RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-03677
            INDEX CODE:  107.00
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her father’s records be corrected to show he was  awarded  the  Bronze
Star Medal.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The letter recommending award of the Bronze Star Medal  was  completed
shortly after D-Day, but the paper work was  never  processed,  or  in
time, for the award to be issued prior to demobilization.

In support of her  request,  the  applicant  submits  a  copy  of  the
member’s Honorable Discharge Certificate, a copy of WG AFO Form 53-55,
Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge, a  copy
of a letter for Recommendation for the Bronze Star Medal,  a  copy  of
his Certificate of Death, and copies of background information.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The former member’s military personnel records were destroyed by  fire
in 1973.  The available records reflect the  member  enlisted  in  the
Army Air Corps on 16 June 1942,  and  separated  on  15 October  1945.
Member’s records show he served during World War II, with  a  tour  in
Scotland from 8 February 1944 to  26  September  1945.   He  served  3
years, 8 month and 16 days of active military service.

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty,
reflects award of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the  Distinguished
Unit Badge, and the European African  Middle  Eastern  Service  Medal,
with 6 Bronze Service Stars.  On 29 January 2004, his DD Form 214  was
administratively corrected to reflect award of the Distinguished  Unit
Citation w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the American Campaign  Medal,  and  the
World War II Victory Medal.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for  award
of the Bronze Star Medal.  The applicant was informed that  there  was
no indication in her father’s records that the proposed recommendation
she provided  had  been  submitted  into  official  channels  or  even
prepared.  The document provided by the applicant was  a  request  for
consideration,  not  a   recommendation   package.    Therefore,   his
eligibility for award of the Bronze Star Medal cannot be verified.

The DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant states that there is  some  information  not  previously
submitted.  It is unknown whether there was  additional  paperwork  in
her father’s records, since they were destroyed by fire in 1973 at the
records center.  The applicant’s father told  her  son  what  happened
prior to giving him the letter of  recommendation  for  award  of  the
Bronze Star Medal  along  with  all  of  his  decorations,  and  saved
paperwork shortly before he died.   Captain__________told  her  father
that once the process of going home was initiated, the  paperwork  for
award issuance wouldn’t go through in time because of  delays  due  to
the ongoing war.  So, Captain__________handed him the letter and  told
him to hold on to it.  Whether or not that was good advice  or  proper
procedure  at  the  time  is  a  moot  point  now.   Clearly,  Captain
_________thought highly enough of his efforts that he sat down shortly
after D-Day  and  crafted  up  a  letter  with  the  sole  purpose  of
recognizing one of his men, because he believed  that  her  father  is
deserving of some  official  recognition  for  his  untiring  efforts.
Clearly one major contribution had already been formally submitted and
approved  as  indicated  in  the  letter  by  Captain__________.   Her
father’s modification of the M-6 Gun Mount was approved by  IX  Bomber
Command.  This plainly indicates that contact up the chain of  command
had already been initiated.  This contribution and the multiple  other
contributions were not trivial.  The value of these  contributions  at
any point in time, let alone during perhaps the most important  battle
in American history, would clearly not have  gone  unrecognized.   The
award criteria in place at the time bear  witness  to  his  statement.
The Air Force clearly benefited and even  implemented  key  electrical
and safety modifications developed by her father, but are now 60 years
later, apparently not recognizing the fact  that  these  contributions
are worthy of some  form  of  recognition  because  of  the  paperwork
problems that occurred during WWII.

Her complete submission 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.    Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the existence of error or injustice to  warrant  awarding  the  Bronze
Star Medal (BSM).  In this respect, we note the  BSM  is  awarded  for
heroism,  meritorious   achievement,   or   service,   not   involving
participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations
against an armed enemy.  In support  of  her  request  that  her  late
father’s records be corrected to show that he was awarded the BSM, she
submits an unsigned, proposed BSM recommendation, dated 18 July  1944.
The personal sacrifice the applicant’s father endured for his  country
is noted and our decision in no way diminishes the high regard we have
for his service; however, insufficient documentary evidence  has  been
presented to demonstrate he met the criteria  for  the  BSM.   In  the
absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis  upon  which  to
warrant awarding the BSM.

4.    Notwithstanding  the  above,  we  do  find  sufficient  relevant
evidence to warrant awarding  the  Army  Commendation  Medal.   During
World War II, the member served  as  a  Power  Turret  and  Gun  Sight
Mechanic, with the 495th Bombardment Squadron, during which time,  his
serviced aircraft completed 60 combat  missions  without  an  armament
malfunction.  In  addition,  based  on  his  suggestions,  significant
safety modifications were made to the M-6 Gun Mount electrical  system
and he  ingeniously  improvised  an  electrical  bomb  hoist  from  an
electric turret motor which expedited the bomb  loading  of  aircraft.
In view of his meritorious service during the period 8  February  1944
through 26 September 1945, 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 on 1 October  1945  he
was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service during
the period 8 February 1944 through 26 September 1945.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered Docket  Number  BC-2003-
03677 in Executive Session on 30 March 2004, under the  provisions  of
AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Frederick R. Beaman III, Panel Chair
                 Mr. Michael J. Maglio, Member
                 Ms. Martha J. Evans, Member

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

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 25 Oct 03, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Fire Related Documents.
      Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 28 Jan 04, w/atchs.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Feb 04.
      Exhibit E  Letter, Applicant, dated 14 Jan 2003.





      FREDERICK R. BEAMAN III
      Panel Chair


AFBCMR BC-2003-03677



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 on 1 October 1945,  he  was
awarded the Army Commendation  Medal  for  meritorious  service  during  the
period 8 February 1944 through 26 September 1945.









  JOE G. LINEBERGER

  Director

  Air Force Review Boards Agency