RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-02752

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded a decoration for the actions on 10 Nov 44.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

On 10 Nov 44, during his 23rd mission when his plane was returning from a bombing mission over Cologne, Germany, the target being German airfields, he discovered a 100 lb. bomb hung up in the bomb bay.  The bomb was hooked on the release shackle by one of its tail fins.  The nose of the bomb was several inches above the bomb bay doors and presented a clear danger to the lives of everyone on board if the bomb was not moved from its present position before landing.  While he stood on the bomb bay doors, lifted the nose section of the bomb to the point where another crew member could bend the tail fin of the bomb releasing it from the shackle.  Thereafter, they maneuvered the live bomb up to the catwalk over the Bombay and into the radio room where they held the live bomb in their laps until the plane landed and the armors came on board and disarmed the bomb.

Before being shot down, on 12 Dec 44, over Germany, he and his crew became Prisoners of War (POWs) in Germany; however, his pilot did not have an opportunity to file the paperwork.

During his service, he kept a personal log book which was prepared by him around or near the time the events recorded in the log book occurred.  He states that he flew 27 successful missions before his plane was shot down, on 12 Dec 44, after bombing Brunswick and Merseburg, Germany.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Army Air Force (AAF), on 31 Jul 43.  

According to the applicant’s WD AGO 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge, issued 3 Nov 45, during this period, the applicant served as an airplane aerial gunner; he completed combat missions and participated in the Northern France and Rhineland campaigns.  

On 3 Nov 45, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 1 year, 3 months, and 25 days of continental service and 11 months and 8 days of foreign service.   

AFPC/DP1SP, Award and Decorations Section, recommended the applicant’s WD AGO 53-55, dated 3 Nov 45, be administratively corrected to reflect award of the Prisoner of War Medal (PWM).

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C.    

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial of the applicant’s request for a decoration, indicating the applicant has not provided a complete decoration package for consideration.  In order for the applicant's request to be reasonably considered he needs to provide a recommendation from someone with firsthand knowledge of the act/achievement, preferably from someone within his chain of command at the time of the act/achievement, a proposed citation, and eyewitness statements.  Furthermore the applicant needs to specify in his request what decoration he is seeking.  To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department.  

Additionally, DP3SP notes after a thorough review of the applicant's official military personnel record, they were able to verify award of the PWM.  Per a memorandum, dated 17 Dec 15 the Air Force Personnel Center, Missing Persons Branch, was able to verify the applicant was a prisoner of war from 12 Dec 44 to 13 May 45.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3SP 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 2 May 16 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.  Insufficient 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; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force OPR and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice.  Therefore, aside from the administrative corrections noted above, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-02752 in Executive Session on 9 Jun 16 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

					   , Panel Chair
					, Member
					 , Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 24 Sep 14, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPFCM, dated 17 Dec 15, w/atch.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 8 Apr 16.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 2 May 16.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified that a quorum was present at the Board's review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.