AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

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DOCKET NUMBER:  97-01253 
COUNSEL : 

HEARING DESIRED:  YES 

[DEC  1 I  MA 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

His  records  be  corrected  to  reflect  award  of  the  Distinguished 
Flying Cross and Air Medal. 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

The citations have never been issued.  His records were lost during 
a hurricane on Ie Shima, Ryuku Island in 1945. 

In support of  his  appeal, the applicant provided  a  statement from 
counsel,  a  statement  from  a  former  crew  member,  copies  of 
recommendations for award of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air 
Medal, and other documents associated with the matter under review. 

Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

,  Enlisted  Record  and  Report  of  Separation, 
A  WD  AGO  Form 
pplicant  was  inducted  into  the  Army  of  the 
indicates  that 
United  States  (Air Corps), on 7 Jan 44 and  entered active duty on 
23  Jan  44 as  an  aerial gunner.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the Army of the United States on 28 Jan 46. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

The  Recognition  Programs  Branch,  AFPC/DPPPRA,  reviewed  this 
application and recommended denial.  DPPPRA indicated that the DFC 
was  awarded  for  heroism  or  extraordinary  achievement  while 
participating in aerial flight and serving in any capacity with the 
Air  Force. 
Both  heroism  and  achievement  must  be  entirely 
distinctive  involving operations  that  were  not  routine.  The  Air 
Medal  was  awarded  for meritorious  achievement while  participating 
in  aerial  flight  and  serving in  any  capacity with  the Air  Force. 
The required achievement to warrant award of the Air Medal was less 
than  that  required  for  award  of  the  DFC,  but  must-have  been 

accomplished  with  distinction  above  and  beyond  that  expected  of 
professional airmen. 
According  to  DPPPRA, the  applicant  was  being  recommended  for  the 
Distinguished  Flying  Cross  for  signaling  with  a  mirror  to  the 
rescue unit while  in the ocean.  This was not “while participating 
in  aerial  flight”  and,  therefore,  not  a  basis  for  awarding  the 
Distinguished Flying Cross. 
DPPPRA  noted  that  the  applicant  was  assigned  to  the  320th  Bomb 
Squadron from 18 May 45 to 4 Jan 46.  DPPPRA further noted that the 
applicant was  being  recommended for the Air  Medal  for the periods 
Mar-Jul  45 and Jun-Sep 45.  According  to DPPPRA, it is not normal 
to recommend an individual for an Air Medal for such a short period 
in  the  middle  of  a  tour.  Local  commanders  were  allowed  to  set 
their  own  criteria  for  awarding  the  Air  Medal  and  Distinguished 
Flying Cross during World  War  11.  Some published their policy as- 
an  Air  Medal  for  each  five  combat  flight  missions  and  a 
Distinguished  Flying  Cross  for  25 missions.  Other  set  different 
limits  on  the  number  of  combat  flight  missions,  but  all  were 
required  to  submit  a  written  recommendation  at  the  time. 
Recommendations do not  contain  two periods, much  less  overlapping 
periods, for a decoration.  Furthermore, the present recommendation 
starts at Mar 45 and the applicant did not arrive at the 320th  Bomb 
Squadron  until  18  May  45.  DPPPRA  indicated  that  they  can  only 
conclude that the applicant was never recommended for the Air Medal 
during his tour with the 320th Bomb Squadron. 
In  DPPPRA’s  view,  nowhere  in  this  application  is  a  justification 
for  the  inordinate  d 
ting  the  recommendations  for 
these  decorations. 
does  not  state  that  the 
recommendations  were  actually  written  in  1945  and  submitted  into 
official  channels  or  provide  any  justification or  explanation for 
such a delay. 

A complete copy of the DPPPRA evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
By  letter, dated 31  Jul 97, counsel requested that the case not be 
considered  prior  to  the  submission  of  additional  documentary 
evidence  (Exhibit E). 

Counsel  provided  additional  documentary  evidence  for  the  Board’s 
consideration which is attached at Exhibit F. 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

1.  The  applicant has  exhausted  all  remedies provided  by  existing 
law or regulations. 

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2 

AFBCMR 97-01253 

. _  

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 probable  injustice.  The applicant’s requests for 
award  of  the  DFC  and  Air  Medal  were  noted. 
In  the  absence  of 
evidence showing that the applicant’s actions met  the criteria for 
award  of  the  DFC  cited  by  DPPPRA, we  have  no  basis  to  favorably 
consider  this  portion  of  the  application.  However,  the  evidence 
provided  has  established  to  our  satisfaction that  the  applicant‘s 
service  during  the  period  in  question  did  warrant  recognition  by 
award of  the Air  Medal  and that the  recommendation for this award 
was submitted and lost.  In view of the above and in recognition of 
the applicant’s service to the Nation, we believe any doubt in this 
matter  should be  resolved  in his  favor.  Accordingly, his  records 
be corrected to reflect award of the Air Medal in 1945. 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

The pertinent military  records of the  Department  of  the Air  Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that he was awarded the 
Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial 
flight from May 1945 to September 1945. 

The  following members  of  the Board  considered this application in 
Executive  Session  on  20  Oct  98,  under  the  provisions  of  AFI  36- 
2603: 

Mr.  David C. Van Gasbeck, Panel Chair 
Mr. Richard A.  Peterson, Member 
Mr. Jackson A. Hauslein, Member 

All  members  voted  to  correct  the  records,  as  recommended.  The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

Exhibit A. 
Exhibit B. 
Exhibit C. 
Exhibit D. 
Exhibit E. 
Exhibit F. 

DD Form 149, dated 8 Apr 97, w/atchs. 
Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. 
Letter, AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 13 Jun 97. 
Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 14 Jul 97. 
Letter, counsel, dated 31 Jul 97, w/atch. 
Letter, counsel, dated 14 Aug 97, w/atchs. 

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AFBCMR 97-01253 

DEPARTMENT O F   T H E  AIR  FORCE 

H E A D Q U A R T E R S   A I R   F O R C E   P E R S O N N E L C E N T E R  

R A N D O L P H  A I R   FORCE  B A S E  T E X A S  

MEMORANDUM FOR AFBCMR 

FROM:  HQ AFPCDPPPRA 

550 C Street West Ste 12 
Randolph AFB TX  78 150-47 14 

13 June 1997 

Records (DD Form 149) 

1.  REQUESTED ACTION.  Applicant requests (through son of former crew mate) award of the 
Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal for 1945. 

2.  BASIS FOR REQUEST.  Applicant states the original recommendation was lost during a hur- 
ricane on Ryuku Island in 1945. 

3.  FACTS. 

a.  Applicant was on Active Duty 22 Jan 44-28 Jan 46, with duty in the Asiatic-Pacific 

Theater 18 May 45-4 Jan 46, serving with t h e o m b  Squadron.  He is entitled to the Good 
Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 Silver and  1 Bronze Service Star, Purple 
Heart, American Campaign Medal, World War I1 Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal 
with 1 Bronze Service Star, and Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation.  The last award is 
not on his Report of Separation, and needs to be added. 

g World War 11, he was a crew mate om 

in 1955 for the 15 Jul45 inci- 
d has been given Power of 
ey is supposed to have been the 

signed proposed citations recommending the applicant for the Distin- 
for “...saving the lives of himself and four of his remaining crew mates ...” 
by the use of a “...hand held signaling mirror under very adverse conditions ...” on 15 Jul45.  He 

e applicant for the Air Medal for the periods Mar-Jul45 and Jun 45-Sep 45. 
has not submitted a statement to the effect that these recommendation were origi- 

nally submitted into official channels in 1945 and lost through inadvertence or administrative 
error. 

d.  The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement 

while participating in aerial flight and serving in any capacity with the Air Force.  Both heroism 
and achievement must be entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine. 

e.  The Air Medal is awarded for meritorious achevement while participating in aerial flight 
and serving in any capacity with the Air Force.  The required achievement to warrant award of 
the Air Medal is less than that required for award of the Distinguished Flying Cross, but must 
nevertheless be accomplished with distinction above and beyond that expected of professional 
airmen. 

4.  DISCUSSION. 

a.  The applicant is being recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross for signaling with 
a mirror to the rescue unit while in the ocean.  This was not “while participating in aerial flight” 
and, therefore, not a basis for awarding the Distinguished Flying Cross. 

b.  The applicant was assigned to th 

Bomb Squadron 18 May 45-4 Jan 46.  He is being 

recommended for the Air Medal for the periods Mar-Jul45 and Jun-Sep 45.  It is not normal to 
recommend an individual for an Air Medal for such a short period in the middle of a tour.  Local 
commanders were allowed to set their own criteria for awarding the Air Medal and Distintuished 
Flying Cross World War 11.  Some published their policy as an Air Medal for each five combat 
flight missions and a Distinguished Flying Cross for 25 missions.  Other set different limits on 
the number of combat flight missions, but all were required to submit a written recommendation 
at the time.  Recommendations do not contain two periods, much less overlapping periods, for a 
decoration.  Furthermore, the present recommendation starts at Mar 45, and the applicant did not 
arrive at t h e B o m b  Squadron until 18 May 45.  We 
recommended for the Air Medal during his tour with the 

ly conclude that he was never 

Squadron. 

c.  No where in this application is 
recommendation for these decorations. 
were actually written in 1945 and sub 
explanation for such a delay. 

e inordinate delay in submitting the 
oes not state that the recommendations 
channels or provide any justification or 

L 

5.  RECOMMENDATION. 

We recommend disapproval of the applicant’s request for award of the Distinguished Flying 

Cross for 15 Jul45 and the Air Medal for Mar 45-Jul45 and Jun 45-Sep 45. 

FOR THE COMMANDER 

GEORGIA A. WISE, DAFC 
Recognition Programs Branch 
Promotions, Eva1 & Recognition Div 

cc:  SAFIMIBR 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON, DC 

Office of the Assistant Secretary 

AFBCMR 97-01253 

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: 

m. 

artment of the Air Force relating t 
cted to show that he was awarded 
rial flight fi-om May 1945 to September 1945. 

I 

Air Force Review Boards Agency 

w