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AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-01927
Original file (BC-2006-01927.doc) Auto-classification: Denied

                       RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2006-01927
            INDEX CODE:  107.00

      LOUIS S. BECKETT (DEC) COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED: NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her now deceased husband’s records be  corrected  to  show  he  was  a
prisoner-of-war- (POW) and that he be awarded the POW Medal.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

On 29 April 1944, he was shot down by enemy aircraft while on a combat
mission over Germany and was subsequently interned in Sweden.

In support of her appeal, the applicant has  provided  copies  of  his
death certificate and pertinent parts of his military service record.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

He served  on  active  duty  during  the  period  21  August  1943  to
23 September 1945.  On 29 April 1944, he flew a combat mission in  the
European Theater of Operations and was shot down.  He was interned  in
Sweden until he was returned to military control on 25  October  1944.
The applicant is not  listed  on  the  Army  Repatriation  and  Family
Affairs Division POW database as he was a part of the Army Air Corps.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPFC contends  his  military  service  record  shows  he  was  an
internee in a neutral country and not a POW.  Further, since the enemy
never captured him, he was never a POW as defined in Title 38, Section
101 (32).  Therefore, DPFC recommends he not be given the status of  a
POW and he not be awarded the POW Medal.

DPFC’s complete evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit B.
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the  applicant  on
14 July 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 timely filed.

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the  existence  of  error  or  injustice.   We  took  notice  of   the
applicant's complete submission in judging the  merits  of  the  case;
however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force
office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the  basis
for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the  victim  of  an
error or injustice.  The  Air  Force  was  able  to  verify  from  the
available record the applicant was shot down  while  flying  a  combat
mission  in  the  European  Theater  of  Operations  and  consequently
interred in Sweden, a neutral country.  However, since  he  was  never
captured and  held  by  the  enemy,  he  was  not  considered  a  POW.
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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2006-01927 in  Executive  Session  on  6  September  2006,  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:



      Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
      Ms. Patricia J. Zarodkiewicz, Member
      Ms. Dorothy P. Loeb, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 31 May 06, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPFC, dated 10 Jul 06, w/atchs.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Jul 06.




                                   THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                   Chair

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