RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2006-01247
            INDEX CODE:  107.00
      XXXXXX (DECEASED)      COUNSEL: DR ASTON

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  27 OCT 2007


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her deceased husband’s records be corrected  to  show  he  was  awarded  the
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and awarded the Air Medal  (AM)  with  five
Oak Leaf Clusters (OLCs) and six OLCs.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her deceased husband should have been awarded these  medals  for  completion
of 37 combat missions since the Eighth Air Force had an  established  policy
at that time of awarding a DFC upon the completion of a tour of combat  duty
(25 missions) and an  additional  AM  upon  the  completion  of  every  five
missions.  In view of his 37 combat missions, he should  have  received  the
DFC for his completion of his first 25 missions, and two additional AMs  for
his 26th through 37th missions.

Counsel cites several previous cases in which the Board awarded  a  DFC  and
additional AMs for completion  of  a  tour  of  combat  duty  based  on  the
established Eighth Air Force policy at the time.   On  25 August  2005,  the
Board granted a similar application from the member’s co-pilot  and  awarded
him a DFC and two additional AMs based on the policy.  As such,  the  member
should receive similar relief.

In support of the appeal, counsel submits a copy of the member’s  Report  of
Separation, a Recommendation for Award of the DFC and OLCs five and  six  to
the AM, and a List of Missions Flown.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The member was a former Army Air Corps B-24, Liberator, pilot who served  in
the European African Middle-Eastern Theatres of Operation from 29 June  1944
to 7 February 1945.  He participated  in  the  Rhineland,  Northern  France,
Normandy, and Ardennes campaigns.  His report of separation  reflects  award
of the European  African  Middle-Eastern  Service  Medal  with  four  Bronze
Stars, and the Air Medal, with 4OLCs.

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.  During World  War  II,  the  Eighth  Air
Force had  an  established  policy  whereby  a  DFC  was  awarded  upon  the
completion of a tour of combat duty (25 heavy bomber  missions)  and  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,
although the required decoration recommendation was  provided,  it  was  not
submitted through the proper channels.  On 14 August  1943,  General  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.   To  justify  an  award  of  the  DFC  for
heroism, the heroism must be evidenced by voluntary action in  the  face  of
great danger above and beyond  the  line  of  duty  while  participating  in
aerial flight.  To warrant the award  for  extraordinary  achievement  while
participating  in  aerial  flight,  the  results  accomplished  must  be  so
exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set him apart  from  his  comrades
who have not been so recognized.

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 12  May
2006, 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  member
completed a tour of 37 combat missions while  assigned  to  the  Eighth  Air
Force as a B-24 pilot.  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 combat duty, i.e.,  25  heavy  bomber  missions,
and an AM was awarded upon the completion of  every  five  combat  missions.
In support of the appeal, the applicant has provided a  recommendation  from
the former squadron navigator.  In view of this  statement,  and  given  the
total number of missions the member completed, 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 FORMER MEMBER be corrected to show that:

      a.    On 2 November 1944, he was awarded  the  Air  Medal,  Fifth  Oak
Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a pilot on  B-
24 airplanes on many bombardment missions over  enemy  occupied  Continental
Europe.

      b.    On 30 November 1944, he was awarded the  Air  Medal,  Sixth  Oak
Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a pilot on  B-
24 airplanes on many bombardment missions over  enemy  occupied  Continental
Europe.

      c.    On 31 December 1944, he was  awarded  the  Distinguished  Flying
Cross, for extraordinary achievement, while  serving  as  a  pilot  on  B-24
airplanes on many  bombardment  missions  over  enemy  occupied  Continental
Europe.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered Docket  Number  BC-20065-01247
in Executive Session on 16 August 2006, 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 concerning Docket Number BC-2006-01247 was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 20 Apr 04, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Former Member's Master Personnel Records.



     Exhibit C.  Memo, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 5 May 06.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 12 May 06.




                                  MICHAEL K. GALLOGLY
                                  Panel Chair

AFBCMR BC-2006-01247




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, be corrected to show that:

      a.    On 2 November 1944, he was awarded the Air Medal, Fifth Oak
Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a pilot on B-
24 airplanes on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental
Europe.

      b.    On 30 November 1944, he was awarded the Air Medal, Sixth Oak
Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a pilot on B-
24 airplanes on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental
Europe.

      c.    On 31 December 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a pilot on B-24
airplanes on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental
Europe.









JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency