RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-02556

            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and his  Air  Medal
(AM) be updated to reflect 28 missions flown during World War II.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Due to being shot down,  the  service  failed  to  update  his  flying
records to reflect 28 missions  flown  and  he  was  put  in  for  the
Distinguished Flying Cross in May 1944 but never received it.

In support of  his  appeal,  the  applicant  submits  a  copy  of  his
discharge and a copy of the Request for Decoration and/or Citation.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Apparently, the applicant’s records at the National Personnel  Records
Center in St. Louis were destroyed by  the  1973  fire.  However,  the
information provided by  the  applicant  and  the  office  of  primary
responsibility included  an  Honorable  Discharge  Certificate,  which
indicated he was assigned to  the  401st  Bombardment  Group  and  was
discharged in the grade of technical sergeant  on   21  October  1945.
His Report of Separation reflects the award of  the  European-African-
Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Good Conduct
Medal, and the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.  His  records  were
also corrected to reflect  the  award  of  Purple  Heart,  POW  Medal,
American  Campaign  Medal,  World  War  II  Victory  Medal,  and   the
Distinguished Unit Citation with 1 Oak Leaf Custer.

_________________________________________________________________



AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR  recommended  denial.   DPPPR  states  that  there  is   no
indication in the applicant’s reconstructed National Personnel Records
Center (NPRC) folder that he was ever recommended for the award of the
DFC or additional AMs and he did  not  provide  any  documentation  to
substantiate  his  claim  of  additional  decorations.   Without   any
documentation showing he was recommended for the DFC or an  additional
AM, DPPPR cannot verify his eligibility for award of  the  DFC  or  an
additional AM.

AFPC/DPPPR evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the Air Force evaluation and stated the  he  is
attempting to get his records corrected  and  get  the  award  of  the
Distinguished Flying Cross and any additional Air  Medals  authorized.
He has exhausted all other avenues of offices that should be  able  to
provide the data and award the decorations.  He has attached documents
from his former navigator on the crew of the flight he was  on  before
being shot down  and  captured  by  the  enemy.   He  asks  to  please
reconsider this decision and award him the decorations he has earned.

Applicant’s complete response is 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 an error or injustice warranting the award of the Air
Medal, Fourth Oak Leaf Cluster and  the  Distinguished  Flying  Cross.
After carefully reviewing this application, we are  persuaded  by  the
applicant's assertions  concerning  his  accomplishments  as  a  radio
operator, mechanic and gunner in a B-17 bomber and  the  documentation
provided that it is possible he did complete 28 combat missions  while
serving in the  European  Theater  Operations  from  9  November  1943
through 27 May 1944.  In view of the foregoing and in  recognition  of
his service to the Nation, it is our opinion that any doubt should  be
resovled in  the  applicant's  favor.   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:

         a.  On 27 May 1944, he was awarded the Air Medal, Fourth  Oak
Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a  Radio
Operator, Mechanic, and Gunner on B-17 airplanes on  many  bombardment
missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.

         b.  On 30 May 1944, he was awarded the  Distinguished  Flying
Cross  for  extraordinary  achievement,  while  serving  as  a   Radio
Operator, Mechanic and Gunner on B-17 airplanes  on  many  bombardment
missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered Docket  Number  02-02556
in Executive Session on 15 January 2003, under the provisions  of  AFI
36-2603:

            Mr. Michael K. Gallogly, Panel Chair
            Ms. Brenda L. Romine, Member
            Mr. Billy C. Baxter, Member

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

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 15 July 2002, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Fire Related Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR dated 29 October 2002,w/atch.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 8 Nov 02.
      Exhibit E. Applicant's Response, dated 17 Dec 02, w/atchs.




                                   MICHEAL K. GALLOGLY
                                   Panel Chair

AFBCMR 02-02556




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 xxxxxxxxxxxxx, be corrected to show that:

                  a.  On 27 May 1944, he was awarded the Air  Medal,  Fourth
Oak Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving  as  a  Radio
Operator,  Mechanic  and  Gunner  on  B-17  airplanes  on  many  bombardment
missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.

                 b.  On 30 May 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a Radio
Operator, Mechanic and Gunner on B-17 airplanes on many bombardment
missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.





      JOE G. LINEBERGER
      Director
      Air Force Review Boards Agency