RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2008-02742
                                             INDEX CODE:  100.00
      XXXXXXXXXX                       COUNSEL:  NONE

                                             HEARING DESIRED:  NO

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Silver Star (SS) for gallantry  in  action  on  6 November
1952 while attacking railway bridges northwest of Sinanju, Korea.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was notified that he had  been  recommended  for  the  SS;  however,  the
submission was lost, or if approved, was never officially presented.

Upon his arrival at his next duty station, he was notified  by  letter  from
the Squadron Awards and Decorations Officer  that  the  49th  Fighter  Group
Commander, Col O--, had submitted a recommendation to award him the  SS  for
his destruction of  two  spans  of  the  western-most  bridges  at  Sinanju.
However, this submission to Far East Air Force (FEAF) may have been lost  in
transit, or if approved, was never formally presented to  him.   Records  of
this action may also have been lost in the fire at  the  National  Personnel
Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri.

In support of his appeal,  applicant  submits  statements  from  the  former
group leader on  the  mission  (Brig  Gen  G---)  and  the  former  Squadron
Operations Officer recommending him for the SS, a narrative  recommendation,
a proposed citation, a map of the mission area, and a Combat  Mission  Recap
for 6 November 1952.

The former group leader states that on the date in question,  the  applicant
led the last of six flights.  The target was  a  long  single  rail  bridge,
heavily defended, and in a valley so situated as to be almost constantly  in
a crosswind.  The first five flight attacks resulted in rail cuts  and  some
bridge damage,  but  did  not  destroy  the  bridge.   The  efforts  of  the
applicant’s flight were hampered by dust and smoke which had  enveloped  the
area.  In addition, they were further delayed by aircraft from another  wing
which started their  run  ahead  of  them.   Despite  these  obstacles,  the
applicant  managed  to  find  an  aim  point  and  completed  a  second  run
destroying two spans of the bridge.  For the applicant to cut  rail  bridges
in crosswinds with an old iron sight is an achievement all by  itself.   For
him to do so under the adverse  conditions,  which  he  encountered,  showed
determination and courage beyond that expected in such conditions and  truly
deserves recognition.

The former Squadron Operations Officer states that he was familiar with  the
hazards of the mission, the pilots involved,  and  the  intent  of  the  two
commanders.

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

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

During the period under review, the  applicant  was  assigned  to  the  49th
Fighter Bomber Group, at K-2 (Tague), Korea, as an F-84 (Thunderjet)  pilot,
completing a total of 100 combat missions.

He retired in the grade of colonel on 1 January 1975.

The Silver Star (SS) is awarded to any person  who,  while  serving  in  any
capacity, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy  of  the  United
States while engaged in  military  operations  involving  conflict  with  an
opposing foreign force, or while serving with  friendly  forces  against  an
opposing Armed Force in which the United States is not a belligerent  party.


________________________________________________________________

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.  After thoroughly  reviewing  the  evidence
of record and noting the applicant’s contentions, we are convinced that  his
actions on 6 November 1952, while attacking  railway  bridges  northwest  of
Sinanju, Korea, meet the criteria for award of the  Silver  Star  (SS).   In
this respect, we note that in support of  his  request,  the  applicant  has
provided statements from the former group leader  on  the  mission  and  the
former Squadron Operations Officer, both of whom have  recommended  him  for
the SS.  The former group leader states that on the date in question,  after
the attacks of the  first  five  flights  had  not  resulted  in  the  total
destruction of a heavily defended, long single  rail  bridge  located  in  a
valley so situated as to be almost constantly in a crosswind, the  applicant
made two runs at the target, destroying two spans on his final pass.   Given
the adverse  conditions  the  applicant  overcame,  i.e.,  heavily  defended
target, dust/smoke  which  had  enveloped  the  area,  constant  crosswinds,
delayed by aircraft from another wing which had started their run  ahead  of
them, final attacking flight, and in view of his voluntary  act  of  placing
himself once again in danger by making a  second  pass  at  the  target,  we
believe his gallantry in action on 6 November 1952,  clearly  rises  to  the
level warranting award of the SS.  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 he was awarded the Silver  Star  for
gallantry in action against an  armed  enemy  of  the  United  States  while
attacking railroad bridges northwest of Sunanju, Korea on 6 November 1952.

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number  BC-2008-
02742 in Executive Session on 13 August 2008, under the  provisions  of  AFI
36-2603:

            Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
            Mr. Michael K. Gallogly, 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 13 Nov 07, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.





                                   THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                   Chair




AFBCMR BC-2008-02742




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 that he was awarded the Silver
Star for gallantry in action against an army enemy of the United States
while attacking railroad bridges northwest of Sunanju, Korea on 6 November
1952.





            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency