RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-01378 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NOT INDICATED 

 

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

1. He receive the Silver Star (SS). 

 

2. He receive the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). 

 

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He should have received the SS for his bravery beyond the call of 
duty for saving his radio operator’s life by ensuring he parachuted 
to safety; and the DFC for the missions he flew before he was shot 
down and became a Prisoner of War (POW). A fellow crewman attests 
to his bravery. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides a copy of a 
witness letter, a personal statement, a copy of his WD AGO Form 
100, Army Separation Qualification Record, copies of his WD AGO 
Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable 
Discharge, and a copy of his discharge certificate. 

 

His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. 

 

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STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant was a former Army Air Force member who served on 
active duty from 12 Apr 43 through 13 Sep 45, as an airplane 
mechanic gunner. He participated in the Normandy Northern France 
and Rhineland campaigns. The applicant was awarded the Air Medal 
with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters (AM w/3OLC) and the European-African-
Middle Eastern Service Medal. On 9 Sep 98, the applicant was 
subsequently awarded the American Campaign Medal; the World War II 
Victory Medal; the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal 
with 3 Bronze Service Stars; the Army Good Conduct Medal; and the 
Prisoner of War Medal. 

 

The applicant’s WD AGO Form 100 reflects he participated in 
29 missions until shot down over Hamm, Germany. He was captured by 
the Germans and remained a prisoner of war for 9 months. 

 

The SS Criteria: It is estimated that more than 20,000 members of 
the Army received such citations before 1918. A similar device was 


authorized for Navy and Marine Corps personnel in 1920 which 
authorized a "special letter of commendation" to be awarded on the 
recommendation of the Board of Naval Award. Receipt of this special 
letter of commendation authorized its recipient to wear a small 
silver star on the ribbon of the Victory Medal. The Silver Star is 
currently awarded by all branches of the armed forces 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 Army announced that anyone who had previously earned a Citation 
Star could apply for the Silver Star medal. Navy and Marine Corps 
personnel could only apply if they were awarded a citations star by 
the Army. The status of the Silver Star was further clarified, when 
on Aug. 7, 1942, Congress authorized the award of the Silver Star 
to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy 
since Dec. 6, 1941, distinguished himself by gallantry and 
intrepidity in action, but not of a nature to justify the award of 
the Navy Cross. Four months later, on Dec. 15, 1942, the decoration 
was extended to Army personnel for gallantry in action, but not of 
a degree to justify an award of the Distinguished Service Cross. 

 

The DFC criteria: This medal is awarded to any officer or enlisted 
person of the Armed Forces of the United States who shall have 
distinguished her/himself in actual combat in support of operations 
by heroism or this medal is awarded to any officer or enlisted 
person of the Armed Forces of the United States who shall have 
distinguished her/himself in actual combat in support of operations 
by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an 
aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918. 

 

In 1944, the Eighth Air Force had an established policy whereby a 
DFC was awarded upon the completion of 35 combat missions. 

 

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states the applicant 
contends he saved a crew member’s life by pushing him out of a much 
damaged B-24 aircraft; however, without official documentation to 
verify his entitlement to the SS and DFC, they cannot support his 
request. 

 

The DPSIDR complete evaluation is at Exhibit B. 

 

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 


The applicant responded by providing copies of his Individual 
Flight Record (IFR) that reflects “33” versus “29” missions. He 
is not sure why the WD AGO Form 100 reflects the “29” since the 
“33” missions are certified correct by the operations officer. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit E. 

 

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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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. The applicant 
contends he is entitled to the DFC based upon his completion of 33 
combat missions. However, during the period in question, the 
Eighth Air Force, to which the applicant was assigned, had an 
established policy of awarding the DFC for completion of a total 
of 35 combat missions. Further, in 1943, theater commanders were 
ordered not to award the DFC based solely on the number of combat 
missions completed; and, each decoration had to have a signed and 
endorsed justifiable recommendation based on heroism and/or 
achievement, which distinguished the recipient from members of his 
crew. We find no evidence the applicant was ever recommended for 
award of the DFC. With regard to the applicant’s request of 
entitlement to the SS, we took note of the supporting statement 
from a fellow crewman; however, he has provided no documentation 
to support he was recommended for award of the SS. Therefore, we 
agree with the assessment of the Air Force office of primary 
responsibility that without official documentation verifying the 
applicant’s entitlement to the DFC and SS, we find no basis to 
recommend approval. The personal sacrifice the applicant endured 
for our country is noted; however, insufficient evidence has been 
presented to warrant corrective action. In view of the above, we 
find no basis to favorably consider this application. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that the 
application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the 
application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly 
discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application. 

 

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number 
BC-2010-01378 in Executive Session on 19 Jan 11, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 6 Apr 10, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 21 Jun 10. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 30 Jun 10. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 6 Aug 10, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair