RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBERS:  02-00980
            INDEX CODE 131.00
            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records show he was  appointed  a  Warrant  Officer  Junior  Grade
(WOJG) during World War II (WWII).

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His field commander pinned the WOJG bars on him  in  the  China  Burma
India (CBI) Theater after receiving approval from Washington DC.  He’s
sure this field appointment was in his military  records  before  they
were destroyed by fire; otherwise his commander would not have allowed
him to wear the bars. The main thing on his mind at the time  was  not
the extra pay but to serve his country honorably and keep it free.  He
did so and would like his records to reflect this appointment.

He provides  several  photographs  during  the  pertinent  period  and
contends that in one of them  he  is  wearing  the  WOJG  bar  on  the
shoulder away from the camera. He explains he cannot find the  picture
that best shows him wearing the WOJG bar. He  also  provides  official
correspondence indicating he was recommended for a  field  appointment
to WOJG, that he had been the acting WOJG, and had  been  presented  a
bar to wear while in that position until his appointment was approved.

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is  at  Exhibit
A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s records apparently  were  destroyed  by  the  National
Personnel Records Center 1973  fire.  The  following  information  was
extracted from documents he provided for his reconstituted record.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 24 Sep 42. He departed the US  on
26 Nov 44 and remained overseas until his return on 3 Jan 46.

The applicant was assigned as an airplane  maintenance  technician  to
the 345th Airdrome Squadron, which was  attached  to  the  2nd  Combat
Cargo and Evacuation Group in India and Burma and  later  to  the  1st
Combat and Evacuation Group in China.

A 14 Apr 45 memo from the 345th Airdrome Squadron engineering  officer
to the commanding officer advised that the applicant  was  technically
qualified for appointment as a Warrant Officer.

Personnel orders from the 345th Airdrome Squadron, dated  15  Aug  45,
reflect the applicant was acting in the position of WOJG.  A  squadron
memo dated 15 Aug 45 indicated he had completed 30 round trip missions
over  the  Himalayan  Mountains,  to  and  from  Military  Front  Line
Spearheads (Mandolay and Rangoon), dropping in cargo, ammunition, food
and supplies and returning with 30 litters of wounded for  each  trip.
The memo recommended the applicant for a field appointment and advised
that the field commander had presented him with a  WOJG  bar  to  wear
while acting in this position  in  the  field  until  his  appointment
“comes through channels from Washington DC.”

He was honorably discharged in the grade of staff sergeant  on  16 Jan
46.  He had 3 years, 3 months and 23 days of active service.

The applicant later enlisted in the Air Force Reserve on 13 Apr 48 and
was discharged in the grade of staff sergeant in Apr 51.

He apparently continued his career in  civilian  Federal  service  and
retired on 2 Mar 75 due to heart disease.
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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ  AFPC/DPPAOO  is  unable  to  determine  whether  the   appropriate
documentation was submitted by the applicant’s  commander  or  whether
higher channels approved the appointment to WOJG.  According  to  Army
Regulation 610-15 [provided at Exhibit C] in effect  when  he  was  on
active duty,  temporary  warrant  officers,  junior  grade,  would  be
appointed only by the  Adjutant  General  or  by  commanders  to  whom
appointing authority is specifically delegated by the  War  Department
for filling of authorized vacancies within units or  activities  under
their control. The applicant was discharged from active duty in Jan 46
and from the Reserves in Apr 51 in the grade of staff sergeant  rather
than as a WOJG.  Although there is  documentation  reflecting  he  was
recommended for WOJG appointment, there  is  nothing  to  support  the
appointment  was  approved.  Denial  is  recommended.   If  the  Board
approves relief, his record should reflect he was  appointed  to  WOJG
and was discharged in that grade on 16 Jan 46.
A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air  Force  evaluation  was  forwarded  to  the
applicant on 28 Jun 02 for review and comment within 30 days.   As  of
this date, this office has received no response.

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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 error or injustice. After a thorough  review  of  the
evidence  of  record  and  the  applicant’s  submission,  we  are  not
persuaded that he should be appointed to WOJG.  We note the  applicant
did serve in the  position  of  acting  WOJG  and  he  apparently  was
qualified and recommended  for  a  field  appointment.   However,  the
submitted  documentation  does  not  establish  the  appointment   was
actually approved. In this regard, the applicant’s  separation  papers
reflect that he was discharged in the grade  of  staff  sergeant  from
both the Army Air Corps and the Air Force Reserves. We therefore agree
with the recommendations of the Air  Force  and  adopt  the  rationale
expressed as the basis for our decision that the applicant has  failed
to sustain his burden  of  having  suffered  either  an  error  or  an
injustice. In view of the above and absent persuasive evidence to  the
contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief
sought. However, our decision should in  no  way  be  construed  as  a
diminishment of the applicant’s significant contributions during WWII.
His achievements and personal sacrifice in defending his country in  a
time of peril are unquestionable.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The  applicant  be  notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not
demonstrate the existence of 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 22 August 2002 under the provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

                       Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Panel Chair
                       Mr. Laurence M. Groner, Member
                       Mr. George Franklin, Member

The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number 02-
00980 was considered:

  Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 10 Mar 02, w/atchs.
  Exhibit B.  Applicant's Reconstructed Master Personnel Records.
  Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPAOO, dated 20 Jun 02, w/atch.
  Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Jun 02.




                                   RICHARD A. PETERSON
                                   Panel Chair