RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2005-01569
INDEX CODE: 107.00
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX COUNSEL: NONE
XXXXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: NO
MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 14 November 06
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
_______________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He is entitled to the DFC because when he separated from the service, the
approval was pending for his request of the award.
In support of his application, the applicant provides a personal statement
and copies of his WG AGO Form 53, Military Record and Report of Separation;
Separation Qualification Record; Certificate of Service; and documents
associated with the award of the DFC. The applicant’s submission, with
attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
Applicant entered active duty as a commissioned officer on 15 April 1944
and was assigned to duty in the Army Air Corps in the grade of second
lieutenant. He performed duties as a Twin Engine Fighter Pilot. He was
honorably relieved from active duty on 28 March 1946, having served 1 year,
11 months and 14 days of total active military service, of which 11 months
and 20 days was foreign service. His separation document shows he
participated in the Philippine Islands, New Guinea, China Defensive, China
Offensive, and Air Defense Japan campaigns. He was awarded the Air Medal,
Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with six bronze stars, World War II Victory
Medal, American Theater Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with
two bronze stars and the Distinguished Unit Citation with four oak leaf
clusters.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial. DPPPR states the applicant’s official
military record contains a WD AGO Form 106, Request for Decoration and/or
Citation, for the Bronze Service Star and the DFC dated 20 February 1946;
however, the form is only signed by the applicant who stated he was
recommended for the DFC “For leading fighter planes over enemy territory.”
There is no evidence to show that the decoration recommendation had ever
been submitted through official channels or that the applicant was ever
awarded the DFC. The DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 17
June 2005, for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this
office has received no response.
_________________________________________________________________
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 error or injustice warranting the award of the DFC. In this
respect, we note that the former member, while assigned to the 49th Fighter
Group as a Pilot, flew aerial missions over enemy-occupied territory in the
Pacific Theater of Operations during the period 15 April 1944 through
28 March 1946. Additionally, we note the applicant’s record supports he
was submitted for award of the DFC on 20 February 1946; however, the
evidence of record does not confirm approval of the award. Nevertheless,
in view of the former member’s evident accomplishments and based on the
number of aerial flights he participated in during the period in question,
we believe that any doubt in this matter should be resolved in his favor.
Accordingly, we recommend that his records be corrected as 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, he was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement, while participating as a
fighter pilot on a P-38 aircraft in fighter missions against the enemy in
the Pacific Theater of Operations from 15 April 1944 through 28 March 1946.
_________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive
Session on 18 October 2005, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Ms. Charlene M. Bradley, Panel Chair
Mr. Richard K. Hartley, Member
Ms. Renee M. Collier, Member
All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following
documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2005-01569 was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 5 Jan 05, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 7 Jun 05.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Jun 05.
CHARLENE M. BRADLEY
Panel Chair
AFBCMR BC-2005-01569
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 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, be corrected to show that he was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement, while
participating as a fighter pilot on a P-38 aircraft in fighter missions
against the enemy in the Pacific Theater of Operations from 15 April 1944
through 28 March 1946.
JOE G. LINEBERGER
Director
Air Force Review Boards Agency
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 | CY2006 | BC-2005-02989
DPPPR states on 11 February 2006, the applicant’s package was forwarded to the approval authority, the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council (SAFPC) for consideration. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 Mar 06. CHARLENE M. BRADLEY Panel Chair AFBCMR BC-2005-02989 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...
AF | BCMR | CY2005 | BC-2005-00679
“I did something in 1945 that has never been done before in the history of the Air Force. He believes the basis for his uncle’s request is not the 500 hours of combat flight time but related to another incident. Evidence does; however, support the applicant’s award of the AM with 2OLC for his acts of meritorious achievement in the Pacific Theater and we note the Air Force has administratively corrected his record to reflect this award.
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 | CY2005 | BC-2005-01524
During World War II, the Far East Air Force had an established policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of 500 combat hours and an AM was awarded upon the completion of 100 combat hours. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS: AFPC/DPPPR recommends the applicant’s request for the DFC be denied and states, in part, that the applicant did not provide a letter of recommendation to verify his entitlement to the DFC. ...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-01347
On 8 December 1945, he was relieved from active duty to accept appointment as a first lieutenant, Officers’ Reserve Corps, Army of the United States. DPPPR states that there is no evidence in the decedent’s records of a recommendation for, or award of, the DFC. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the FORMER MEMBER be corrected to show that he was awarded...
AF | BCMR | CY2003 | BC-2003-02218
_________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: Applicant’s available military personnel records indicate that he enlisted in the Army of the United States (AUS) on 12 Mar 44 in the grade of private. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPPPR recommended denial indicating that after 1944, the DFC and Air Medal were no longer awarded automatically, based on the number of combat missions flown, but a...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-00372
Therefore, the facts surrounding his Air Force military service cannot be verified. He entered active duty on 1 June 1944 and was assigned to duties in the Air Corps. _________________________________________________________________ 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 June 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while participating as a member of an aircrew...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-01916
_________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied. After a thorough review of the available records, we found no evidence that the applicant is eligible for award of the DFC. While we note the applicant’s contention that his commanding officer recommended him for the DFC on three occasions, neither the applicant nor his records provide evidence he was recommended for the DFC.
AF | BCMR | CY2007 | BC-2007-01790
He completed 492.15 hours of combat mission flight time. The timeline for submitting decorations is two years from the date of the act or achievement. Applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at Exhibit E. ___________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1.