RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-02502
                       INDEX CODE:  107.00
      APPLICANT  COUNSEL:  None

      SSN        HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Air Medal (AM).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was a flight engineer for the 74th Bombardment  Squadron  (BS)  and
flew over 200 hours  of  combat  patrol.   The  AM  was  made  to  all
crewmembers that had flown at least 200 hours of combat  patrol  time.
The award was awarded in June 1943 to the 74th BS.

Applicant's complete submission,  with  attachments,  is  attached  at
Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant  served on  active duty in the Army  Air  Corps  from  4
August 1939  through  2  September  1945  and  received  an  honorable
discharge.

Applicant's military personnel records were destroyed by the 1973 fire
at the National Personnel  Records  Center;  therefore,  only  limited
information is available for review.

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AIR STAFF EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR states the applicant was requested to  provide  official
documentation in support of his request.  The  applicant  submitted  a
copy of his Report of Separation and a history of the 74th Bombardment
Squadron.   The  applicant  did  not  provide   any   other   official
documentation regarding  his  military  service.   The  applicant  was
informed on 21 November 2002 that the documentation he  submitted  was
not sufficient to substantiate his request.  The  applicant  was  also
informed that a written  recommendation  would  have  been  submitted,
recommending him for the AM.  He did  not  respond.   The  applicant’s
Report of Separation shows the applicant was an  Airplane  Maintenance
Technician and assigned to the 52nd BS.  Without verification that the
applicant was a flight engineer, assigned to the 74th BS and flew over
200 hours of combat patrol, and a if a written recommendation had been
submitted to award him the AM, we cannot verify  his  eligibility  for
award.

DPPR recommends disapproval of the applicant’s request.

A complete copy of the Air Staff evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR STAFF EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air  Force  evaluation  was  forwarded  to  the
applicant on 10 January 2003, for review and  response.   As  of  this
date, no response has been received by this office.

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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 of timely file.

3.    Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the  existence  of  error  or  injustice.   We  took  notice  of   the
applicant's complete submission in judging the  merits  of  the  case;
however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force
and adopt their rationale as the  basis  for  our  decision  that  the
applicant has failed to sustain his burden that he has suffered either
an error or an injustice.  The applicant requests he be awarded the AM
because he was member of the 74th Bombardment Squadron  serving  as  a
flight  engineer  and  flew  over  200   hours   of   combat   patrol.
Unfortunately,  the  applicant’s  personnel  records  were  apparently
destroyed in the 1973 fire at the NPRC.  Therefore, AFPC requested the
applicant provide a copy of his Report of  Separation  and  any  other
documents to substantiate his  request  for  award  of  the  AM.   The
applicant submitted a copy of his Report of Separation and  a  history
of the 74th Bombardment Squadron  and  other  units  assigned  in  the
Panama Canal Zone.  The Report of Separation  the  applicant  provided
indicates that he arrived in the Canal Zone on 18 September  1939  and
departed on 22 February 1943.  The Report of Separation also indicates
the applicant received a Good Conduct Medal in 1943 while assigned  to
the HQ 52nd Bomb Squadron, presumably for his service  while  assigned
in the Canal Zone.   The  Report  of  Separation  also  indicates  the
applicant served as an aircraft maintenance technician.   The  history
of the 74th Bombardment Squadron indicating that the AM was awarded to
all crewmembers who had flown at least 200 hours of combat patrol time
is duly noted.  However, the applicant  has  not  provided  persuasive
evidence that he was a crewmember with the 74th  Bombardment  Squadron
who flew at least 200  hours  of  combat  patrol  time.   Further,  he
provides no documentation reflecting a written recommendation for  the
AM.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no
compelling basis to recommend  granting  the  relief  sought  in  this
application.  We wish to point out that our decision in no way  should
be  construed  as  a  diminishment  of  the  applicant’s   significant
contributions during World War  II.   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 AFBCMR Docket Number 02-
02502 in Executive Session on 11 February 2003, under  the  provisions
of AFI 36-2603:

                       Mr. David C. Van Gasbeck, Panel Chair
                       Ms. Brenda L. Romine, Member
                       Mr. Billy C. Baxter, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 Aug 02, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 30 Dec 02.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Jan 03.




                             DAVID C. VAN GASBECK
                             Panel Chair