AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AUG  1 8  1998 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NUMBER:  98-00214 

COUNSEL:  NONE 

HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

He  be  awarded  the  Distinguished  Flying  Cross  for  service  during 
World War 11. 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

The  reasons  the  applicant believes  the  records  to  be  in error  or 
unjust  and  the evidence submitted in support of the appeal are at 
Exhibit A. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

Applicant's  military  personnel  records  were  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1973.  Therefore, the facts surrounding his military service cannot 
be verified. 

However,  documents  provided  by  the  applicant  reflect  he  entered 
active  service  on  5  September  1942  and  was  separated  on 
17 September 1945. 

While assigned to 
Bombardment Group, he was 
awarded Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal on 2 April, 24 April and 
27  May  1944,  for  exceptionally  meritorious  achievement  while 
participating  in  bomber  combat  missions  over  enemy  occupied 
Continental Europe. 

Air  Force, 

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

HQ AFPC/DPPPRA reviewed this application and recommended denial.  A 
complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

Applicant's  response to the advisory opinion is 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.  Applicant's  military 
records  were  not  available  for  our  review  since  they  were 
apparently  destroyed  in  the  1973  fire  at  the  National  Personnel 
Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri.  Nevertheless, after careful 
consideration  of  the  applicant's  supporting  documents,  including 
extracts of the orders awarding him three oak leaf clusters to the 
Air  Medal,  and  a  newspaper  article  indicating he  had  completed 27 
missions,  it  is  our  opinion  that  the  applicant  most  likely  had 
completed the requisite number of combat missions  for award of the 
Distinguished Flying Cross.  Therefore, we believe any doubt should 
be  resolved  in  his  favor  and  recommend  that  the  records  be 
corrected as indicated below. 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

The pertinent military  records  of the  Department of the Air  Force 
relating to APPLICANT, 
rected to show that on  17 June 1944, 
while  assigned  to  the 
Bombardment  Group  (H), Headquarters, 
Eighth Air Force, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for 
extraordinary  achievement  while  participating  as  a  Tail  Gunner  on 
B-17 bombers  in combat missions  against the enemy  in the European 
Theater of Operations from January 1944 to 14 June 1944. 

The  following members  of  the Board  considered this  application in 
Executive  Session  on  18  June  1998,  under  the  provisions  of  AFI 
36-2603: 

Mr. Charles E. Bennett, Panel Chair 
Mr. John T. Dorsett, Member 
Mr. Steven A.  Shaw, Member 

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

Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 13 Jan 98, w/atchs. 
Exhibit B.  Available Master Personnel Records. 
Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 10 Feb 98. 
Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 16 Mar 98. 
Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 9 April 98, w/atchs. 

!

!

 

CHARLES E.  BENNETT 
Panel Chair 

2, 

AFBCMR 98-00214 

DEPARTMENT  O F  THE AIR FORCE 

HEADQUARTERS AIR  FORCE PERSONNEL CENTER 

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE TEXAS 

MEMORANDUM FOR AFBCMR 
FROM HQ AFPCLDPPPRA 

550 C Street West Ste 12 
Randolph AFB TX 78150-47 

4 

10 February 1998 

SUBJECT: Application for Correction of Military Records @D Form 149) 1 

1.  REQUESTED ACTION.  Applicant requests a w d  of the Distinguished Flying Cross, for 
service during World War II. 
2.  BASIS FOR REQUEST. Applicant believes individuals [during World War II] earned one 
oak leaf cluster for every five bombing missions, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for every 
five oak leaf clusters. 

c 

3.  FACTS. 

a. Applicant’s records were in the section of the National Personnel Records Center that was 

destroyed by fire in 1973.  Only his final pay record was obtained from another 80m and 
placed into a new folder. 

b.  Applicant applied through Congressional channels in 1995 for the Distinguished Flying 

Cross. He was informed that he needed to provide a copy of his Report of Separation (WD AGO 
Form 53-98,53-99, etc.),  any documentation reflecting his unit(s)  of assignment overseas, and 
statements h m  other individuals in his unit to corroborate his claim regarding the number of 
missions required to earn the Distinguished Flying Cross. 

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c.  Applicant has provided no documentation to substantiate any of his claims. 

4.  DISCUSSION.  Regardless of local commanb’ policies regarding award of the Air Medal 
and Distinguished Flying Cross based on the number of combat flight missions completed, a 
written recommendation had to be submitted into official channels before a decoration was 
approved.  Even af€er being advised of the documents needed, the applicant has M e d  to provide 
a copy of his Report of Separation, or any documents or statements to substantiate his claim 
regarding the n u m b  of combat flight missions accomplished or the local policy regarding 
award of the Air Medal or Distinguished F€yirig Cross.  Applicant has failed to provide any 
documentation to show that he was recommended for any additional oak leaf clusters to the Air 
Medal or for the Distinguished Flying Cross. 

98021 4 
. . . . . . . . . . 

5.  RECOMMENDATION. 

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

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Cross. 

FOR THE COMMANDER 

GEORGIA A. k S E ,  DAFC 
Recognition Programs Branch 
Promotions, E d &  Recognition Div 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON DC 

Office of the Assistant Secretary 

AFBCMR 98-00214 

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: 

military records of 
orrected to show th 

Cross for extraordin 
combat missions against the enemy i 
14 June 1944. 

artment of the Air Force relating 
June 1944, while assigned to the 
Air Force, he was awarded the D 

as a Tail Gunner on B- 17 bombers in 
ater of Operations from January 1944 to 

v D’ irector 

Air Force Review Boards Agency