RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2004-01538
INDEX NUMBER: 107.00
XXXXXXX COUNSEL: NONE
XXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
_________________________________________________________________
THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He completed a total of 25 combat missions, rather than 23 combat missions.
At the time of his separation, he was discharged to Jackson County,
Michigan.
In support of the appeal, applicant submits a spreadsheet regarding the 25
combat missions his aircrew flew. The information was taken from the
handwritten notebook of the aircraft’s radio operator.
Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
Applicant’s records were destroyed by fire at the National Personnel
Records Center on 12 July 1973. Therefore, the following information has
been extracted from the documentation provided by applicant.
Applicant is a former member of the Army Air Corps who served in the
European Theatre of Operation from 12 November 1944 to 1 June 1945, as a B-
29, aerial gunner (nose turret). The WD AGO Form 100, Separation
Qualification Record, issued in conjunction with his 15 October 1945
separation, indicates that he completed a total of 23 combat missions. He
participated in the Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes battles and
campaigns. He was awarded the AM, with three Oak Leaf Clusters (OLCs).
The DFC was established by Congress on 2 July 1926 and is awarded for
heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.
The performance of the act of heroism must be evidenced by voluntary action
above and beyond the call of duty.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPPPR recommends the applicant’s request for award of the DFC be
denied and states, in part, that in 1946 the “score card” method of
awarding DFCs and AMs was discontinued. In addition, the timeline for
submitting decorations is two years, unless someone in the member’s chain
of command who has firsthand knowledge of the acts or achievements makes
the recommendation, and the recommendation is submitted through a member of
Congress.
The AFPC/DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit B.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicant states that when his discharge address was corrected, it was
erroneously corrected to reflect Hinds County, rather than Jackson County.
In regards to the DFC, since he completed his 25 combat missions from 1944
to 1945, prior to the 1946 change in policy, he is entitled to the DFC.
Applicant’s complete response, with attachment, is at Exhibit D.
_________________________________________________________________
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 DFC. After a
thorough review of the evidence of record and applicant’s submission, we
are not persuaded that relief should be granted. Applicant’s records were
destroyed by fire in 1973, at the National Personnel Records Center. The
documentation provided by applicant indicates that he served in the Army
Air Corps in the European Theatre of Operation from 12 November 1944 to
1 June 1945, as a B-29, aerial gunner. Although applicant contends he
completed a total of 25 combat missions, the WD AGO Form 100, Separation
Qualification Record, issued in conjunction with his 15 October 1945
separation indicates that he completed a total of 23 combat missions.
Regardless, although the Eighth Air Force had an established policy from
1942 to 1944, whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of 25 heavy
bomber missions, in 1944, the total number of missions for award of a DFC
was increased from 25 to 35. The personal sacrifice applicant endured for
his country is noted and our decision in no way diminishes the high regard
we have for his service; however, in the absence of evidence that he
completed a total of 35 combat missions, we find no compelling basis to
recommend awarding him the DFC. Applicant also requested award of the Good
Conduct Medal (GCM); however, after reviewing the documentation provided,
AFPC/DPPRSP has administratively corrected his record to reflect award of
the GCM, with two Bronze Loops. Further, it appears that when
administratively correcting his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and
Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge, items 9 and 12, were erroneously
amended to reflect __----- County, Michigan, rather than ----- County,
Michigan. The appropriate office of the Air Force will administratively
correct items 9 and 12 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to reflect ----- County,
Michigan.
________________________________________________________________
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 Docket Number BC-2004-01538
in Executive Session on 17 August 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:
Mr. Roscoe Hinton, Jr., Panel Chair
Ms. Renee M. Collier, Member
Mrs. Barbara R. Murray, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 7 May 04, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 8 Jul 04, w/atchs.
Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Jul 04.
Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, dated 27 Jul 04, w/atch.
ROSCOE HINTON, JR.
Panel Chair
In support of the appeal, applicant submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 and a Letter of Recommendation, dated 29 May 1944, indicating that he completed a total of 25 combat missions and was awarded the DFC and AM, 3 OLC. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant states that at the time he completed a total of 25 combat missions a member would be awarded a DFC and upon completion of every five combat...
AF | BCMR | CY2005 | BC-2004-03794
In BC-2004-02294, the AFBCMR awarded a DFC to an applicant who had also completed more than the required ten missions as a lead navigator and an additional oak leaf cluster for completion of a tour of 32 combat missions. AFPC/DPPPR states, in part, that although the applicant’s records indicate that he completed a total of 35 combat missions and he has submitted a DFC recommendation signed by his former commander, in 1946, General “Hap” Arnold ordered theater commanders not to award the AM...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-00386
AFPC/DPPPR states, in part, that although the applicant’s records indicate that he completed a total of 35 combat missions and he has submitted a DFC recommendation signed by his former commander, in 1946, General “Hap” Arnold ordered theater commanders not to award the AM or DFC based solely on the number of combat missions completed, but rather for acts of heroism in combat flight or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Applicant’s records do not indicate he was...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2003-02015
_________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends the applicant’s request for award of the DFC and additional campaign credit for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal be denied. DPPPR recommends disapproval of the applicant’s request for award of the DFC for actions on 10 October 1944; additional campaign credit for the Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal; and, award of the Air Medal with fourth oak leaf cluster for the period 23...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | bc-2004-00787
Under the revised policy, the DFC could be awarded for acts of heroism in combat flight or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight (Exhibit C). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Counsel for applicant states, among other things, that the requested relief should be favorably considered based on the recommendation of the applicant’s former commanding officer and in view of the established...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-01874
_________________________________________________________________ THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Based on established Eighth Air Force policy of awarding a DFC upon the completion of 10 lead combat missions, based on his completion of 11 lead combat missions he should be awarded the DFC. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that on...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2011-04213
________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Although his father was recommended for the DFC, which was approved by the squadron through group levels, Fifth Air Force, did not act on the recommendation due to the wars closure. Although the applicant provides signed recommendation, he provides no proposed citation or evidence the recommendation was approved. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | bc-2004-02294
During the period in question, he was told by a major at base headquarters that upon returning stateside, he would receive the DFC for his completion of a tour of 32 combat missions and an oak leaf cluster to the DFC for his completion of 14 lead missions. Under the revised policy, the DFC could be awarded for acts of heroism in combat flight or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. In view of this statement, and given the total number of missions the applicant...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-00644
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2004-00644 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: YES _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Purple Heart (PH) Medal. There is no evidence in his records of a recommendation for award of the DFC. Military Personnel Record Exhibit C. Letter,...
AF | BCMR | CY2007 | BC-2007-00420
_________________________________________________________________ THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: In view of his completion of a total of 37 combat missions and based on the Eighth Air Force established policy of awarding an AM upon the completion of every five heavy bomber missions and awarding a DFC upon the completion of 35 combat missions, he should be awarded the DFC and an additional AM. In view of the above, and since the applicant never received a DFC for his completion of a combat...