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. Flight Crew and Aviation Ground

Support Employees of Northeast Airlines Atlantic Division, Who Served

Overseas as a Result of Northeast Airlines' Contract With the Air

Transport Command During the Period December 7, 1941, Through August

14, 1945'' shall be considered ``active duty'' under the provisions of

Public Law 95-202 for the

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purposes of all laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs

(VA).

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

establish:

1. They were civilians employed by Northeast Airlines Atlantic

Division as flight crew personnel (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight

engineer, radio operator), or

2. They were civilians employed by Northeast Airlines Atlantic

Division 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 during the period

December 7, 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 (Department of

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

the US Air Force Personnel Center at 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 Northeast Airlines. 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 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, 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 DD Form 214.

Barbara A. Carmichael,

Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 97-17550 Filed 7-3-97; 8:45 am]

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