RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2006-02052
            INDEX NUMBER: 107.00

      XXXXXXX    COUNSEL:  ROBERT L. ASTON

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded two additional oak leaf cluster to  the  Distinguished  Flying
Cross and an additional oak leaf cluster to the Air Medal.

_________________________________________________________________

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Based on the Eighth Air Force established policy of awarding a DFC upon  the
completion of every ten lead crew missions flown and for the  completion  of
a combat tour, and awarding an additional AM upon the  completion  of  every
five heavy bomber missions, he should be awarded two additional DFCs and  an
additional AM.  Although he completed 29 combat missions, 20 of  which  were
as lead or deputy lead crew, with the 44th Bombardment Group,  clerical  and
administrative errors prevented his receipt of  the  requested  decorations.
Based  on  the  above  policy,  the  AFBCMR  has  favorably  considered  the
applications of similarly situated former members of his bomb group.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits  a  statement  from  the  former
Deputy Squadron Navigator recommending him  for  the  requested  decorations
and a list of his combat missions.

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  in  the
European Theatre of Operation from 2 September 1944 to 31 May 1945, as a  B-
24, Liberator, pilot.  He completed  a  total  of  29  combat  missions  and
participated in the Rhineland, Ardennes and Northern France campaigns.   His
Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, issued in conjunction with his  18
October 1945 release from active duty, reflects that he was awarded the  DFC
and the AM, with three OLCs.

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.

The AM is awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement while  participating
in aerial flight.

During World War II, the Eighth Air Force had an established policy  whereby
a DFC was awarded upon the completion  of  ten  lead  or  deputy  lead  crew
missions and upon  the  completion  of  a  combat  tour.   In  addition,  an
additional 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 recommendations for the requested decorations have  been  provided,
they were not submitted through the proper channels. In 1946, General  “Hap”
Arnold ordered theater commanders not to award the AM or  DFC  based  solely
on the number of combat missions completed, but rather for acts  of  heroism
in combat flight or extraordinary achievement while participating in  aerial
flight.

The AFPC/DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Counsel has indicated  he  has  no  rebuttal  comments  and  stands  by  his
original basis for relief.

Counsel’s complete response is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

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 probable error or injustice warranting award of  two  oak  leaf
clusters to the DFC and an additional oak leaf cluster to the AM.   In  this
respect, we note the applicant completed a total of 29 combat  missions,  20
of which were as lead or deputy lead crew, while assigned to the Eighth  Air
Force as a B-24 pilot.  He  was  awarded  the  DFC  for  completion  of  his
initial ten lead and deputy lead crew missions; however, he did not  receive
oak leaf clusters to the DFC for his completion of ten additional lead  crew
missions and his completion of a combat  tour.   Additionally,  although  he
was awarded four AMs for his completion of 20 combat missions,  he  did  not
receive an additional oak leaf cluster to the AM for his completion  of  his
21st through 25th combat missions.  We also note that during  the  contested
period, Eighth Air Force  had  an  established  policy  whereby  a  DFC  was
awarded upon the completion of every 10 lead or deputy  lead  crew  missions
and upon the completion of a combat tour.  In addition,  an  additional  oak
leaf cluster to the AM was awarded upon the completion of every  five  heavy
bombardment missions.  In support of the appeal, the applicant has  provided
a recommendation from the former deputy squadron navigator.  In view of  the
above, and given the total number of missions the  applicant  completed,  we
believe he should be awarded two  oak  leaf  clusters  to  the  DFC  and  an
additional oak leaf cluster to the AM.  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:

      a.    On 21 March 1945, he was awarded the Air Medal, Fourth 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 18 April 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying  Cross
(DFC), First Oak Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while  serving
as a Lead Pilot on B-24 airplanes on ten (10)  combat  missions  over  enemy
occupied Continental Europe.

      c.    On 19 April 1945, he  was  awarded  the  DFC,  Second  Oak  Leaf
Cluster, 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-2006-02052
in Executive Session on 22 September 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 was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 3 Jul 06, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 13 Jul 06.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 1 Sep 06.
     Exhibit E.  Email, Counsel, dated 5 Sep 06.




                                  MICHAEL K. GALLOGLY
                                  Panel Chair

AFBCMR BC-2006-02052




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, XXXXXXX, be corrected to show:

            a.   On 21 March 1945, he was awarded the Air Medal, Fourth 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 18 April 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross (DFC), First Oak Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while
serving as a Lead Pilot on B-24 airplanes on ten (10) combat missions over
enemy occupied Continental Europe.

            c.   On 19 April 1945, he was awarded the DFC, Second Oak Leaf
Cluster, 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