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 June 2, 1997, 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 Braniff Airways, Who Served Overseas as a

Result of a Contract With the Air Transport Command During the Period

February 26, 1942, Through August 14, 1945'' shall not be considered

active duty for purposes of all laws administered by the Department of

Veterans Affairs.

On the other hand, the Secretary of the Air Force determined that

the service of a sub-group known as ``U.S. Civilian Flight Crew and

Aviation Ground Support Employees of Braniff Airways, Who Served

Overseas in the North Atlantic or Under the Jurisdiction of the North

Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command (ATC), as a Result of a Contract

With the ATC During the Period February 26, 1942, Through August 14,

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

administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

To be eligible for VA benefits, members of the sub-group must

establish:

1. They were civilians employed by Braniff Airways as flight crew

personnel (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, radio

operator), or

2. They were civilians employed by Braniff Airways as aviation

ground support personnel (aircraft mechanic, station manager,

dispatcher), and

3. Served outside the continental United States in direct support

of Air Transport Command-directed flight operations in the North

Atlantic under the jurisdiction of the North Atlantic Wing (ATC) during

the period February 26, 1942 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 (Department of

Defense (DD) Form 214) by filling out a DD Form 2168 and sending it to

the following address: AFPC/DPPRP, 550 C St. West, Suite 11, Randolph

Air Force Base, TX 78150-4713.

Important: Applicants must attach supporting documents to their DD

Form 2168 application. Of primary importance will be any employment

records from Braniff Airlines headquarters. Other supporting

documentation might include copies of passports with appropriate

entries, flight log books, Army Air Force (AAF) 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 the US, 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 his

flight.

Upon confirmation of an applicant's eligibility, the DD Form 214

will be passed from AFPC/DPPRP 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 US Air

Force offices in this notice.

For further information contact Mr. James D. Johnston, Secretary of

the Air Force Personnel Council (SAFPC), 1535 Command Drive-3d Floor-EE

Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, MD 20762-7002.

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 USC). 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.

Barbara A. Carmichael,

Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 97-17549 Filed 7-3-97; 8:45 am]

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