RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2007-01923
		INDEX CODE:  107.00
		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NOT INDICATED

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  21 DEC 2008

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect his date entered active duty service as 15 January 1943, rather than 3 November 1943.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His date entered active duty service is incorrect and needs to be correctly reflected in his records.

In support of his request, the applicant submits a copy of WD AGO Form 100, Army Separation Qualification Record, and a copy of WD AGO Form 53-98, Military Record and Report of Separation Certificate of Service.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant served as a bomber pilot and completed 51 combat missions.  His report of separation reflects he served in the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe battles and campaigns.  

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal w/9 Oak Leaf Clusters and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPAOR recommends denial.  DPPAOR states the applicant’s military personnel records could not be located at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St Louis.  WD AFO Form 53-98 reflects his date entered active duty service as 3 November 1943.  WD AGO Form 100 reflects date entered active duty as 15 January 1943.

The DPPAOR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant states in part, he was sent to the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center for basic military training and classified a pilot trainee on 5 February 1943.  He was commissioned a second lieutenant on 3 November 1943, and was further trained as a B-26 bomber pilot.  He provided a copy of his identification card serial number, WD AGO Form 166, reflecting he enlisted in the Reserve Corps on 15 July 1942, as a private.  Another document reflects he was rated as a pilot on 5 February 1943.

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.  We note that applicant’s records could not be located at the NPRC and may have been destroyed by fire in 1973, as were the records of many Air Force members who participated in World War II.  However, the applicant has provided three documents, one of which indicates that he entered active duty on 15 January 1943.  The others contradict the 3 November 1943 date recorded in his available records.  In view of this, and since we have no reason to question the applicant’s integrity or the authenticity of the documentation he provided, we believe the interest of justice can best be served by providing the applicant the requested relief.  Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

4.  The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issue(s) involved.  Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered.

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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 ordered to extended active duty on 15 January 1943, rather than on 3 November 1943.

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The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-2007-01923 in Executive Session on 11 September 2007, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

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

	Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, dated 13 Jun 07, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.	Applicant's Available Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.	Memo, AFPC/DPPAOR, dated 24 Jul 07, w/atchs.
	Exhibit D.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 Aug 07.
	Exhibit E.	Letter, Applicant, dated 20 Aug 07, 2/atchs.