RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03658 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He is entitled to the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) because he was assigned to the 869th Bomb Squadron during the qualifying period for the award. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of online history of Army Air Corps World War II 1941-1945, various requested documents from NPRC, his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report Of Separation Honorable Discharge, and Honorable Discharge Certificate. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant’s military personnel records indicate he enlisted in the Regular Army Air Corps on 1 Apr 43. According to the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, he served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater from 16 Sep 44 to 15 Nov 45 and was discharged on 29 Dec 45 as a member of the 869th Bomb Squadron. On 10 Jan 57, the DUC was re-designated as the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) which is attached at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial, indicating that after a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record and documentation provided, they were unable to verify his entitlement to award of the DUC. While the applicant served with the 869th Bomb Squadron in 1945, and said squadron was awarded the requested award during the period 26 Jul 45 through 2 Aug 45, there was no conclusive documentation reflecting the applicant was assigned to the unit during the specific inclusive dates for the requested award. 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 23 Oct 12 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D). ________________________________________________________________ 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. The applicant contends he is entitled to the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) because he was assigned to the 869th Bomb Squadron during the qualifying period for the award. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe a preponderance of the evidence supports corrective action. In this respect, we note that although there was no conclusive documentation reflecting the applicant was assigned during the qualifying award period, his records indicate that he served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater from 16 September 1944 to 15 November 1945 - the theater in which the 869th Bomb Squadron, XXI Bomber Command, Twentieth Air Force, was assigned; and he was discharged in December 1945, while serving as a member of the 869th Bomb Squadron. In view of this and since the 869th Bomb Squadron received the DUC during the period of 26 Jul 45 through 2 Aug 45, we recommend his 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 Distinguished Unit Citation for the period 26 July 1945 through 2 August 1945. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-03658 in Executive Session on 7 Feb 13, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-03658 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 23 Apr 12, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 9 Oct 12. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Oct 12.