RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  99-00902

            INDEX CODE:  107.00


            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Since he flew with the same aircrew for  28  missions  and  was  on  the  17
February 1945 mission for which the navigator of  his  aircrew  was  awarded
the DFC through the correction of record process, he should be  awarded  the
DFC.

The applicant states that on 17 February 1945, while on  a  bombing  mission
over Iwo Jima, they became aware of the huge U.S. Naval invasion.  Their  B-
24M aircraft was in the lead flight of four planes and made  a  bombing  run
approximately 5,000 feet above the invasion beach.  Then they  made  a  180˚
turn and flew over Mount Suribache at low level.  The applicant states  that
he directed his gunfire on the two airfields  and  large  anti-aircraft  gun
positions.  He started firing over Mount Suribach and did  not  let  up  for
the six-mile duration of the strafing run.  During the strafing run, he  saw
many Japanese soldiers on the two runways in and  around  the  anti-aircraft
gun pits.  After the mission, he had to replace the two  50  barrels  as  he
fired over 2,000 rounds of ammunition  and  the  aircraft  sustained  damage
from small arms, machine gun with tracers, and  larger  anti-aircraft  fire.
The former navigator of his aircrew was awarded the DFC  by  the  Board  for
his actions on 17 February 1945.

The applicant also states that during the period in question, aircrews  were
traditionally awarded the DFC upon the completion of 25 combat missions  and
he completed 27 missions.

In  support  of  the  appeal,  applicant  submits  a   copy   of   the   DEC
recommendation and the Record of Proceedings pertaining to the navigator  of
his aircrew.  In addition, the  applicant  submits  statements  from  former
members of his aircrew.

The applicant’s complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s records were destroyed by fire  in  1973,  at  the  National
Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

The applicant was enlisted in the Army Air Force  on  19  January  1944  and
entered active duty.

The applicant served in the Asiatic and Pacific theaters of operation  as  a
B-24 Armored Gunner.  The applicant completed 27 missions  and  was  awarded
the Air Medal with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters.

On 17 February 1945, while serving as a B-24M  nose  gunner,  the  applicant
participated in a group daylight  low  level  attack  against  the  strongly
fortified enemy stronghold of Iwo Jima.

The applicant was honorably discharged in the grade  of  staff  sergeant  on
24 November 1945 for the convenience of the government (Demobilization).

On 27 November 1945, the Adjutant General’s Office requested the  Commander,
7th Air Force, inform them whether or not the applicant was entitled to  the
DFC.

On 23 March 1946, the 7th Air Force advised the Adjutant  General’s   Office
that their records did not indicate he was authorized the  DFC  by  the  7th
Air Force or Army Air Force, Middle Pacific.

On 29 October 1998, the Board favorably considered an application  submitted
by the former navigator of the applicant’s aircrew and awarded him  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 17 February 1945.

During World War II,  the  7th  Air  Force  had  an  established  policy  of
awarding the DFC for completion of 25 heavy bomber combat  missions  in  the
Pacific Operations Area.


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  Chief,  Awards  and  Decorations  Section,  AFPC/DPPPR,  reviewed   the
application and states the applicant has provided documentation  proving  he
was the nose gunner on the 17 February 1945 bombing mission over  Iwo  Jima.
While the statements from fellow crewmembers verify that he was  on  the  17
February 1945 mission, they do  not  specify  any  instance  of  heroism  or
extraordinary achievement  on  the  mission.   Although  the  applicant  did
submit a  recommendation  from  a  person  with  first-hand  knowledge,  the
recommendation does not present sufficient justification  or  warrant  award
of the DFC.  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 FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the Air Force  evaluation  and  states  that  in  his
opinion  all  ten  aircrew  members  exhibited  heroic   and   extraordinary
achievement on the 17 February 1945 mission.  It was extraordinary  teamwork
that was the key to the success of the mission.  He implores  the  Board  to
go back in time to the era of B-24 heavy bombers and the men who strafed  an
island at low level while the enemy bombarded them  with  tracers  and  ant-
aircraft fire.

The applicant’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.  In this  respect,  we  note  that
while on a bombing mission, participating in the first low level  attack  by
heavy bombers against the strongly fortified enemy stronghold  of  Iwo  Jima
on 17 February 1945, the applicant’s aircraft was damaged  by  anti-aircraft
fire. In support of the appeal, the applicant has provided  a  copy  of  his
flight records, showing he completed 27 combat flight missions, and that  he
was on the 17 February 1945 mission.   He  also  submitted  statements  from
fellow crewmembers, stating he was on the flight.   In view  of  the  above,
we believe the applicant’s heroic  actions  on  17 February  1945  meet  the
criteria for award of the DFC.   Therefore,  we  recommend  his  records  be
corrected to the extent indicated below.


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

The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 30 November 1999, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

            Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Panel Chair
            Mr. Edward C. Koenig III, Member
            Mr. Gregory W. Den Herder, Member

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

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 9 March 1999, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 18 June 1999.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 12 July 1999.
       Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 3 August 1999.




                 THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                 Panel Chair


AFBCMR 99-00902





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:

      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 nose gunner in a group daylight low level attack  against
the strongly fortified enemy stronghold of Iwo Jima on 17 February 1945.






            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency