ADDENDUM TO
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2002-01531
INDEX CODE: 100.00
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
In the applicant’s request for reconsideration, he requests he be given
credit for two enemy aircraft shot down on 1 January 1945.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
In an application to the Board dated 15 April 2002, the applicant requested
he be given credit for two enemy aircraft shot down on 1 January 1945. On
20 June 2002, the Board considered and denied the applicant’s request. A
complete copy of the Record of Proceedings (ROP) is at Exhibit K.
On 26 April 2004, the president of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society
submitted a letter in behalf of the applicant for reconsideration. He
states members of the Board of Directors of the Eighth Air Force Historical
Society have reviewed the records of the applicant’s efforts to establish
credit for the destruction of an enemy aircraft, an ME-109 German fighter,
during a historic air battle at Asch, Belgium on 1 January 1945. They are
distressed to conclude the Air Force Board for Correction of Military
Records (AFBCMR) have treated the applicant’s request with what appears to
be rather cavalier interest. This event is one of the most important
moments in the applicant’s life, a feat of battle that has been documented
in Army Air Force orders and countless histories of World War II air
battles, the engagement of the 487th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter
Group in Belgium on 1 January 1945. The applicant has their respect and
they believe he is worthy of a credible response to his request from the
Board. They support his effort to receive credit for a fourth aerial
victory on 1 January 1945 (Exhibit L).
_________________________________________________________________
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE BOARD:
After again reviewing this application and the evidence provided in support
of the appeal for reconsideration, we are again not persuaded that the
applicant has been the victim of either an error or an injustice. As noted
in our original decision, the Eighth Air Force and the IX Tactical Air
Force Aerial Victory Credit Boards reviewed the events of that day, and
based upon official intelligence and operational reports, determined what
credits would be awarded to the various pilots involved in the encounter.
As a result, the applicant was awarded a total of three aerial victory
credits. In view of this finding, we again conclude the applicant has not
been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, in the absence of
evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting
the relief sought.
_________________________________________________________________
DECISION OF THE BOARD:
The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate
the existence of an 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 BC-2002-
01531 in Executive Session on 28 June 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:
Mr. Jackson A. Hauslein, Jr., Panel Chair
Mr. James W. Russell III, Member
Mr. John E. B. Smith, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit K. Record of Proceedings, dated 18 November 2002
w/atchs.
Exhibit L. Letter, Eight Air Force Historical Society,
dated 14 October 2003, w/atchs.
JACKSON A. HAUSLEIN
Panel Chair
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