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AF | BCMR | CY2009 | BC-2008-04104
Original file (BC-2008-04104.doc) Auto-classification: Approved


                            RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2008-04104
            INDEX NUMBER: 107.00

      XXXXXXXXXXXX     COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her  late  father’s  records  be  corrected  to   reflect   award   of   the
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

_________________________________________________________________

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her father was recommended by his commanding officer to be awarded  the  DFC
for missions he completed while assigned to the 86th  Fighter  Bomber  Group
(FBG), 526 Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS) during World War II,  as  noted  in
the squadron’s diary.  He earned the award in defense  of  his  country  and
should be given the honor of  the  award.   Based  on  the  12th  Air  Force
established policy of awarding a  DFC  upon  the  completion  of  25  bomber
missions or 50 sorties, he should be awarded the DFC.

In support of the appeal, the applicant submits a copy  of  letters  written
by the former member, dated 26 October 1943; 86th FBG World  War  II  Diary,
and a biography of the  former  member,  from  the  World  War  II  Memorial
Registry.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The former servicemember was in the Army Air Corps and served in  the  North
Africa and European Theatre of Operation from 23 March  1943  to  2  January
1944, as a P-47, pilot.  He  completed  a  total  of  over  60  dive  bomber
missions  and  participated  in  the  Sicily,  Naples-Foggia   and   Tunisia
campaigns.

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 12th Air Force had an established policy whereby  a
DFC was awarded upon the completion of 25  bomber  missions  or  50  fighter
sorties tour of combat duty.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPSIDR indicates that there is official documentation verifying  the
applicant was recommended for the award  of  the  DFC,  with  the  inclusive
dates of 9 July 1943 to 26 September 1943, in  Italy  and  Sicily;  however,
they could not determine if a decision was ever rendered for the award.

Although the Secretary of the Air Force  Personnel  Council  (SAFPC)  Awards
and  Decorations  Board  could  not  process  the  request,  the  supporting
documentation showing a recommendation should be considered in  the  Board’s
decision.

HQ AFPC/DPSIDR’s complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded  to  the  applicant  on  20
January 2009 for review and comment within 30 days.  As  of  this  date,  no
response has been received by this office (Exhibit D).

_________________________________________________________________

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  warranting  award  of  the  DFC.   In  this
respect, we note the applicant completed  a  total  of  35  combat  missions
while  assigned  to  the  Eighth  Air  Force  as  a  B-24   aerial   gunner.
Additionally,  during  the  contested  period,  Twelfth  Air  Force  had  an
established policy whereby a DFC was  awarded  upon  the  completion  of  25
bomber missions.  The applicant  has  provided  a  recommendation  from  his
former commanding officer  to  substantiate  his  entitlement  to  the  DFC.
Therefore, in the  interest  of  justice  and  given  the  total  number  of
missions the applicant completed during his tour  of  duty,  we  believe  he
should be awarded the DFC.  In view of the above, 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 1 November 1943,  he  was  awarded
the Distinguished  Flying  Cross  for  unusual  bravery  and  heroism  while
participating in an aerial flight over enemy territory, as a Pilot  on  P-47
airplanes on many  bombardment  missions  over  enemy  occupied  Continental
Europe.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered  Docket  Number  BC-2008-04104
in Executive Session on 11 June 2009, 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 11 Nov 08, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 16 Jan 09.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 30 Jan 09.




                                  MICHAEL K. GALLOGLY
                                  Panel Chair


AFBCMR BC-2008-04104




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 XXXXXXXX, XXXXXXX, be corrected to show that on
1 November 1943, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for unusual
bravery and heroism while participating in an aerial flight over enemy
territory, as a Pilot on P-47 airplanes on many bombardment missions over
enemy occupied Continental Europe.









JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency


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