RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03662
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He was promised the DFC after completing 35 missions as a tail
gunner during World War II, but it was never issued to him.
In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his
honorable discharge certificate and his WG AGO 53-55, Enlisted
Record and Report of Separation.
The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
_________________ ______________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicants military personnel records were apparently
located in the area most heavily damaged in the fire at the
National Personnel Records Center in 1973. Documents provided
by the applicant indicate he served on active duty with the Army
Air Corps as an Aerial Gunner from 17 Sep 43 through 20 Oct 45.
The DFC may be awarded to any persons who, after 16 Apr 17,
while serving in any capacity with the United States Armed
Forces, distinguish themselves by heroism or extraordinary
achievement while participating in aerial flight.
During World War II, the Eighth Air Force had an established
policy whereby a DFC was awarded upon the completion of tour of
combat duty, and an Air Medal (AM) was awarded upon the
completion of every five heavy bomber missions. In 1942, the
length of a tour was 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, the policy for automatically
awarding the DFC and AM based solely on the number of missions
completed was discontinued, and submissions were subsequently
required to include a narrative recommendation justifying the
award.
According to the applicants WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record
and Report of Separation, he arrived in the European theater of
operations on 5 Sep 1944 and participated in the air offensive
over Europe. He departed the European theater of operations on
31 Mar 45 and arrived in the United States on 12 Apr 1945. On
25 Oct 45, he was honorably discharged and credited with
2 years, 1 month, and 28 days of total active service. Item 33, Decorations and Citations, of his WD AGO Form 53-55 indicates he
was awarded the AM with five oak leaf clusters (AM w/5 OLC).
________________________________________________________________
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 an error or injustice. After a
thorough review of the available evidence and the applicants
complete submission, we believe a preponderance of the evidence
indicates the applicant is entitled to the Distinguished Flying
Cross (DFC). In this respect, we note the applicant earned the
Air Medal (AM) a total of six times (AM with five oak leaf
clusters (OLC)) during his combat tour as an aerial gunner
during World War II. Because the Eighth Air Force policy in
effect during his service required the completion of six combat
missions for award of the AM, and the applicant earned six AMs,
we believe it is highly likely he performed the requisite 35
missions for award of the DFC. Therefore, to preclude any
further injustice to the applicant, we chose to resolve any
doubt in his favor and recommend his records be corrected as
indicated below.
________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that on
31 March 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for
extraordinary achievement while serving as an Aerial Gunner on
many bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental
Europe.
________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket
Number BC-2010-03662 in Executive Session on 23 Jun 11, under
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The
following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 29 Sep 10, w/atchs.
Panel Chair
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2010-03662
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS Documents provided by the applicant indicate he served on active duty with the Army Air Corps as an Aerial Gunner from 17 Sep 43 through 20 Oct 45. In this respect, we note the applicant earned the Air Medal (AM) a total of six times (AM with five oak leaf clusters (OLC)) during his combat tour as an aerial gunner during World War II.
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