RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:				DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2014-04057
		
XXXXXXXXXX					COUNSEL:  NONE

							HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to include the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He recently received his records from the National Personnel Records Center, which included a DFC citation.  However, the DFC is not included on his DD Form 214.

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 8 February 1966.

On 31 January 1988, the applicant received an honorable discharge, and was credited with 21 years, 11 months, and 23 days of active service.

According to the applicant’s AF Form 910, TSgt, SSgt, and Sgt Performance Report, for the period 2 March 1972 to 6 August 1972, he was assigned to the 11th Air Refueling Heavy Squadron.  The report indicates the applicant was on a 76 day temporary duty (TDY) assignment to Southeast Asia (SEA), where he flew 46 combat refueling missions in support of the SEA war effort.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR), which are included at Exhibits C and D.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice.  The DFC may be awarded to any person who, after 6 April 1917, while serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces, distinguishes themselves by 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 extraordinary achievement must have resulted in an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the individual apart from comrades or from other persons in similar circumstances. Awards will be made only to recognize single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement and will not be made in recognition of sustained operational activities against an armed enemy.  Although the applicant provided a citation for award of the DFC that appears to be authentic, AFPC/DPSID is unable to locate the recommendation or Special Order awarding the DFC.  Furthermore, the applicant's Report on Individual Personnel dated 28 October 1987, which includes a listing of his medals does not include the DFC.  In order to reasonably consider the applicant's request, he will need to submit a recommendation from someone with firsthand knowledge of the act/achievement preferably someone within the applicant's chain of command at the time of the act/achievement, a proposed citation, and eyewitness statements.  To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoD Manual 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff, and/ or the War Department.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFHRA/RS does not make a recommendation, but offers the following facts pertaining to the applicant’s involvement in Linebacker II missions.  The applicant was assigned to the XXXXXXXXXX, Strategic Air Command (SAC), Eighth Air Force, from March to August 1972.  In 1972, the XXXXXXXXXX supported two large aircraft movements to SEA (5-6 April and 8-9 April 1972) and on 12-15 May 1972, deployed all available tankers and crews to Takhli Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand.  The forward echelon was named the 4101st Air Refueling Squadron (AREFS) (Provisional).
By November 1972, 450 military members, including the applicant, were assigned TDY with the 4101 AREFS at Takhli.  On 17 December 1972, the 4101 AREFS received an order that “fragged the squadron with a radical shift and expansion of its SEA refueling support mission for the next (and ten subsequent) days’ operations” dubbed Linebacker II. “The operation...increased the 4101st squadron’s daily average sortie rate from 17 to 23 flights.  On three days (19, 23, and 24 December 1972) the unit flew over 30 lines.” The citation the applicant presented with his application for review refers to the time period Linebacker II took place.

On 29 January 1972, three airmen arrived at the 4101 AREFS on 90-day TDY orders “to assist this squadron with backlogged/Linebacker II award nominations and performance report processing.”  Headquarters Strategic Air Command (SAC) Special Order G-24 inactivated the 4101 AREFS (Provisional) effective 15 February 1973.  As ordered by Headquarters, Eighth Air Force, the movement of aircraft, aircrews, equipment, supplies and personnel was to begin on 5 February 1973.  As indicated from the January-February 1972 4101 AREFS history, the augmentees sent by Eighth Air Force were unable to type proficiently, and lacking time to train them, the 4101st sent them back to their station.  It is possible that during the short time period between the notification that the squadron would be inactivated and the beginning of the actual movement of personnel and equipment back to their home station took place before some awards and decorations packages for Linebacker II were initiated, or that orders they prepared were left incomplete or never submitted.

AFHRA/RS did not find an order corresponding to the applicant’s citation.  However, AFHRA/RS does not hold a complete set of orders for the Eighth Air Force (and other organizations and establishments).  Therefore, they are unable to confirm that an order corresponding to the submitted citation exists.

In January 1973, the commander, Strategic Air Command (SAC) visited Andersen AFB, Guam and presented symbolic awards and decorations to those SAC personnel who participated in Linebacker II.  The 43 Strategic Wing (SW) commander subsequently issued a wing-wide call to all personnel to provide input detailing their role in support of the operation, stating that it was his policy “to recommend the maximum number of awards and decorations to all of those who participated in the Linebacker II effort.”  It is possible that the applicant, who participated in Linebacker II missions while stationed with the 4101 AREFS at Takhli, was not named in an order due to a clerical oversight or that such an order exists and AFHRA does not possess a copy.

A complete copy of the AFHRA/RS evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit D.

SAF/MRBP recommends denial.  AFHRA/RS identified several key facts:  The 43SW/CC issued guidance to “recommend the maximum number of awards and decorations” for Linebacker II; the 43 SW requested augmentees to process these packages (but later dismissed them for lack of proficiency); and also noted the applicant’s squadron was deactivated and returned to CONUS shortly after the Linebacker II Operation.  Given the guidance to maximize recognition, the existence of a citation, and the administrative confusion at the time of submission, it is reasonable to conclude the applicant was awarded the DFC and the special order was either lost or never updated.  However, since there is no other official documentation verifying the DFC was approved, SAF/MRBP concurs with AFPC/DPSID’s contention that the applicant should submit a recommendation from someone with firsthand knowledge of the act/achievement.

A complete copy of the SAF/MRBP evaluation is at Exhibit E.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

He was not aware that he was entitled to the DFC until he received a copy of his personnel records which included the DFC citation.  AFPC/DPSID is now saying that he should submit a recommendation from someone with firsthand knowledge of the act/achievement.  It has been 43 years and he was only able to determine that there was a directive to process award packages for those who took part in Linebacker II missions.  Unfortunately, he could not find the major who submitted the requests.

The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit G.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe the applicant is the victim of an error or injustice.  We note the comments of AFPC/DPSID indicating that relief should be denied because the applicant’s records do not contain a special order or other documentation substantiating he was awarded the DFC.  However, after reviewing AFHRA/RS’ detailed historical evaluation which verified the applicant’s involvement in Linebacker II and the guidance to maximize recognition to those who participated in the Linebacker II effort, we believe a preponderance of the evidence substantiates that corrective action is warranted.  We further note that given the existence of what appears to be an authentic DFC citation and the administrative chaos at the time of submission, it is reasonable to conclude the applicant was awarded the DFC and the special order was either lost or never updated.  Accordingly, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as set forth below.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with his 31 January 1988 discharge, be amended in Block 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized (All Periods of Service), to reflect the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-04057 in Executive Session on 14 and 15 June 2016, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member

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

Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 1 October 2014, w/atch.
Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 12 December 2014.
Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFHRA/RS, dated 30 March 2016, 
  w/atchs.
Exhibit E.  Memorandum, SAF/MRBP, digitally signed 22 April 
  2016.
Exhibit F.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 4 May 2016.
Exhibit G.  Email, Applicant, dated 3 June 2016.