RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2007-00453
            INDEX NUMBER: 107.00

      XXXXXXXX   COUNSEL:  ROBERT L. ASTON

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  12 August 2008

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, First Oak Leaf  Cluster  (DFC,
1 OLC) and the Air Medal, Fifth Oak Leaf Cluster (AM, 5 OLC).

_________________________________________________________________

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

In view of his completion of a total of 30  combat  missions,  14  of  which
were flown as a lead crew navigator, and  based  on  the  Eighth  Air  Force
established policy of awarding an AM upon the completion of  every  5  heavy
bomber missions and awarding a DFC upon the completion  of  10  lead  combat
missions, and an additional DFC for completion of a combat tour,  he  should
be awarded an additional DFC and an additional AM.  Although  he  previously
received a DFC for completion of his tour of 30 missions, he never  received
an additional DFC for flying 14 lead missions  as  a  lead  crew  navigator.
Further, while he received 5 AMs for his completion of 25  combat  missions,
he should have received an additional AM for his  last  five  missions.   He
cites previous AFBCMR cases in  which  similarly  situated  applicants  were
provided favorable consideration.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits  a  statement  from  the  former
66th Bombardment  Squadron  Commander  recommending  him  for  award  of  an
additional DFC and an additional AM, and a list of his combat missions.

The former 66th  Bombardment  Squadron  Commander  states  that  during  the
period in question Eighth Air Force had an established policy whereby a  DFC
was awarded upon the completion of ten  lead  crew  missions  and  upon  the
completion of a combat tour (30 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 21 July 1944 to 2 June 1945, as  a  B-24,
Liberator, navigator, with the 66th Bombardment Squadron,  44th  Bombardment
Group, Second Bombardment Division, and Eighth Air  Force.   The  Report  of
Separation issued in conjunction with his 21 July 1945, release from  active
duty, indicates that he was awarded the DFC and AM, 4 OLCs.

His record of service indicates that he  completed  a  total  of  30  combat
missions.

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 8th Air Force had an established policy  whereby  a
DFC was awarded upon the completion of tour of combat duty, and  an  AM  was
awarded upon the completion of every five heavy bomber missions.   In  1942,
the length of a tour was the completion of 25  combat  missions.   In  1944,
the tour length was increased to 35  combat  missions,  and  the  number  of
combat missions required for award of an  additional  AM  was  increased  to
six.  In 1946, the policy of awarding the DFC and AM  based  solely  on  the
number of missions completed was discontinued.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied, and states, in  part,  they
are  unable  to  verify  the  applicant’s  entitlement  to   the   requested
decorations.   Although  the  applicant  has  provided  recommendations   to
support his claim, his  package  was  not  submitted  through  congressional
channels.

The AFPC/DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant’s counsel has  reviewed  the  evaluation  and  stands  by  his
original argument (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  an  additional
oak leaf clusters to  the  DFC  and  AM.   In  this  respect,  we  note  the
applicant completed a  total  of  30  combat  missions  and  was  lead  crew
navigator on 14 missions while assigned to the Eighth Air Force  as  a  B-24
navigator.  We also note that during the contested period, Eighth Air  Force
had an established policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the  completion  of
10 lead combat missions and  completion  of  a  combat  tour  of  duty.   In
addition, an AM  was  awarded  upon  the  completion  of  every  five  heavy
bombardment missions.   Although  the  applicant  received  a  DFC  for  his
completion of a combat tour of duty and a total of  four  AMs,  we  find  no
evidence he received an additional DFC for his completion of  14  lead  crew
missions and an additional AM for his last five  missions.   In  support  of
the appeal, the applicant has provided  a  recommendation  from  the  former
66th Bombardment Squadron Commander.  In view of the above,  and  given  the
total number of missions the applicant completed,  which  includes  14  lead
crew missions, we believe he should be awarded additional oak leaf  clusters
to the DFC and 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 1 April 1945, he was awarded the Air Medal,  Fifth  Oak  Leaf
Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as  a  B-24  Navigator
on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.

      c.    On 2 April 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying  Cross,
First Oak Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a B-
24  Lead  Navigator  on  many  bombardment  missions  over  enemy   occupied
Continental Europe.

_________________________________________________________________





The following members of the Board considered  Docket  Number  BC-2007-00453
in Executive Session on 2 August 2007, 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 8 Feb 07, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 28 Feb 07.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Mar 07.
     Exhibit E.  Email, Counsel, dated 15 Mar 07.




                                  MICHAEL K. GALLOGLY
                                  Panel Chair
AFBCMR BC-2007-00453




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:

      a.    On 1 April 1945, he was awarded the Air Medal, Fifth Oak Leaf
Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving as a B-24 Navigator
on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.

      c.    On 2 April  1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross, First Oak Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary achievement, while serving
as a B-24 Lead Navigator on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied
Continental Europe.









JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency