RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-01534

            INDEX CODE:  107.00


            COUNSEL:  NONE


            HEARING DESIRED:  YES

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded seven (7) Air Medals; i.e., an Air  Medal  with  six  (6)  Oak
Leaf Clusters (OLCs).
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

In addition to serving as the Lead Navigator, he was also appointed  as  the
awards officer of the Numbered Bomb Squadron.   He  was  instructed  by  his
commander to award an Air Medal for every five (5) missions flown.  He  flew
35 missions during World War II; therefore, he should have seven (7)  medals
or clusters.

In support of  his  request,  applicant  submits  a  personal  statement,  a
Certificate of Valor and additional documents  associated  with  the  issues
cited  in  his  contentions.   The  applicant’s  complete  submission,  with
attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s Military Record and Report of Separation, WG  AGO  Form  53-
99, reflects that, as a member of the Army of the United  States  Air  Corps
(AUS AC), he entered active duty, in the grade of second  lieutenant  on  26
February 1944.  The applicant  was  assigned  to  the  European  Theater  of
Operations (ETO) during the period 8 August 1944 - 6 May 1945.  He  received
the following awards:  Air Medal (AM), with three Oak Leaf  Clusters  (OLCs)
and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).  In 1997, the applicant’s  records
were administratively corrected to reflect award of the AM with  four  OLCs,
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal,  with  one  Silver  and  two
Bronze Service Stars, World War II Victory Medal, American  Campaign  Medal,
Presidential Unit Citation and the Good Conduct Medal.   The  applicant  was
relieved from active duty in the grade of captain on 13  November  1945  for
the convenience of the government (demobilization).   At  the  time  of  his
separation, he had completed a total of 11 months and 4 days of  continental
service and 9 months and 14 days of foreign service.

Applicant’s Separation  Qualification  Record,  WG  AGO  Form  100,  reveals
credit for completion of 35 combat missions  while  serving  overseas  as  a
navigator on Liberator B-24.
_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied.  DPPPR states  that  the
applicant’s records show that he completed 35 combat flight  missions  while
stationed overseas.  However, during the period he  was  there,  Air  Medals
were no longer automatically awarded for a specific number  of  flights.   A
written recommendation had to be submitted, through administrative  channels
to the 15th Air Force for final approval.  The applicant has been  informed,
through  his  congressional  representative,  that  a  written  and   signed
recommendation should be submitted for any  additional  awards  of  the  Air
Medal.

DPPPR states that, in 1945, an inquiry was made on behalf of  the  applicant
regarding his entitlement to the third and fourth oak leaf clusters  to  the
Air Medal.  This letter was found with a copy  of  each  order/citation  for
the applicant’s Air Medals and Distinguished  Flying  Cross.   None  of  the
applicant’s Air Medals were awarded for a specified number of combat  flight
missions; they were awarded by the 15th Air  Force  for  specific  dates  as
follows:

      -  Basic Air Medal (AM), awarded for the period  17 August-3 September
1944, by General Order (GO) 2789, dated 3 October 1944.

      -  First  Oak  Leaf  Cluster/Air  Medal,  awarded  for  the  period  6
September-4 November 1944, by GO 4584, dated 20 November 1944.

      -  Second Oak  Leaf  Cluster/Air  Medal,  awarded  for  the  period  6
November-25 December 1944, by GO 47, dated 3 January 1945.

      -  Third Oak Leaf Cluster/Air Medal, awarded for 1 March 1945,  by  GO
2269, dated 11 April 1945.

       -  Fourth  Oak  Leaf  Cluster/Air  Medal,  awarded  for  the   period
4 January-11 April 1945, by GO 3090, dated 7 May 1945.

      -  Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for  6  November  1944,  by  GO
5007, dated 15 December 1944.

Each Air Medal was awarded for a  specific  period  of  time,  covering  his
entire tour of duty in Europe.  Since each was presented to  the  applicant,
the citation for each would have been read aloud at  the  time.   Therefore,
the applicant’s contention that the Air Medal was  awarded  for  every  five
combat flight missions cannot  be  considered  valid.   DPPPR  believes  the
applicant received the proper recognition for his aerial achievements  while
he  was  still  on  active  duty.   The  HQ  AFPC/DPPPR   evaluation,   with
attachments, is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

He stated that he was awarded several medals in 1944 and 1945, but  did  not
receive them until 1997.  He did not ask for the  medals  or  clusters,  but
simply a letter that he had earned seven clusters for seven combat  missions
since he was the lead.  He has questioned a number  of  veterans  and  every
one confirmed the fact that they had received an Air Medal  for  flying  six
or more missions to earn the proper award.

An additional letter to the advisory writer was provided in which he  states
that he is now being instructed by more  than  one  office  to  correct  his
award of only four Air Medals, when the position in World War II called  for
five Air Medals or clusters for every five combat missions.  No form,  other
than oral was ever given to him for  an  Air  Medal  for  each  five  combat
missions.  He has been making a  survey  of  flyers  in  other  outfits  and
organizations and everyone confirms that he is right.  There  were  few  men
who matched his record in leading 35 combat missions during a horrible  war.
 He is not asking for money, or for fancy medals, simple for a  letter  that
will confirm that he is entitled to seven medals  or  clusters  for  his  35
combat missions.

In support of the applicant’s request, he has  submitted  a  letter  from  a
former bombardier and additional documents associated with the issues  cited
in his contentions.  The applicant’s complete submission, with  attachments,
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 error or injustice.  The Board  majority  noted  that,  in  the
capacity  as  squadron  navigator,  the  applicant  was  charged  with   the
responsibility of leading group  and  wing  formations  to  and  from  enemy
targets, which was some of the most dangerous  missions  of  the  war.   The
evidence of record also indicates that, as navigator on the  B-24  Liberator
Bomber over Germany, he was  credited  with  the  completion  of  35  combat
missions.  In support of the applicant’s contention that award  of  the  Air
Medal was determined by the number of combat missions,  he  has  provided  a
statement from a former bombardier who  flew  on  25  combat  missions  over
Germany and confirms the applicant’s claim.  Even though the  applicant  has
not substantiated that he was ever recommended for award of  the  Fifth  and
Sixth Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal, after a  thorough  review  of  his
submission, the Board majority is persuaded  that  the  applicant’s  request
should be approved based on the type and number of combat missions  he  flew
during the war.  In view of  the  foregoing  and  in  order  to  offset  any
possibility of an injustice, the Board majority is  convinced  that  he  was
deserving  of  the  requested  awards.   Therefore,   the   Board   majority
recommends the applicant’s records be corrected as 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  in  addition  to  the  Air  Medals
previously awarded, based on  his  completion  of  35  combat  missions  and
meritorious achievement while participating in aerial  flights  against  the
enemy in the European Theater of Operations, he was also awarded  the  Fifth
and Sixth Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal.
_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 14 August 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                  Mr. Joseph A. Roj, Panel Chair
                  Mr. Christopher Carey, Member
              Mr. Michael K. Gallogly, Member

By a majority vote, the Board recommended  granting  the  relief  sought  in
this application.  Mr. Roj voted to deny the  applicant's  request  but  did
not desire to submit a minority report.  The following documentary  evidence
was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2003-01534.

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 28 Apr 03, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 5 Jun 03, w/atchs.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Jun 03.
   Exhibit E.  Letters from Applicant, dated 18 Jun 03, w/atchs,
                   and 23 Jun 03.




                                   JOSEPH A. ROJ
                                   Panel Chair



AFBCMR BC-2003-01534




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 in addition to the Air
Medals previously awarded, based on his completion of 35 combat missions
and meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flights against
the enemy in the European Theater of Operations, he was also awarded the
Fifth and Sixth Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal.





            JOE G. LINEBERGER
                                        Director
                                        Air Force Review Boards Agency