RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  01-01415
            INDEX CODE:  107.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

_________________________________________________________________

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:

The relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from  the
applicant's military records, are contained in the letter prepared  by
the appropriate office of the Air  Force  (Exhibit  C).   Accordingly,
there is no need to recite these facts in this Record of  Proceedings.


_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief, Recognition  Programs  Branch,  Promotion,  Evaluation  and
Recognition Division, AFPC/DPPPR, reviewed the application and  states
that the applicant has submitted previous requests for  award  of  the
DFC, and has been informed he is  not  eligible  because  he  did  not
provide a written recommendation  signed  by  his  [then]  supervisor,
commander or person with first-hand knowledge of his action.  In  1943
HQ Army Air Forces changed the policy regarding award of the  DFC  and
Air Medal (Attachment 2).  The Commanding  General  of  the  Army  Air
Forces  stated  that  under  no  circumstances  would   the   DFC   be
automatically awarded based solely on  the  number  of  combat  flight
missions accomplished; unfortunately, the change  took  time  reaching
commanders in the field.  When the applicant arrived in  the  European
Theater of Operations, 19 January  1944,  the  local  requirement  was
completion of  25  combat  flight  missions  for  award  of  the  DFC.
However, the requirement was raised to 30 combat flight missions on 19
March 1944.  The applicant completed 25 combat flight missions and  he
received the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters for this  achievement.
Since the applicant did not meet the local requirement for  completion
of 30 combat flight missions, he is not eligible for award of the DFC.
  He  has  not  provided  any   documentation   showing   heroism   or
extraordinary   achievement   during   aerial   flight,   a    written
recommendation  has  not  been  signed  and  submitted  into  official
channels, and he did  not  complete  30  combat  flight  missions,  as
required  by  the  100th  Bomb  Group.   Therefore,   they   recommend
disapproval of the applicant’s request for award of the  Distinguished
Flying Cross.

A complete copy of the evaluation, with attachments,  is  attached  at
Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 3 August 2001, a complete copy of  the  Air  Force  evaluation  was
forwarded to the applicant for review and response within thirty  (30)
days.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

_________________________________________________________________

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.    Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the existence of probable error or injustice warranting award  of  the
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).  We took notice of  the  applicant's
complete submission in judging the merits  of  the  case;  however,  a
majority of the Board agrees with the opinion  and  recommendation  of
the Air Force  and  adopts  their  rationale  as  the  basis  for  our
conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an  error  or
injustice.  When the applicant arrived  in  the  European  Theater  of
Operations, 19 January 1944, the local requirement was  completion  of
25 combat  flight  missions  for  award  of  the  DFC.   However,  the
requirement was raised to 30 combat flight missions on 19 March  1944.
The applicant completed  25  combat  flight  missions,  for  which  he
received the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters before  he  was  taken
prisoner of war (POW) on 24 May 1944.  Since  the  applicant  did  not
meet the local requirement for completion of 30 combat flight missions
and has not provided persuasive evidence that he was  recommended  for
the DFC, the majority is  not  convinced  he  should  be  awarded  the
Distinguished Flying Cross.  The personal sacrifice the applicant  has
endured for his country is noted and the majority’s decision should in
no way lessen his service; however insufficient  documentary  evidence
has been presented to warrant awarding the  DFC.   Therefore,  in  the
absence of evidence to the contrary, the majority of the  Board  finds
no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief  sought  in  this
application.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

A majority of the  panel  finds  insufficient  evidence  of  error  or
injustice and recommends the application be denied.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 5 September 2001, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:

                  Mr. Gregory H. Petkoff, Panel Chair
                  Mr. Clarence D. Long, III, Member
                  Ms. Nancy W. Drury, Member

By a majority vote, the Board recommended denial of  the  application.
Mr. Long voted to  grant  applicant  the  Distinguished  Flying  Cross
(DFC), but he  does  not  wish  to  submit  a  Minority  Report.   The
following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 15 May 2001, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 20 July 2001.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 3 August 2001.




                                GREGORY H. PETKOFF
                                Panel Chair




AFBCMR 01-01415





MEMORANDUM FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AIR FORCE BOARD
                 FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS (AFBCMR)

SUBJECT:  AFBCMR Application of

      I have carefully reviewed the evidence of record and the
recommendation of the Board members.  A majority found that applicant
had not provided sufficient evidence of error or injustice and
recommended the case be denied.  I concur with that finding and their
conclusion that relief is not warranted.  Accordingly, I accept their
recommendation that the application be denied.

      Please advise the applicant accordingly.




                                        JOE G. LINEBERGER
                                        Director
                                        Air Force Review Boards Agency