RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2007-01790
		INDEX CODE:  107.00

	XXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED: NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  8 DEC 2008

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his service during World War II.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He meets the requirements for the award.  His roommate flew the same missions as he, and received the DFC.  He completed 492.15 hours of combat mission flight time.  Other members of his unit who met the requirements for the award received their medals and he feels he deserves the award as well.  He was moving one day, and while looking through his records, he realized he had not received the DFC.  

In support of his appeal, applicant submitted copies of his flight records and General Order Number 128, dated 6 June 45, awarding him the Air Medal for meritorious achievement by participating in more than 150 hours of operational flight.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant served on active duty in the Army Air Corps from 9 October 1942 to 15 February 1946.  He served from 1 September 1944 to 1 September 1945, in North Africa and China.  He ferried the B-26 aircraft to England and Russia four times each.  His highest grade held was captain.  Applicant was released from active duty on 15 February 1946 and credited with 1 year, 9 months, and 18 days of continental service and 1 year, 6 months, and 18 days of foreign service, totaling 3 years, 4 months, and 6 days of active duty service.

Applicant was awarded the Air Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theatre, American Theatre, World War II Victory Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon with Three Bronze Service Stars and the honorable Lapel Button.

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.  During World War II, the Army Air Forces in the India-China Theater had an established policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of 300 hours of operational hours for transport/air combat missions from 1942 to 1944.  

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR reviewed this application and recommended denial, stating, in part, they were unable to find supporting documentation such as a recommendation for or special orders, awarding the DFC.  

The requirement for award of the DFC changed dramatically in the middle of WWII.  Early in 1943, while visiting various combat theaters, General H. Arnold, expressed his concern with the large number of DFC’s being awarded.  Under policy existing prior to 14 August 1943, the DFC was awarded on the basis of the number of hours or missions completed.  He believed that this so called “score card” basis lessened the value of the award and called a negative morale factor.  To correct this situation, it was decided that the “score card” basis for awarding the DFC be discontinued.  The timeline for submitting decorations is two years from the date of the act or achievement.  In the case of WWII decorations, 3 May 51 was cut-off for submission.  However, under the FY96 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was enacted into law on 10 February 1996, this timeline has now been waived.  

A written recommendation must meet two criteria:

	1.  be made by someone, other than the member himself, in the member’s chain of command at the time of the incident, and, who has firsthand knowledge of the acts or achievements, and, 

	2.  be submitted through a congressional member who can ask a military service to review a proposal for a decoration based on the merits of the proposal and the award criteria in existence when the event occurred.

HQ AFPC/DPPPR complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant reiterated his original claim that he should be entitled to the DFC.  He again, noted the orders provided to substantiate his claim that he should be entitled to the DFC.  

In support of his appeal, applicant provided a personal statement and other supporting documentation.

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 the applicant completed 492 hours of air transport missions while assigned to the Army Air Forces as a pilot.  We also note that during the contested period, Army Air Forces, India-Burma Division had an established policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of 300 hours of operational flight in air transport/combat missions.  In support of the appeal, the applicant has provided a copy of General Orders Number 128.  In view of this order, and given the total number of missions the applicant completed, 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 6 June 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, for extraordinary achievement in participating in more than 300 hours of operational flight in transport aircraft over the India-China air routes.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2007-01790 in Executive Session on 27 September 2007, 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 21 May 07, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 13 Jun 07.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 Jul 07.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 24 Aug 07.