RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-03484
		INDEX CODE:  107.00

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

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APPLICANT REQUESTS:

Award of the Purple Heart (PH) for injuries sustained during World War II.
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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) indicated his injuries to be service-connected.

In support of his request, applicant submits a personal statement, statements from the DVA, a former crewmember and his sister and extracts from the XXth Bomb Group website.  The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant's military personnel records were destroyed by fire in 1973.

The applicant’s Enlisted Record and Report of Separation reveals he entered active duty service with the Army Air Corp on 12 January 1943.  He participated in the European African Middle Eastern Theater of Operation (ETO) during the period 12 June 1944 through 27 February 1945.  He was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  His Enlisted Record and Report of Separation reflects no wounds received in action.  On 15 June 1945, he was honorably discharged for the convenience of the government (Demobilization) from the Army Air Corps.  The applicant was serving in the grade of technical sergeant (E-6) and had completed a total of 1 year, 6 months and 26 days of continental service and 9 months and 8 days of foreign service at the time of discharge.

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) records, dated 30 September 2003, reveal the applicant was granted service connection for right wrist fusion, median nerve compression, donor site scar and status postoperative removal of shrapnel pieces from right index finger.  A combined evaluation of 50 percent was assigned from 22 May 2001, increased to 100 percent from 14 June 2003 and continued as 70 percent disabling from 1 September 2002.
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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied.  The applicant provided eyewitness statements, but not medical documentation showing he was wounded during WWII; therefore, DPPPR is unable to verify his injury was from enemy actions.  The HQ AFPC/DPPPR evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C.
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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to applicant on 23 April 2004 for review and response.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office (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.  The Board was persuaded by the applicant’s account of events resulting in his injuries and the statement of support provided by a former crewmember regarding the circumstances of the 15 October 1944 bombing mission.  While applicant’s limited available military records do not indicate he was treated for injuries sustained during a bombing mission on 15 October 1944, we note that the records from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) substantiate that the applicant did sustain injuries during World War II.  Therefore, we believe that any doubt should be resolved in favor of the applicant and recommend that his records be corrected as 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 awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he received in action against an enemy of the United States during a bombing mission over Cologne, Germany, on 15 October 1944.
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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 27 May 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended.  The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2003-03484.

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 8 Oct 03, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's available Master Personnel Records and
               DVA records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 19 Apr 04.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Apr 04.

                                   

AFBCMR BC-2003-03484

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 awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he received in action against an enemy of the United States during a bombing mission over Cologne, Germany, on 15 October 1944.