RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03662 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was promised the DFC after completing 35 missions as a tail 
gunner during World War II, but it was never issued to him. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
honorable discharge certificate and his WG AGO 53-55, Enlisted 
Record and Report of Separation. 

 

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

 

_________________ ______________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant’s military personnel records were apparently 
located in the area most heavily damaged in the fire at the 
National Personnel Records Center in 1973. Documents provided 
by the applicant indicate he served on active duty with the Army 
Air Corps as an Aerial Gunner from 17 Sep 43 through 20 Oct 45. 

 

The DFC may be awarded to any persons who, after 16 Apr 17, 
while serving in any capacity with the United States Armed 
Forces, distinguish themselves by heroism or extraordinary 
achievement while participating in aerial flight. 

 

During World War II, the Eighth Air Force had an established 
policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of tour of 
combat duty, and an Air Medal (AM) was awarded upon the 
completion of every five heavy bomber missions. In 1942, the 
length of a tour was 25 combat missions. In 1944, the tour 
length was increased to 35 combat missions, and the number of 
combat missions required for award of an additional AM was 
increased to six. In 1943, the policy for automatically 


awarding the DFC and AM based solely on the number of missions 
completed was discontinued, and submissions were subsequently 
required to include a narrative recommendation justifying the 
award. 

 

According to the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record 
and Report of Separation, he arrived in the European theater of 
operations on 5 Sep 1944 and participated in the air offensive 
over Europe. He departed the European theater of operations on 
31 Mar 45 and arrived in the United States on 12 Apr 1945. On 
25 Oct 45, he was honorably discharged and credited with 
2 years, 1 month, and 28 days of total active service. Item 33, Decorations and Citations, of his WD AGO Form 53-55 indicates he 
was awarded the AM with five oak leaf clusters (AM w/5 OLC). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 available evidence and the applicant’s 
complete submission, we believe a preponderance of the evidence 
indicates the applicant is entitled to the Distinguished Flying 
Cross (DFC). In this respect, we note the applicant earned the 
Air Medal (AM) a total of six times (AM with five oak leaf 
clusters (OLC)) during his combat tour as an aerial gunner 
during World War II. Because the Eighth Air Force policy in 
effect during his service required the completion of six combat 
missions for award of the AM, and the applicant earned six AMs, 
we believe it is highly likely he performed the requisite 35 
missions for award of the DFC. Therefore, to preclude any 
further injustice to the applicant, we chose to resolve any 
doubt in his favor and 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 on 
31 March 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for 
extraordinary achievement while serving as an Aerial Gunner on 
many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental 
Europe. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 


 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2010-03662 in Executive Session on 23 Jun 11, 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 29 Sep 10, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair