AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2012-00575 
COUNSEL:  NONE 
HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

 
IN THE MATTER OF: 
 
        
 
       
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 
 
His records be corrected to reflect that: 
 
1.  He  was  awarded  the  Purple  Heart  (PH)  medal  and  the 
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). 
 
2.  His  record  be  corrected  to  reflect  that  he  flew  30  combat 
missions, instead of 29 missions.  By amendment, dated 27 Jul 12, 
he  requests  his  record  be  corrected  to  reflect  he  was  credited 
with 32 combat missions and 260 combat flying hours. 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 
 
1.  He is entitled to the PH Medal due the injury he incurred on 
his  third  combat  mission  in  accordance  with  the  criteria  in 
effect at the time, Army Regulation (AR) 600-45.   
 
2.  He flew 30 combat missions.  Air crews who flew 30 or more 
combat missions met the requirement for award of the DFC.  His 
wing commander said “Fly 30 sorties and receive a Distinguished 
Flying Cross.” 
 
In  support  of  his  request,  the  applicant  provides  an  expanded 
statement,  a  copy  of  his  Individual  Record-Combat  Crew  Members 
flight  record,  an  excerpt  of  Army  Regulation  (AR)  600-45,  and 
copies of documents related to his request. 
 
The  applicant's  complete  submission,  with  attachments,  is  at 
Exhibit A. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
 
The  applicant  served  as  a  B-29  gunner  from  12  Jan  51  to 
26 Oct 53. 
 
The applicant has previously submitted several appeals for award 
of  the  Purple  Heart  (PH)  Medal  under  AFBCMR  Docket  Number  BC-
2001-01784.  His appeals were considered and denied by the Board.  
For an accounting of the facts and circumstances surrounding the 

previous submissions and the rationale of the earlier decisions 
by the Board, see Exhibit B. 
 
The  Individual  Record-Combat  Crew  Members  flight  record  he 
provided  reflects  he  flew  in  29  missions  from  4  Jul  52  to 
3 Dec 52. 
 
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the 
Air Force, which is attached at Exhibit C. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
SAF/MRBP recommends denial of the applicant’s request for award 
of the DFC, noting the documentation provided by the applicant is 
not  verifiable.    The  policy  in  effect  at  the  time  in  question 
reflects that a member may be recommended for award of the DFC 
after  completion  of  35  combat  missions  and  each  recommendation 
will be substantiated by direct reference to a specific sortie, 
the  accomplishment  of  which  beyond  doubt  fulfills  the  desired 
extraordinary meritorious achievement.  In addition, the criteria 
for the AM was completion of 10 combat missions against the enemy 
and  20  combat  missions  for  subsequent  awards  of  the  Air  Medal.  
Based  on  criteria  at  the  time  in  question  the  applicant  was 
appropriately awarded the AM for his 29 missions. 
 
The complete SAF/MRBP evaluation is at Exhibit C. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
On 30 July 12, the applicant responded by amending his requests 
as indicated above.  He further responded on 23 Aug 12 indicating 
that  all  of  the  gunners  should  be  sent  a  Purple  Heart  as  they 
were all blinded.  He states it took 20 years for his cataracts 
to manifest. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
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 an error or an injustice regarding 
the applicant’s request for award of the DFC.  We took notice of 
the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the 

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case;  however,  we  agree  with  the  opinion  and  recommendation  of 
the  Air  Force  office  of  primary  responsibility  and  adopt  its 
rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not 
been  the  victim  of  an  error  or  injustice  with  respect  to  his 
request for the DFC.  As for his request related to the PH Medal, 
we  note  this  Board  has  previously  considered  and  denied  the 
applicant’s request for the PH Medal.  As the applicant has been 
previously advised, reconsideration is provided only where newly 
discovered relevant evidence if presented which was not available 
when the application was submitted.  Further, the reiteration of 
facts  we  have  previously  addressed,  uncorroborated  personal 
observations, or additional arguments on the evidence of record 
are  not  adequate  grounds  for  reopening  a  case.    Therefore,  in 
view of the fact the applicant has not provided any new and/or 
relevant evidence in support of his request for the PH Medal, we 
find  that  his  request  does  not  meet  the  criteria  for 
reconsideration.  While we are not unmindful or unappreciative of 
the applicant’s service to his Nation, in the absence of evidence 
to  the  contrary,  we  find  no  basis  to  recommend  granting  the 
relief sought in this application. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 
 
The  applicant  be  notified  the  evidence  presented  did  not 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  material  error  or  injustice;  the 
application  was  denied  without  a  personal  appearance;  and  the 
application  will  only  be  reconsidered  upon  the  submission  of 
newly  discovered  relevant  evidence  not  considered  with  this 
application. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive  Session  on  4  Dec  12,  under  the  provisions  of  AFI 
36-2603: 
 
 
 
 
 

   Panel Chair 
   Member 
   Member 

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Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 24 Mar 12, w/atchs. 
Exhibit B. Applicant’s Military Personnel Records. 
Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBP, dated 16 Feb 12. 
Exhibit D. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 2 Mar 12, w/atch. 
Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 27 Jul 12. 
Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 23 Aug 12. 

The  following  documentary  evidence  was  considered  AFBCMR  Docket 
Number BC-2012-00575: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  
Panel Chair 

 
 

   
   

 
 

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