RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2007-01790
            INDEX CODE:  107.00

      HENRY M. BAKER   COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED: NO


MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  8 DEC 2008


___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his  service
during World War II.

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He meets the requirements for the award.   His  roommate  flew  the
same missions as he, and received the  DFC.   He  completed  492.15
hours of combat mission flight time.  Other members of his unit who
met the requirements for the award received  their  medals  and  he
feels he deserves the award as well.  He was moving  one  day,  and
while looking through his records, he realized he had not  received
the DFC.

In support of his appeal, applicant submitted copies of his  flight
records and General Order Number 128, dated 6 June 45, awarding him
the Air Medal for meritorious achievement by participating in  more
than 150 hours of operational flight.

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

___________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant served  on  active  duty  in  the  Army  Air  Corps  from
9 October   1942   to   15   February   1946.    He   served   from
1 September 1944 to 1 September 1945, in North  Africa  and  China.
He ferried the B-26 aircraft to England and Russia four times each.
 His highest grade held was captain.  Applicant was  released  from
active duty on 15 February 1946 and credited with 1 year, 9 months,
and 18 days  of  continental  service  and  1 year,  6 months,  and
18 days of foreign service, totaling 3 years, 4 months, and  6 days
of active duty service.

Applicant was  awarded  the  Air  Medal,  European  African  Middle
Eastern Theatre, American Theatre, World War II Victory Medal,  and
the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon with Three Bronze Service  Stars
and the honorable Lapel Button.

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 Army Air Forces in the India-China Theater
had an established policy  whereby  a  DFC  was  awarded  upon  the
completion of 300 hours  of  operational  hours  for  transport/air
combat missions from 1942 to 1944.

___________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR reviewed this  application  and  recommended  denial,
stating, in part, they were unable to find supporting documentation
such as a recommendation for or special orders, awarding the DFC.

The requirement for award of the DFC changed  dramatically  in  the
middle of WWII.  Early  in  1943,  while  visiting  various  combat
theaters, General H. Arnold, expressed his concern with  the  large
number of DFC’s being awarded.   Under  policy  existing  prior  to
14 August 1943, the DFC was awarded on the basis of the  number  of
hours or missions completed.   He  believed  that  this  so  called
“score card” basis lessened the value of the  award  and  called  a
negative morale factor.  To correct this situation, it was  decided
that the “score card” basis for awarding the DFC  be  discontinued.
The timeline for submitting decorations is two years from the  date
of the act or  achievement.   In  the  case  of  WWII  decorations,
3 May 51 was cut-off  for  submission.   However,  under  the  FY96
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was  enacted  into
law on 10 February 1996, this timeline has now been waived.

A written recommendation must meet two criteria:

      1.  be made by someone, other than the member himself, in the
member’s chain of command at the time of the incident, and, who has
firsthand knowledge of the acts or achievements, and,

      2.  be submitted through a congressional member who can ask a
military service to review a proposal for a decoration based on the
merits of the proposal and the award criteria in existence when the
event occurred.

HQ AFPC/DPPPR complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant reiterated his original claim that he should be  entitled
to the DFC.  He again, noted the orders  provided  to  substantiate
his claim that he should be entitled to the DFC.

In support of his appeal, applicant provided a  personal  statement
and other supporting documentation.

Applicant’s complete response, with attachments, 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 error or injustice.  In this respect, we note  the
applicant completed 492  hours  of  air  transport  missions  while
assigned to the Army Air Forces as a  pilot.   We  also  note  that
during the contested period, Army Air Forces, India-Burma  Division
had an established policy  whereby  a  DFC  was  awarded  upon  the
completion  of   300   hours   of   operational   flight   in   air
transport/combat missions.  In support of the appeal, the applicant
has provided a copy of General Orders Number 128.  In view of  this
order, and  given  the  total  number  of  missions  the  applicant
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 APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 6 June 1945, he
was awarded  the  Distinguished  Flying  Cross,  for  extraordinary
achievement in participating in more than 300 hours of  operational
flight in transport aircraft over the India-China air routes.

___________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket  Number
BC-2007-01790 in Executive Session on 27 September 2007, under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Michael J. Maglio, Panel Chair
      Mr. Wallace F. Beard Jr., Member
      Ms. Karen A. Holloman, Member

All members voted to correct  the  records,  as  recommended.   The
following documentary evidence was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 21 May 07, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 13 Jun 07.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 Jul 07.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 24 Aug 07.




                                   MICHAEL J. MAGLIO
                                   Panel Chair


AFBCMR
1535 Command Drive
EE Wing, 3rd Floor
Andrews AFB MD 20762-7002


Airman First Class Aaron M. Necessary, USAF
4601 Catamaran Drive # 921
Fort Worth TX 76135

Dear Airman Necessary

      Your application to the Air Force Board for Correction of
Military Records, AFBCMR BC-2007-02457, has been finalized.

      The Board determined that the military records should be
corrected as set forth in the attached copy of a Memorandum for the
Chief of Staff United States Air Force.  The office responsible for
making the correction will inform you when your records have been
changed.

      After correction, the records will be reviewed to determine
if you are entitled to any monetary benefits as a result of the
correction of records.  This determination is made by the Defense
Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS-DE), Denver, Colorado, and
involves the assembly and careful checking of finance records.  It
may also be necessary for the DFAS-DE to communicate directly with
you to obtain additional information to ensure the proper
settlement of your claim.  Because of the number and complexity of
claims workload, you should expect some delay.  We assure you,
however, that every effort will be made to conclude this matter at
the earliest practical date.

                                   Sincerely



                                   PHILLIP E. HORTON
                                   Chief Examiner
                                   Air Force Board for Correction
                                   of Military Records

Attachments:
1.  Record of Proceedings
2.  Copy of Directive

cc:
DFAS-DE



AFBCMR BC-2007-02457




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 AARON M. NECESSARY, 465-81-4504, be corrected to
show that on 9 February 2007, competent authority determined that
he be required to monetarily reimburse the government for the total
cost of his advanced education at the United States Air Force
Academy in  accordance with Title 10, United States Code, Section
2005 (a) (3); rather than granted an educational delay, and called
to active duty in an enlisted capacity for a period of three (3)
years.







            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency



AFBCMR BC-2007-01790




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 that on 6
June 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, for
extraordinary achievement in participating in more than 300 hours
of operational flight in transport aircraft over the India-China
air routes.






            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency