RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2006-02188
INDEX CODE: 107.00
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
MANDATORY COMPLETION DATE: 27 JANUARY 2008
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His records be corrected to show he was awarded additional Air Medals.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
Air Medals are awarded for every 100 hours of combat time and he has 458
hours. He was awarded one Air Medal and was told that he could not receive
the three oak leaf clusters unless he provided documentary proof of
entitlement to the awards. He is 92 years old and would like to set his
record straight for those who come after him. He does not have the
documents but would appreciate any information. He received a commendation
and a medal from General Hap Arnold, however there is no record of the
award.
In support of his application, the applicant submits his personal
statement, a copy of an award certificate and a copy of a special order.
The 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.
Therefore, the facts surrounding his Air Force military service cannot be
verified. The following is the only known information concerning the
applicant’s service and was extracted from his separation document.
The applicant was inducted and entered active service into the Army of the
United States Air Corps on 17 June 1942 at the age of 28. Following his
successful completion of training, he performed duties as a Airplane
Mechanic Gunner. He participated in the China Defensive India-Burma
battles and campaigns. He was awarded the Air Medal (AM), the Good Conduct
Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/2 BSS, the American Campaign
Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Distinguished Flying Cross
(DFC) w/1 OLC. He was credited with 2 years, 3 months and 11 days of
active duty service, of which 1 year and 10 days were Foreign Service.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial of the applicant’s request. On 14 August
1943, General Henry “Hap” Arnold ordered theater commanders not to award
the AM based solely on the number of combat flight missions completed
because he believed this so-called “score card” basis lessened the value of
the AM and created a negative morale factor. DPPPPR states the applicant
was awarded the DFC w/1OLC and the AM during the period in question. There
are no other official documents in the applicant’s official military
records to help verify his entitlement to additional AMs. DPPPR opines the
applicant was appropriately recognized for his outstanding military service
in the Pacific Theater.
The complete DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicant provided a photocopy of the Air Force Exceptional civilian
award. In his undated response, he states in regards to the photocopy
there were no civilians in the operation. He was a Staff Sergeant and all
the pilot officers were Air Force. He does not know why the word
“civilian” is on it (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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the
existence of error or injustice. We note the memorandum decreed by General
“Hap Arnold” in regard to the routine awarding of the Air Medal; therefore,
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. While we appreciate and honor the applicant’s service to his
country, in view of the above and absent persuasive evidence to the
contrary, we have no basis on which to favorably consider this request.
However, if the applicant was to provide a copy of a report with his flying
hours prior to 14 August 1943, we would be willing to reconsider his
request for combat hours flown during that time.
________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate
the existence of probable 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 BC-2006-02188 in
Executive Session on 31 October 2006, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Ms. Martha J. Evans, Panel Chair
Ms. Jan Mulligan, Panel Member
Mr. Wallace F. Beard Jr., Panel Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 10 Jul 06, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR dated 1 Aug 06.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 8 Sep 06.
Exhibit E. Applicant’s Rebuttal, undated, w/atchs.
MARTHA J. EVANS
Panel Chair
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-02188
Therefore, the facts surrounding his Air Force military service cannot be verified. The complete DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant provided a photocopy of the Air Force Exceptional civilian award. We note the memorandum decreed by General “Hap Arnold” in regard to the routine awarding of the Air Medal; therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air...
AF | BCMR | CY2005 | BC-2005-01524
During World War II, the Far East Air Force had an established policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of 500 combat hours and an AM was awarded upon the completion of 100 combat hours. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS: AFPC/DPPPR recommends the applicant’s request for the DFC be denied and states, in part, that the applicant did not provide a letter of recommendation to verify his entitlement to the DFC. ...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | bc-2004-00787
Under the revised policy, the DFC could be awarded for acts of heroism in combat flight or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight (Exhibit C). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Counsel for applicant states, among other things, that the requested relief should be favorably considered based on the recommendation of the applicant’s former commanding officer and in view of the established...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-00916
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2004-00916 INDEX NUMBER: 107.00 XXXXXXX COUNSEL: ROBERT L. ASTON XXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Fifth and Sixth Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal (AM, 5 & 6 OLCs). In 2001, the AFBCMR awarded a DFC and additional AMs to an applicant who had...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-00386
AFPC/DPPPR states, in part, that although the applicant’s records indicate that he completed a total of 35 combat missions and he has submitted a DFC recommendation signed by his former commander, 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. Applicant’s records do not indicate he was...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-02052
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. In 1946, General “Hap” Arnold ordered theater commanders not to award the AM...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-01125
There is no evidence to support he completed 29 missions required, at that time, for award of the DFC or that he met any other eligibility criteria for award of the DFC. The applicant’s records currently reflect he was awarded the AM twice and is entitled to the AM w/1OLC. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 24 October 2006, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Mr. Michael...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-02575
DPPPR states after a through review of the applicant’s limited military personnel records, they are unable to find evidence that he was recommended for award of the DFC. We note the applicant’s assertion that he is entitled to the DFC for flying over 25 missions; however, we also note the requirements for award of the DFC changed in 1943 from the number of hours or missions completed to an actual recommendation. There is no indication in his records that he was recommended for, or awarded,...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | bc-2004-02294
During the period in question, he was told by a major at base headquarters that upon returning stateside, he would receive the DFC for his completion of a tour of 32 combat missions and an oak leaf cluster to the DFC for his completion of 14 lead missions. Under the revised policy, the DFC could be awarded for acts of heroism in combat flight or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. In view of this statement, and given the total number of missions the applicant...
AF | BCMR | CY2005 | BC-2005-02508
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. 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. ...