AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RE  RDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

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IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NUMBER:  97- 02750 
COUNSEL: 

HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REOUESTS THAT : 
He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). 

APPLICANT CONTE NDS THAT: 
It is unjust to arbitrarily deny issuing the DFC which he earned 
based upon the completion of 2 5   combat missions. 
The applicant states that at the time he was recommended for the 
DFC, it had been a very worthy tradition that crew members who 
completed 25 combat missions, were awarded the DFC.  The decision 
to deny the award recommendation could have been an oversight and 
he should be given the benefit of the doubt. 
In support of  the  appeal, applicant  submits a copy of  the DFC 
recommendation and proposed citation. 
The applicant's complete submission is attached at Exhibit A. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS : 
On 2 August  1 9 4 5 ,   while serving as a lSt Lieutenant in the Army 
Air Corps, the applicant was recommended for award of the DFC for 
extraordinary achievement while participating as a navigator in a 
group daylight  low  level attack  against  the  strongly fortified 
enemy stronghold of Iwo Jima on 1 7  February 1 9 4 5 .  
On 9  August 1 9 4 5 ,   the DFC recommendation was approved b  the llth 
Bombardment  Group  Commander  and  forwarded  to  the  7u.  Bomber 
Command. 
The 7th  Bomber Command Commander approved the DFC recommendation 
on  1 4   August  1 9 4 5 ,   and  forwarded  it  to  the  final  approval 
authority, 7th  Air Force. 
On  26  September  1 9 4 5 ,   the  7th  Air  Force  Assistant  Adjutant 
General did not favorably consider the DFC recommendation. 

The applicant completed a total of 28 combat missions. 
During World War  11, the 7th  Air Force had a policy of awarding 
the DFC for completion of 25 combat missions. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

The  Recognition  Programs  Branch,  AFPC/DPPPRA,  reviewed  this 
application  and  states  that  there  is  no  indication  in  the 
applicant's  records of the DFC recommendation.  There is also no 
indication he  ever attempted requesting reconsideration of  that 
particular  recommendation.  Although  the  applicant  provided  a 
written  recommendation  for  award  of  the  DFC  for  a  specific 
mission which occurred on 1 7   February 1945, in his application he 
requests award of the DFC for completion of 25  combat missions. 
If the applicant is requesting reconsideration of the written DFC 
recommendation,  he  has  not  provided  any  documentation  or 
statements from personnel with first-had knowledge of the event 
or  disapproval.  If  he  is  requesting  award  of  the  DFC  for 
completion of 25 combat missions, he has not provided a copy of a 
written recommendation which was processed through administrative 
channels.  Therefore, they recommend denial of his request. 
A  complete  copy  of  the  Air  Force  evaluation  is  attached  at 
Exhibit C. 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORC E EVALUATIO N: 
The applicant reviewed the Air Force evaluation and states that 
at the time the written DFC recommendation was submitted, he had 
completed 26  missions.  The recommendation would  not  have been 
submitted in the first place if the Commanding Officers directly 
involved  had  not  considered  it  worthy. 
The  applicant  also 
requests that the other crew members be considered for the DFC. 

The counsel's complete response is attached at Exhibit E. 

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 probable error or injustice.  After 
thoroughly  reviewing  the  evidence  of  record,  we  believe  the 
applicant  has  been  the  victim  of  an  error or  injustice.  The 
applicant contends that at  the time he was  recommended for the 

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DFC, it was tradition that crew members who completed 2 5   combat 
missions were  awarded the  DFC.  The  applicant  is  correct  that 
during World War  11, the 7th  Air Force had a policy of awarding 
the DFC for completion of  2 5   combat missions; however, the DFC 
recommendation was submitted based on extraordinary achievement, 
Regardless ,  we 
rather  than  the  completion  of  2 5   missions. 
believe  the  extraordinary  achievements of  the  applicant  while 
participating  in  the  first  low  level  attack  by  heavy  bombers 
against the  strongly fortified enemy  stronghold of  Iwo Jima on 
1 7   February  1 9 4 5 ,   met  the  criteria  for  award  of  the  DFC. 
Therefore, we  recommend his  records be  corrected to the extent 
indicated below.  Applicant  has  requested  that  the  other  crew 
members also be  awarded the DFC; however, these individuals are 
required by Air Force Instruction to submit applications to the 
Board,  Upon receipt of the applications, their requests will be 
processed in accordance with established policy. 

THE BOARD RECOWNDS THA T: 
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be  corrected to show that he was awarded 
the  Distinguished  Flying  Cross  for  extraordinary  achievement 
while participating as a Navigator in a group daylight low level 
attack  against  the  strongly  fortified  enemy  stronghold  of  Iwo 
Jima on 1 7   February 1 9 4 5 ,  

The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive Session on 29  October 1 9 9 8 ,   under the provisions of AFI 
36- 2603 : 

Mr. Vaughn E. Schlunz, Panel Chair 
Mr. Loren S. Perlstein, Member 
Mr. Terry Yonkers, Member 
Mr. Phillip E. Horton, Examiner (without vote) 

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

Exhibit A.  DD Form 1 4 9 ,   dated 11 Sep 97,  w/atchs. 
Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 1 Oct 9 7 .  
Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 20  Oct 9 7 .  
Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 23  Oct 9 7 .  

Panel Chair 

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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 

FEB 1 2  1999 

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I  . '  

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Office of the Assistant Secretary 

AFBCMR 97-02750 

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: 

litary records of the Department of the Air Force relating to- 
be corrected to show that he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross 

for extraordinary achievement while participating as a Navigator in a group daylight low level 
attack against the strongly fortified enemy stronghold of Iwo Jima on 17 February 1945. 

b ? i i  
" Air Force Review Boards Agency 

Director