Active Duty Service Determinations for Civilian or Contractual Groups

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force

Active Duty Service Determinations for Civilian or Contractual

Groups

On December 13, 1993, the Secretary of the Air Force determined

that the service of the group known as ``U.S. Civilian Flight Crew and

Aviation Ground Support Employees of Northwest Airlines, Who Served

Overseas as a Result of Northwest Airline's Contract with the Air

Transport Command during the Period December 14, 1941 through August

14, 1945,'' shall be considered active duty for purposes of all laws

administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

To receive recognition, each applicant must establish they:

1. Were employed by Northwest Air Lines as flight crew personnel

(pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, radio operator) or

2. Were employed by Northwest Air Lines as aviation ground support

personnel (aircraft mechanic, station manager, dispatcher), or other

support personnel necessary to sustain flight operations, and

3. Served outside the continental United States in direct support of

Air Transport Command-directed flight operations during the period

December 14, 1941 through August 14, 1945.

Qualifying periods of time are computed from the date of departure

from the continental United States to the date of return to the

continental United States.

Application Procedures

Before an individual can receive any VA benefits, the person must

first apply for an Armed Forces Discharge Certificate by filling out a

DD Form 2168 and sending it to the following address: HQ AFMPC/DPMARS2,

Randolph AFB, TX 78150-6001, ATTN: Sgt White.

Important: Applicants must attach supporting documents to their DD

Form 2168 application. Considered of primary importance will be any

employment records from Northwest Airlines headquarters. Other

supporting documentation might include copies of passports with

appropriate entries, flight log books, Army Air Force Identification

Forms 133, any personal employment records such as commendations

regarding ATC performance, employee expense reports of charges to USAAF

contracts, medical certifications prior to departure from U.S., USAAF

passes to leave the limits of an overseas base, military orders,

miscellaneous USAAF papers, etc. Additionally, the captain of a flight

crew may provide written confirmation for other crew members on the

flight.

Upon confirmation of an applicant's eligibility the DD-214 will be

passed from HQ AFMPC/DPMARS2 to the Awards and Decorations office (in

the same building) to determine which ribbons the applicant is eligible

to receive (campaign ribbons, theater ribbons, victory medal, etc.).

Specific awards (i.e., Silver Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, etc.) need

separate justification detailing the act, achievement, or service

believed to warrant the appropriate medal/ribbon.

DD Forms 2168 are available from VA offices or from the U.S. Air

Force offices in this notice.

For further information contact Lt. Col. Robert Dunlap at the

Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council (AFPC), 1535 Command

Drive-3d Floor-EE Wing, Andrews AFB, MD 20331-7002, telephone (301)

981-3504/5750.

Benefit Information

A determination of ``active duty'' under Public Law 95-202 is ``for

the purposes of all laws administered by the Department of Veterans

Affairs'' (Sec. 106, 38 U.S.C.). Benefits are not retroactive and do

not include such things as increased military or Federal Civil Service

retirement pay, or a military burial detail, for example. Entitlement

to state veterans benefits vary and are governed by each state.

Therefore, for specific benefits information, contact your nearest

Veterans Affairs Office and your state veterans service office after

you have received your Armed Forces discharge documents.

Patsy J. Conner,

Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 94-80 Filed 1-03-94; 8:45 am]

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