RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2009-02579

INDEX CODE: 107.00

XXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

HEARING DESIRED: NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1. His records be corrected to reflect the award of an Air Medal (AM)

2. His records be corrected to reflect the award of the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) – Administratively corrected.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Applicant questions whether he is entitled to an AM and a DUC based on his flight service in Combat Support (CS) as an Airborne Radio Operator from Sep to Nov 52.

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides copies of individual flight records, his DD Form 214, Report of Separation or Discharge from the Armed Forces, and an excerpt showing the history of the 6167th Air Base Group.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a former enlisted member of the Regular Air Force, who served on active duty from 26 Sep 51 to 25 Sep 55. During this period he served in Japan and Korea from 18 Sep 52 to 28 Jul 53 as an aircrew member flying missions from 26 Sep 52 to 3 Jun 53.

AFPC/DPSIDR determined the applicant was eligible for award of the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), formerly known as the DUC, and his record has been corrected to reflect award of such.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for award of the AM. The applicant bases his potential eligibility for award of the AM on the number of missions he flew while serving in Japan and Korea. The number of missions, as criteria for AM eligibility, changed in 1943, approximately nine years prior to the applicant’s service. There is no Special Order, recommendation, proposed citation, or any other evidence provided by the applicant or located within his official military personnel file to support his request for award of the AM.

The complete AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 9 Oct 09 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

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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 error or injustice. In this respect, we note that Fifth Air Force Regulation 35-7, dated 15 Sep 51, set the criteria for award of the AM at 10 combat missions for those flying bombers or other multi-engine aircraft performing at similar or equal hazard. While we note that in his 1943 memorandum General Arnold discontinued the “score card” method for automatically awarding AMs and Distinguished Flying Crosses based on number of missions flown; thereafter requiring a written narrative recommendation justifying the award, these decorations continued to be awarded based on sustained aerial achievement, i.e., specific number of combat missions. In view of this and inasmuch as the evidence of record indicates the applicant performed at least ten combat missions, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 25 September 1955, he was awarded the Air Medal for extraordinary achievement during aerial flight during the period 26 September 1952 through 15 December 1952.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2009-02579 in Executive Session on 6 May 2010, 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 14 Jul 09, w/atchs.

Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.

Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 16 Sep 09.

Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Oct 09.

Panel Chair

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
WASHINGTON DC

Office Of The Assistant Secretary

AFBCMR BC-2009-02579

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to XXXXXXX, XXXXXXX be corrected to show that on 25 September 1955, he was awarded the Air Medal for extraordinary achievement during aerial flight during the period 26 September 1952 through 15 December 1952.

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JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency