RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2005-02989
INDEX CODE: 107.00
XXXXXXX COUNSEL:Veterans of Foreign Wars
XXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: NO
MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 2 APR 2007
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His records be corrected to show he was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross (DFC).
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He should have been awarded the DFC for flying 505.5 combat flight
hours during the China and Central Burma Campaigns from 27 March 1945
through 31 December 1945.
In support of his request, the applicant submits a copy of his Army of
the United States Honorable Discharge, War Department Form 372A, Final
Payment-Work Sheet and copies of his Individual Flight Record.
Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant's military personnel records were destroyed by fire in
1973 at the National Personnel Records Center. Data extracted from
his reconstructed record reflect he enlisted in the Army Air Corps
on 15 August 1942, for a period of three years. He received an
honorable discharge on 6 February 1946, for Convenience of the
Government (Demobilization).
His report of separation reflects award of the WWII Victory Medal, the
Air Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theater Ribbon, and
the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon w/2 Bronze Battle Stars.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial. 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. On 22 February 2006, although the recommendation was
noteworthy, SAFPC disapproved the recommendation for the DFC. DPPPR
states the recommending official can request a one-time
reconsideration of the recommendation, should they provide more
supporting documentation to substantiate the claim and submit the
recommendation within one year from 22 February 2006.
The DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit B.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 3
Mar 06, 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. In this respect, we note the
applicant has provided extracts from his individual flight records
indicating that he completed a total of 505.5 combat hours during the
China and Central Burma Campaigns of World War II. We also note that
during the contested period, the Army Air Corps in the India - China
area had an established policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the
completion of 500 combat hours. The SAFPC considered this request on
11 February 2006, and found no basis upon which to warrant awarding
the DFC. While we are in no way questioning the SAFPC’s earlier
decision, in view of the above policy, and given the total number of
combat hours the applicant completed, we believe he has met his burden
of establishing a possible injustice in his records. 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 on 15 January 1946,
he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary
achievement while participating in sustained aerial flight as a C-54,
Skymaster, flight radio operator over Burma - China.
_________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-2005-
02989 in Executive Session on 19 April 2006, under the provisions of
AFI 36-2603:
Ms. Charlene M. Bradley, Panel Chair
Mr. Michael J. Novel, Member
Ms. Jan Mulligan, Member
All members voted to correct the record, as recommended. The
following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 29 Apr 05.
Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 24 Feb 06.
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 116), it is directed
that:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force
relating to XXXXXX, be corrected to show that on 15 January 1946, he was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement
while participating in sustained aerial flight as a C-54, Skymaster,
flight radio operator over Burma - China.
JOE G. LINEBERGER
Director
Air Force Review Boards Agency
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