of promotion to the grade of staff sergeant on 1 June 1944, in the absence of documentation to the contrary, they must assume he was discharged with the correct effective date of promotion.  The applicant’s unreasonable delay regarding a matter dating back over 57 years has greatly complicated its ability to determine the merits of his position.  However, if the Board believes the only reason the applicant was not promoted on 1 June 1944, along with the other five members of his original crew, was because he was in an MIA/POW status, it could correct his effective date of promotion to the grade of staff sergeant to 1 June 1944.

The AFPC/DPPPWB evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant states that the names of the four enlisted members provided to his Congressman in a letter, dated 27 June 1947, are not his former crew members and are unknown to him.  Logically there is no record of a proper promotion effective 1 June 1944 since the incorrect date used by the Miami Beach, Florida, Redistribution Station #2, was 15 May 1945, rather than 1 June 1944.

The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at 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 error or injustice.  In this respect, we note a 1947 statement from the former commanding officer of the 92nd Bombardment Group states that during the period in question, promotions of enlisted members were made by squadron commanders and all enlisted members of their combat crews were recommended for promotion at the same time.  The applicant contends that he would have been promoted along with his five fellow crew members based on their completion of ten combat missions; however, since he was shot down while flying a mission with another crew and was interned as a Prisoner of War (POW), he was not promoted until 31 July 1945.  In support of this contention, the applicant submits a copy of a special order promoting a fellow crew member on 1 July 1944.  In view of this, and since the applicant completed a total of 12 combat missions, we believe he should have been promoted on 1 June 1944.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s 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 he was promoted to the grade of staff sergeant effective 1 June 1944, rather than 31 July 1945.

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The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 02‑01091 in Executive Session on 11 June 2002, 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 27 Mar 02.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPWB, dated 22 Apr 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 May 02.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 23 May 02, w/atchs.

AFBCMR 02-01091

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 he was promoted to the grade of staff sergeant effective 1 June 1944, rather than 31 July 1945.