ADDENDUM TO
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBERS: BC-2010-03620
COUNSEL:
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his act of
valor and completion of 50 total combat missions while serving as
a turret gunner and aerial engineer aboard a B-17 bomber during
World War II.
_________________________________________________________________
RESUME OF CASE:
On 28 June 2011, the Board considered and denied the applicants
request to award him the DFC or other appropriate decoration.
For an accounting of the facts and circumstances surrounding the
applicants separation; and, the rationale of the earlier
decision by the Board, see the Record of Proceedings (ROP) at
Exhibit E.
On 19 January 2012, the applicant submitted a request for
reconsideration for award of the DFC.
In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a personal
statement, a statement from an eyewitness, statements from two
officers in his chain of command, an excerpt of DFC and Air Medal
criteria in the Army Air Forces in World War II, and an excerpt
of information on the AN-M64 500 pound General Purpose Bomb.
The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit F.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the existence of an error or an injustice. After thoroughly
reviewing the evidence of record and the additional documentation
submitted by the applicant, we find that he has met his burden of
established his entitlement to the requested DFCs. In this
respect, we note that after reviewing the criteria for award of
the DFC and noting the statements from an eyewitness and two
officers in his former chain-of-command, we are convinced that
his actions on 11 June 1943, rose to a level to warrant award of
the DFC for extraordinary achievement. On that date, while
enroute to the primary impact bombing target, he dislodged a
fully-armed, fused 500 pound bomb that had fallen upon the bomb
bay doors. With total disregard for his own safety and despite
not wearing a parachute, he climbed from his position in the top
turret, straddled the bomb bay doors at an altitude of 25
thousand feet and while simply holding only a safety strap with
one hand, he grabbed the impeller of the bomb with the other in
order to stop its rotation and deterred any chance of its
detonation in the aircraft, allowing the bomb to safely drop when
the pilot opened the bomb bay doors. Furthermore, in view of the
policy of the applicants numbered Air Force command at the time,
i.e., Twelfth Air Force, to award a DFC upon the completion of
every 25 bombardment missions and noting his completion of 54
bombardment missions, some of which he has already received
recognition with six Air Medals, we also find a sufficient basis
to award him the First Oak Cluster to 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:
a. On 12 June 1943, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross for extraordinary achievement for his actions on 11 June
1943.
b. On 21 October 1943, he was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross, First Oak Leaf Cluster, for sustained aerial flight
on many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Europe.
________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered this application in
Executive Session on 16 October 2012, under the provisions of AFI
36-2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The
following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-
03620 was considered:
Exhibit E. Record of Proceedings, dated 21 Jul 11,
with Exhibits A through D.
Exhibit F. Applicants Letter, dated 19 Jan 12, with atchs.
Panel Chair
AF | BCMR | CY2005 | BC-2005-02073
The SAFPC evaluation is at Exhibit F. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Counsel states, among other things, that but for the applicant’s actions on 5 June 1944, the mission’s command pilot would have been in severe shock and unconscious in a matter of minutes and incapable of the aircraft flight maneuvers for which he was later awarded the Medal of Honor. Based on the established 8th Air Force policy of...
AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC-2010-03620
In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a personal statement and copies of a witness statement; discharge document; pictures of his aircraft and crew; list of missions; letters to congressional members; and articles of two other service members who received medals for similar actions. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: In response to the Air Force advisory opinion, the applicant submits statements from two...
Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below. A complete copy of the Air Staff evaluation is attached at Exhibit C. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR STAFF EVALUATION: The applicant reviewed the Air Staff evaluation and states that the reason in the delay in the decoration recommendation is that none of his crew were debriefed after they were repatriated from German POW c no one had any knowledge of decorations. The following members of the Board considered this...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC 2012 05942
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letters prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force, which are attached at Exhibit C and F. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: SAF/MRBP recommends denial noting the applicant did not provide supporting evidence such as his flight records, crew member logs, or DFC narrative or citation. A complete copy of the SAF/MRBP evaluation is at Exhibit...
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-04215
His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He states the DFC was awarded to a member of his crew who may have found documentation for one particular mission 19 Oct 44. As such, based on the applicants verifiable act of extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight, we believe it would be in the interest of equity and justice to award the...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-03117
They state, in part, that based upon the criteria used in 1943 there is no basis for any award. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the Congressman McIntyres office, on behalf of the applicant, via electronic mail (email) on 12 Aug 13 for review and comment within 30 days. Although official documents do reference the co-pilot being wounded, there...
Although there is no longer any record of a DFC recommendation being submitted into official channels, they believe that it was submitted, but the FEAF Commander awarded him a Letter of Commendation, in lieu of the DFC. Although the applicant was recommended for the DFC, there is no evidence the recommendation was approved. _________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD: A majority of the Board finds insufficient evidence of error or injustice...
He also completed three missions as a B-17F navigator. During World War II, the 8th Air Force had an established policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of 30 combat flight missions and an AM was awarded upon the completion of five missions. In 1944, the 8th Air Force required completion of 30 combat flight missions; however, the applicant did not complete 30 missions.
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2013 03723
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letters prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility which are included at Exhibits C and D. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart medal. After a thorough review of the applicant's official military personnel record, no documentation was found to verify award of the Purple Heart Medal. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-00644
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2004-00644 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: YES _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Purple Heart (PH) Medal. There is no evidence in his records of a recommendation for award of the DFC. Military Personnel Record Exhibit C. Letter,...