I 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RE 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NUMBER:  98-01710 
COUNSEL:  NONE 
HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REOUESTS THAT: 
1.  He be  awarded  an additional oak  leaf  cluster  (OLC) to  the 
Distinguished  Flying  Cross  (DFC with  1OLC)  and  one  or  two 
additional oak  leaf  clusters to the Air  Medal  (AM  with  5  or 6 
OLCS) . 
2.  He  _would  like  two  complete  sets  of  his  awards  and 
decorations. 
The request for award of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, with 
3  oak leaf clusters, the American Campaign Medal and world War I1 
Victory  Medal  has  been  administratively corrected.  Hence,  no 
action is required by this Board. 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 
Due  to  changes  in  operations,  officers  and  ensuing  turmoil, 
awards  were  not  documented.  Combat  medals  were  not  awarded 
beyond  12 November  1944,  whereas  18 to 20 more  combat missions 
were flown through 23 January 1945.  He flew 40 combat missions 
during world War 11. 
In support of his request, applicant submits copies of documents 
associated  with  the  issues  cited  in  his  contentions.  These 
documents are appended at Exhibit A. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
On  15  January  1944,  the  applicant  was  appointed  a  second 
lieutenant  Army  of  the  United  States Air  Corps  (AUS AC)  and 
ordered to active duty.  He performed duties as a navigator in 
the Air Corps and was promoted to the grade of first lieutenant, 
effective and with a date of  rank of  3  November  1944.  He was 
released  from  active  duty  on  16  November  1945  and  honorably 
discharged in the grade of first lieutenant.  He had completed a 
total of 1 year and 25 days of continental service, and 9 months 
and 6 days of foreign service. 

The relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained 
in  the  letter  prepared  by  the  appropriate  office  of  the  Air 
Force.  Accordingly, there is no need to recite these facts in 
this Record of Proceedings. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
The Recognition Programs Branch, HQ AFPC/DPPPRA, stated that the 
applicant  served on active duty  15 January  1944  -  16  November 
1945, with overseas duty in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater 24 June 
1944 -  5 February 1945.  His Report of Separation reflects award 
of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf 
Clusters, and  the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal  with  1 Bronze 
Service Star. 
DPPPRA  administratively  corrected  the  applicant's  records  to 
reflect award of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3  Bronze 
Service Stars, the American Campaign Medal, and the World War I1 
Victory Medal. 
DPPPRA stated that each veteran is authorized to receive one free 
set of  his  awards and decorations.  Applicant  has been  sent a 
complete  set  of  his  awards  and  decorations,  with  a  list  of 
commercial sources to obtain additional sets. 
DPPPRA  indicated  that  the  applicant's  records  reflect 
accomplishment of 40 combat flight missions:  Jun 44-Nov 44 =  17; 
Nov 44-Jan 45 =  17; and Jan 45-Feb 45 =  6. 
As  to  the  applicant's contention that  he  did  not  receive  any 
decorations for flights performed after Dec 44, DPPPRA indicated 
that  no  documentation  has  been  provided  showing  any 
recommendations were written or submitted into official channels 
after that time.  After mid-1944, it was required that a written 
recommendation  for  decorations  be  submitted  into  official 
channels within two years, and awarded within three years of the 
act,  accomplishment  or  service  performed. 
The  applicant I s 
commander did recommend him €or pilot training on 26 Jan 45. 
DPPPRA stated that the applicant was discharged on 16 Nov 45 and 
has not provided any documentation showing he made any effort to 
resolve the issue of additional oak leaf clusters for his DFC or 
AM  prior  to  this application. At  this late date, there  are no 
longer an  official records of local policies, no way to connect 
his (theny commander, or ascertain any facts other than those in 
his records.  DPPPRA recommended disapproval of  the applicant's 
request for award of additional oak leaf clusters to his DFC and 
AM.  A complete copy of this evaluation is appended at Exhibit C. 

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98-01710 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
He  stated  that  he  cannot  be  held  responsible  for  changes  in 
administrative personnel or priorities during war time that may 
have caused the requested awards to be overlooked.  Documentation 
provided show that the Distinguished Flying Cross  (DFC) and Air 
Medals  (AMs)  were not awarded after 22 missions.  A request was 
made  in  1945  for  combat  awards  but  the  only  additional medal 
given was the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, whereas the DFC and 
AM  oak leaf clusters apparently were not reviewed.  He accepted 
this  in  good  faith  and  if  a  policy  change  was  made  for Air 
Offensive Japan combat missions, it would be common knowledge and 
documented to the Air Force.  A policy change would also indicate 
no DFC or AM  were awarded during 12 Nov 44 through 23 Jan 45, a 
most  crucial  period  during  WW  11.  A  complete  copy  of  this 
response is appended at Exhibit E. 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing 

1. 
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.  Insufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate  the  existence of  probable  error  or  injustice.  We 
took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the 
merits  of  the  case. 
We  do  not  doubt  the  outstanding 
contributions the applicant made during the course of his career. 
However, no documentary evidence has been presented to indicate 
that  recommendations for award  of  additional oak  leaf  clusters 
(OLCs) to the Distinguished Flying Cross  (DFC) and the Air Medal 
(AM)  were  officially submitted.  In the absence of documentary 
evidence  substantiating that  the  applicant  was  recommended for 
the requested awards and that such a recommendation was approved, 
we  do  not  find  the  evidence  provided  establishes  that  the 
applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice.  In view 
of the above, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the 
Air  Force  office  of  primary  responsibility  and  adopt  their 
rationale  as  our  findings  in  the  case. 
Accordingly,  the 
applicant's request for additional OLCs to the DFC and AM  are not 
favorably considered. 
4.  We  noted  that  the  appropriate  Air  Force  office  (HQ 
AFPC/DPPPRA)  has  forwarded the Asiatic-Pacific  Campaign  Medal, 
with 3 OLCs, the American Campaign Medal and World War I1 Victory 
Medal  to the  applicant.  Inasmuch as HQ AFPC/DPPPRA has  taken 
action regarding the above mentioned awards and has provided the 
authorized free set of awards and decorations, there was no basis 
for the Board to address these issues. 

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98-01710 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 
The  applicant be  notified  that  the  evidence presented  did  not 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  probable  material  error  or 
injustice;  that  the  application was  denied  without  a personal 
appearance; and  that  the  application will  only be  reconsidered 
upon  the  submission of  newly  discovered  relevant  evidence  not 
considered with this application. 

The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive Session on 10 December  1998,  under the provisions of 
AFI 36-2603: 

Mr. Henry C. Saunders, Panel Chair 
Ms. Ann L. Heidig, Member 
Ms. Sophie A. Clark, Member 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

Exhibit A.  DD Form  149, dated 4 Jun 98, w/atchs. 
Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 8 Jul 98. 
Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 17 Aug 98. 
Exhibit E.  Letter from applicant, undated.  , 

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98-01710