RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2005-02508
INDEX CODE: 107.00
XXXXXXX COUNSEL: NONE
XXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: NO
MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 12 February 2007
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
1. He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for completion of
14 lead crew missions.
2. He be awarded the Air Medal, with One Silver Oak Leaf Cluster (AM, 5
OLC), for completion of his last five missions.
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He has recently learned that lead crews were awarded the DFC for completion
of 10 or more missions. While assigned to the, 755th Bombardment Squadron,
458th Bombardment Group, Second Air Division, Eighth Air Force, he
completed 14 lead crew missions with Captain Beno as his tail gunner.
He never received his sixth AM for completion of his last five missions.
In support of the appeal, applicant submits a copy of the flight records of
his former aircrew’s flight engineer, a statement from the former flight
engineer indicating the applicant flew 14 lead crew missions with he and
Captain Beno as the aircraft’s tail gunner, a photograph of their former
aircrew, and lead crew commendations.
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 on active
duty from 30 August 1943 through 17 October 1945. From 7 June 1944 to 22
May 1945, he was assigned to the 754th and 755th Bombardment Squadrons,
458th Bombardment Group, 2nd Air Division, Eighth Air Force, as a B-24
Liberator aerial gunner in the European Theatre of Operation (ETO). During
this period, he participated in the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland,
Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe campaigns. He completed a total of 30
heavy bombardment combat missions and was awarded the AM, with 4 Oak Leaf
Clusters.
________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied, and states, in part, that
the requirements for award of the DFC and the AM changed dramatically in
the middle of World War II. Early in 1943, while visiting the various
combat theaters, General “Hap” Arnold expressed his concern with the large
number of DFCs being awarded. Under policy existing prior to 14 August
1943, the DFC and the AM were awarded on the basis of the number of hours
or missions completed. General Arnold believed that this so called “score
card” basis lessened the value of the award and created a negative morale
factor. To correct this situation, it was decided by General Arnold that
the “score card” basis be discontinued. Further, applicant has not
provided a written recommendation from someone in his chain of command
during the period in question with firsthand knowledge of the acts or
achievements and the package was not submitted through a congressional
member as required by the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council
(SAFPC) in order to consider his request under the provisions of the Fiscal
Year 1996 National Defense Authorization Act (FY96 NDAA).
The AFPC/DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A complete copy of the evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 14
October 2005, for review and response within 30 days. However, as of this
date, no response has been received by this office.
________________________________________________________________
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. We took note of the documentation
provided in support of the applicant's request for award of the DFC for
completion of 14 lead crew missions and an additional AM for completion of
his last five missions. After thoroughly reviewing the available personnel
records, we found no evidence to verify he was eligible for, or recommended
for either award. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary,
we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this
application.
________________________________________________________________
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-2005-02508
in Executive Session on 30 November 2005, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:
Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
Ms. Dorothy P. Loeb, Member
Ms. Renee M. Collier, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 5 Aug 05, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 12 Sep 05.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Oct 05.
THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
Chair
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