RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2005-00543
            INDEX NUMBER: 107.00

      XXXXXXX    COUNSEL:  ROBERT L. ASTON

      XXXXXXX    HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  20 Aug 06

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded two additional oak leaf clusters to the Air Medal (AM).

_________________________________________________________________

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Based on the Eighth Air Force established policy of awarding an AM upon  the
completion of every five heavy bomber missions, he was awarded  the  AM  and
three oak leaf clusters for flying his first 20 combat missions.  Due  to  a
clerical error, he never received two additional oak leaf clusters  for  his
21st through 30th missions.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits  a  statement  from  the  former
506th Bomb Squadron Commander recommending him for award of  two  additional
AMs, and a list of his combat missions.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s records were destroyed by  fire  in  1973  at  the  National
Personnel Records Center.  Therefore, the  following  information  has  been
extracted from the documentation provided  by  applicant  and  reconstructed
records.

The applicant is a former member of the Army Air Corps who served on  active
duty from 16 September 1942 to 17 September  1945,  as  a  B-24,  Liberator,
aerial gunner.

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

During World War II, the Eighth Air Force had an established policy  whereby
an AM was awarded upon the completion of every five heavy bomber missions.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied, and states, in  part,  that
in 1943, 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.   Although  applicant  has  provided
documentation indicating he completed 30 combat missions, due  to  the  fact
that there is no military record, they are unable  to  verify  that  he  was
ever recommended for two additional AMs.

The AFPC/DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit B.

_________________________________________________________________

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  Eighth
Air Force  policy  in  effect  during  the  period  in  question.   Further,
previous evaluations refer to General Arnold’s 1946 memorandum, rather  than
1943 memorandum.  Counsel cites the Board’s  favorable  consideration  of  a
similar request (AFBCMR BC-2000-03359).

Counsel’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.  Sufficient relevant evidence  has  been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of probable error or injustice warranting award of two  additional
oak leaf clusters to the  AM.   In  this  respect,  we  note  the  applicant
completed a total of 30 combat missions while assigned  to  the  Eighth  Air
Force as a B-24 aerial gunner.  We  also  note  that  during  the  contested
period, Eighth Air Force  had  an  established  policy  whereby  an  AM  was
awarded upon the completion of every five heavy  bombardment  missions.   In
support of the appeal, the applicant has provided a recommendation from  his
former commanding officer.  In view of this, and given the total  number  of
missions the applicant completed,  we  believe  he  should  be  awarded  two
additional AMs.  Therefore, 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 6 June 1944, he was awarded the Air Medal,  Fourth  Oak  Leaf
Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as  an  aerial  gunner
on  B-24  airplanes  on  many  bombardment  missions  over  enemy   occupied
Continental Europe.

      b.    On 21 June 1944, he was awarded the Air Medal,  Fifth  Oak  Leaf
Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as  an  aerial  gunner
on  B-24  airplanes  on  many  bombardment  missions  over  enemy   occupied
Continental Europe.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered  Docket  Number  BC-2005-00543
in Executive  Session  on  26  May  2005  and  18  August  2005,  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                       Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
                       Ms. Renee M. Collier, Member
                       Ms. Kathy L. Boockholdt, Member

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 11 Feb 05, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 8 Apr 05.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 15 Apr 05.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, Counsel, dated 21 Apr 05, w/atch.




                                  THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                  Chair

AFBCMR BC-2005-00543




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:

      a.    On 6 June 1944, he was awarded the Air Medal, Fourth Oak Leaf
Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as an aerial gunner
on B-24 airplanes on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied
Continental Europe.

      b.    On 21 June 1944, he was awarded the Air Medal, Fifth Oak Leaf
Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as an aerial gunner
on B-24 airplanes on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied
Continental Europe.










JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency