RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS. IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-01230 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (PUC w/1OLC). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: While serving with the 456th Bomb Group from Aug 44 to Jan 45, the 747th Bomb Group, attached to the 456th Bomb Group, under General Orders #3223 the PUC was awarded for Budapest. Additionally, while serving with the same unit, under General Orders #294 the PUC was awarded for a mission in Steyr, Austria. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Army on 19 Nov 42. On 3 Dec 47, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 3 years, 4 months, and 24 days of active service. According to the documentation submitted by the applicant, on 24 Jul 14, he submitted an application for correction to his Air Force military records to the Army Review Boards Agency. On 3 Mar 15, he was notified by the Army Review Boards Agency that he needed to submit his request to the Board of Corrections of Air Force Records. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is included at Exhibit C. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends granting relief, indicating sufficient evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on, or after, 16 October 1941, for United States Navy and United States Marine Corps units, and on or after 7 December 1941, for United States Army units. The unit must have displayed such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions to have set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign. After a thorough review of the applicant's very limited official military personnel record (damaged in 1973 NPRC fire), they were unable to verify award of the PUC w/1OLC. According to the applicant's Army of the United States Honorable Discharge (WD AGO Form 53-55-1) he served from 9 Nov 42 to 8 Sep 45 with his final unit of assignment being the 747th Bomb Squadron. The 747th Bomb Squadron received award of the PUC for inclusive date of 10 May 44 per War Department General Order 22 issued in 1945 and for inclusive date of 23 July 44 per War Department General Order 56 issued in 1945. Although they were unable to locate more conclusive documentation verifying the applicant was assigned to 747th Bomb Squadron during the award inclusive dates of 10 May 44 and 23 July 44 for award of the PUC w/1OLC, based on the limited time he was serving on active duty it would be reasonable to assume his active duty service was spent assigned to the same unit, the 747th Bomb Squadron, therefore, they recommend approval of the PUC w/1OLC. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 31 Jul 15, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, no response has been received by this office. 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 an error or injustice. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case, agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice. In view of the OPR’s position that based on the limited time he was serving on active duty it would be reasonable to assume the applicant’s active duty service was spent assigned to the same unit, the 747th Bomb Squadron, which received award of the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) for inclusive dates of 10 May 44 per War Department General Order 22 and for inclusive date of 23 July 44 per War Department General Order 56, both issued in 1945, we agree with their recommendation. Therefore, we recommend the applicant's records be corrected as indicated 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 he was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for the inclusive dates of 10 May 1944 and 23 July 1944. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-01230 in Executive Session on 7 Oct 15, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-01230 was considered: Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 24 Jul 14, received   23 Mar 15 w/atchs. Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 1 Jul 15. Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 31 Jul 15.