RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2004-02294
            INDEX NUMBER: 107.00

      XXXXXXX    COUNSEL:  ROBERT L. ASTON

      XXXXXXX    HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Distinguished Flying  Cross  (DFC),  the  First  Oak  Leaf
Cluster to the DFC (DFC, 1 OLC), and the Fifth Oak Leaf Cluster to  the  Air
Medal (AM, 5 OLC).

_________________________________________________________________

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The Eighth Air Force had a policy of awarding a DFC upon the  completion  of
a tour of combat missions or the completion of 10 to 12 lead  missions,  and
AMs upon the completion of every 5 combat missions.  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.  However, due to a clerical  error,  he  never  received  the
decorations.  In 1945, he inquired regarding the  promised  decorations  and
was told they would be the subject of  another  communication;  however,  he
received no further correspondence.  He also never received the AM,  5  OLC,
for his completion of his last five missions.

In support of the appeal,  applicant  submits  statements  from  his  former
commander  of  the  44th  Bombardment  Group  recommending   him   for   the
decorations, and a list of his combat missions.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a former member of the Army Air Corps  who  served  in  the
European Theatre of Operation from 24 May 1944 to 29 November 1944 as  a  B-
24, Liberator, navigator.  He completed a total of 32  combat  missions  and
14 lead combat missions.  He was awarded the Air Medal, with Four  Oak  Leaf
Clusters (AM, 4 OLC).

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.

The AM is awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement while  participating
in aerial flight.

During World War II, the 8th Air Force had an established policy  whereby  a
DFC was awarded upon the completion of tour of combat duty, and  an  AM  was
awarded upon the completion of every five heavy bomber missions.   In  1942,
the length of a tour was the completion of 25  combat  missions.   In  1944,
the tour length was increased to 35  combat  missions,  and  the  number  of
combat missions required for award of an  additional  AM  was  increased  to
six.  In 1946, the policy of awarding the DFC and AM  based  solely  on  the
number of missions completed was discontinued.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be considered  on  its  merits  and  a
conclusive decision be rendered by the Board.  AFPC/DPPPR states,  in  part,
that there is no indication in his  records  that  he  was  recommended  for
award of the DFC; DFC, 1 OLC; and AM, 5 OLC while on  active  duty.   On  14
August  1946,  General  “Hap”  Arnold  sent  a  memorandum  to  all  Theater
Commanders which revised the  policy  for  award  of  the  DFC.   Under  the
revised policy, the DFC could be awarded  for  acts  of  heroism  in  combat
flight or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.

The AFPC/DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit B.

_________________________________________________________________

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 probable error or injustice.  In  this  respect,  we  note  the
applicant completed a tour of 32 combat missions and was lead  navigator  on
14 missions while assigned to the Eighth Air Force as a B-24 navigator.   We
also note that  during  the  contested  period,  Eighth  Air  Force  had  an
established policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of  a  tour
of duty and an AM was awarded upon  the  completion  of  every  five  combat
missions.   In  support  of  the  appeal,   the   applicant   has   provided
recommendations from the former 44th Bombardment Group, who states  that  in
addition to the above policy, there was an established  policy  of  awarding
the DFC for completion  of  10  to  12  lead  missions.   In  view  of  this
statement, and given the total number of missions the  applicant  completed,
and the number of missions he completed as lead navigator, 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 29 November 1944, he was awarded the  Air  Medal,  Fifth  Oak
Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving  as  a  Navigator
on  B-24  airplanes  on  many  bombardment  missions  over  enemy   occupied
Continental Europe.

      b.    On 2 December 1944, he  was  awarded  the  Distinguished  Flying
Cross (DFC), for extraordinary achievement, while serving  as  a  Lead  Crew
Navigator on B-24 airplanes on fourteen  (14)  combat  missions  over  enemy
occupied Continental Europe.

      c.    On 10 December 1944, he was  awarded  the  Distinguished  Flying
Cross, First Oak Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while  serving
as a Navigator on B-24 airplanes on many  bombardment  missions  over  enemy
occupied Continental Europe.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered  Docket  Number  BC-2004-02294
in Executive Session on 30 August 2004 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:

                       Mr. Michael K. Gallogly, Panel Chair
                       Ms. Martha J. Evans, Member
                       Mr. James W. Russell, III, Member

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 16 Jul 04, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 26 Aug 04.




                                  MICHAEL K. GALLOGLY
                                  Panel Chair


AFBCMR BC-2004-02294




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 XXXXXXX, XXXXXXX, be corrected to show that:

            a.   On 29 November 1944, he was awarded the Air Medal, Fifth
Oak Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a
Navigator on B-24 airplanes on many bombardment missions over enemy
occupied Continental Europe.

            b.   On 2 December 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross (DFC), for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a Lead
Crew Navigator on B-24 airplanes on fourteen (14) combat missions over
enemy occupied Continental Europe.

            c.   On 10 December 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross, First Oak Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while
serving as a Navigator on B-24 airplanes on many bombardment missions over
enemy occupied Continental Europe.









JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency