RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: 02-01099
		INDEX CODE 107.00
	 	COUNSEL:  NONE

	 	HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Enlisted Record and Report of Separation (Honorable Discharge), WD AGO Form 53-55, be amended to reflect award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal, with Three Oak Leaf Clusters (AM, 3 OLC).

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THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His discharge papers only show award of the AM, 2 OLC, and should also reflect the DFC and an additional AM that he was awarded.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 and a Letter of Recommendation, dated 29 May 1944, indicating that he completed a total of 25 combat missions and was awarded the DFC and AM, 3 OLC.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

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

The applicant was inducted in the Army Air Corps on 3 July 1942 and entered active duty.

The applicant served as a B-17 Aerial Gunner and Aircraft Armorer in the European Theatre of Operations from 21 March 1943 through 12 September 1944.  

A Letter of Recommendation, dated 29 May 1944, indicates the applicant completed two high altitude bombardment missions with the 542nd Bombardment Group and 23 with another command for a total of 25 combat missions; thus, completing his tour of combat duty.  The LOR also indicates that during this period he was awarded the DFC and AM, 3 OLC.

The applicant was honorably discharged on 10 October 1945 in the grade of staff sergeant for the convenience of the government and demobilization.

The 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.

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

From 1942 to 1944, the 8th Air Force had an established policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of 25 heavy bomber missions and an AM was awarded upon the completion of five heavy bomber missions.  In 1944, the 8th Air Force increased the number of heavy bomber missions required for award of the DFC to 35 and the AM to six.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied and states, in part, that they cannot verify the applicant’s entitlement to the AM, 3 OLC, and DFC without an order showing they were awarded.

The AFPC/DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit B.

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APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant states that at the time he completed a total of 25 combat missions a member would be awarded a DFC and upon completion of every five combat missions an AM would be awarded.  

In further support of the appeal, the applicant submits copies of the orders awarding him AMs upon completion of five missions and extracts from the Mighty Eighth War Diary.

The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at Exhibit D.

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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 warranting award of the AM, 3 OLC.  In this respect, the applicant’s records were destroyed by fire in 1973 at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC); however, he submits a Letter of Recommendation, dated 29 May 1944, indicating that he completed a total of 25 combat missions and was awarded the AM, 3 OLC, and DFC while assigned to the Eighth Air Force as a B-17 Aerial Gunner and Aircraft Armorer in the European Theatre of Operations.  We also note that from 1942 to 1944, the Eighth Air Force had an established policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of 25 heavy bombardment missions and an AM was awarded upon the completion of five heavy bombardment missions.  In 1944, the total number of missions required for award of a DFC was increased to 35 and the total number of missions required for award of an AM was increased to six.  In view of this, and given the total number of missions he completed, the applicant should have been awarded a total of four AMs, rather than three. However, in view of the 1944 change in the policy for award of the DFC, and in the absence of evidence that he was recommended and approved for award of the DFC, we find insufficient evidence to recommend awarding him 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 11 September 1944, he was awarded the Air Medal, Third Oak Leaf Cluster, for meritorious achievement, while serving as an Aerial Gunner and Aircraft Armorer on B-17 airplanes on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.

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The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 02-01099 in Executive Session on 30 May 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 15 Nov 01, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 17 Apr 02.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Apr 02.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, Applicant, dated 15 May 02, w/atchs.

AFBCMR 02-01099

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 on 11 September 1944, he was awarded the Air Medal, Third Oak Leaf Cluster, for meritorious achievement, while serving as an Aerial Gunner and Aircraft Armorer on B-17 airplanes on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.