RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-05502 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His father’s service record be updated to reflect the award of “Enlisted Aircrew Wings”. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His father was an Aerial Engineer with the Army Air Corps, 12th Army Air Force, 62nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 4th Troop Carrier Squadron in Italy during World-War II and should have been awarded Enlisted Aircrew Wings. In support of his request, the applicant provided a copy of his father’s WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The decedent initially entered the Army Air Corps on 21 Mar 42. On 27 Jan 46, he was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 2 years and 12 days of active service. The decedent’s WD AFO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, reflects his Military Occupation Specialty and Number as “Aerial Eng” and “2750”. The WD AGO Form 100, Separation Qualification Record, reflects he served 13 months as an Aerial Engineer: “Served in the Mediterranean Theater. Was member of crew of a transport plane. Accompanied plane in flight and made necessary repairs possible under flight conditions. Also did ground maintenance work. Made repairs to engines and other equipment on plane. Serviced and inspected plane before each flight.” The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is included at Exhibit C. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ USAF/A3O-AIF recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. In accordance with Air Force Regulation 35-80, Military Personnel, Badges, dated 10 October 1950, Section C, states; “The commanding officer of any Air Force activity may authorize by orders members of his command to wear the air crew member badge, provided that they: have demonstrated their proficiency as an air crew member and have completed 150 hours flying duty performing air crew duties, or have participated in at least ten combat or operational missions under probable exposure to enemy fire, or while assigned as a member of an air crew, were incapacitated for further duty as such by reason of being wounded as a result of enemy action or injured while discharging the duties of an air crew member.” Furthermore, his DAFSC of 2750 is not identified in Air Force Manual 35-13H, dated 21 December 1960, Section 6, as an AFSC that authorized him flying status. Based on the documentation provided, there is not enough documentation showing that the applicant’s father was on flying status. Such evidence needed to support that he was on flying status would be a commanding officer authorizing him the award of the badge and an AFSC authorizing flying status. Also, no documentation was provided to support the required flying hours. A complete copy of the HQ USAF/A3O-AIF 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 17 Nov 14 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. 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. While we note the comments of HQ USAF/A30-AIF indicating that relief should be denied because the applicant’s records do not contain enough documentation to substantiate the applicant’s contention, we believe a preponderance of the evidence substantiates that corrective action is warranted. In this respect, we note the decedent’s WD AGO Form 100, Separation Qualification Record, reflects he served for 13 months as an Aerial Engineer in which his duties included serving in the Mediterranean Theater as a member of the crew of a transport plane. Furthermore, the date of the regulatory guidance used in the advisory was not valid during the decedent’s military service. 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 DECEASED FORMER MEMBER be corrected to show the award of Enlisted Aircrew Wings. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-05502 in Executive Session on 07 Apr 15 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-2013-05502 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 18 Nov 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, HQ USAF/A3O-AIF, dated 21 Oct 14. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Nov 14.