RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2009-00219
            INDEX NUMBER: 107.00

      XXXXXXXXXXX      COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NOT INDICATED

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States  Report  of  Transfer  or
Discharge, be corrected to reflect his previously awarded Air  Medal,  Sixth
Oak Leaf Cluster (AM, 6 OLC).

_________________________________________________________________

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was awarded the AM,  6OLC;  however,  the  requested  decoration  is  not
reflected on his DD Form 214,  issued  30 Nov 62.   His  former  commander’s
letter, dated 4 Mar 45 and his flight records attest to  the  fact  that  he
completed 35 combat missions over enemy territory.

In support of the appeal, the applicant submits a statement from the  former
303rd Bombardment Group commander recommending him for an assignment,  which
listed his decorations as the AM, 5OLCs, and a list of his combat 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, as a pilot.   He  completed  a  total  of  30
combat missions and participated in  the  Ardennes  and  Germany  campaigns.
His DD Form 214, issued in conjunction with his 1  Dec  62  retirement  from
active duty, reflects that he was awarded the AM, with five OLCs.

On 14 September 2000, his record was administratively corrected  to  reflect
award of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, with  3  bronze
service  star  (EAME,  w/3BSS),  American  Campaign   Medal,   w/1BSS,   the
Distinguished Unit Citation, and the World War II Victory Medal.

On 26 June 2003, his record was administratively corrected awarding him  the
Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while participating in aerial  flight
during the period of 22 January 1945.

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 1943, 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.  However, it  appears  the  policy  of
automatically awarding the  DFC  and  AM  based  solely  on  the  number  of
missions completed was not discontinued until 1946.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied, and states, in  part,  that
based on the applicant’s record and provided documentation, they  were  able
to verify  the  applicant’s  entitlement  to  the  AM,  5OLCs;  however,  no
official  documentation  was  provided  or   located   that   verifies   his
entitlement to the AM, w/6OLC.

The HQ AFPC/DPSIDR complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Through  his  member  of  congress,  the  applicant  states  the  evaluation
contained many errors and/or omission of facts.  Additionally,  he  provides
a list of 35 missions he flew which he believes  entitles  him  to  the  AM,
6OLC, and a copy of his retirement order.

The 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 warranting award of an  additional  AM.   In
this respect, the  available  evidence  of  record  reflects  the  applicant
completed a total of 35 combat missions while assigned  to  the  Eighth  Air
Force as a B-17 pilot.  During the contested period, Eighth  Air  Force  had
an established policy whereby an AM  was  awarded  upon  the  completion  of
every five heavy bombardment  missions.   In  support  of  the  appeal,  the
applicant has provided copies of orders and flight  records  validating  his
completion of 35 combat missions.  Based on the evidence presented,  we  are
convinced the applicant should be entitled to the AM,  6OLCs.   In  view  of
the above, and given the total number of missions the  applicant  completed,
we believe he should be awarded an additional AM.  Therefore,  we  recommend
his records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

4.  Additionally, the Board notes that on  26  June  2003,  the  applicant’s
records were administratively corrected awarding him the DFC.

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air  Force  relating
to APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 11 March 1945, he was awarded  the
Air Medal, Sixth Oak Leaf  Cluster,  for  extraordinary  achievement,  while
serving as a Pilot on B-17  airplanes  on  many  bombardment  missions  over
enemy occupied Continental Europe.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered  Docket  Number  BC-2009-00219
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 14 Jan 09, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 25 Feb 09.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Mar 09.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant’s Member of Congress, dated
                 23 Mar 09, w/atchs.




                                  MICHAEL K. GALLOGLY
                                  Panel Chair

AFBCMR BC-2009-00219




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  11  March  1945,
he was awarded the Air Medal, Sixth  Oak  Leaf  Cluster,  for  extraordinary
achievement, while serving as a Pilot on B-17 airplanes on many  bombardment
missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.







JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency