If the airbricks are above the outside floor level then they shouldn't be allowing water in unless the area actually floods to allow water in at the airbrick level which would be easily noticeable.
Having said that, even if they did let water in this shouldn't be a massive problem as the ground level construction was designed to prevent rising damp.
The walls below the DPC would be damp anyway, and if they're solid (as opposed to cavity walling) then water would seep through the wall but shouldn't rise due to the DPC. The timber floor should not get damp as it is supposed to be built independently to the outside walls (ie not touching them and having its own DPC below any timber members).
It does sound to me that the damp course in the outside wall has failed which is not uncommon in houses of this age, and because the outside wall is facing the elements all of the time it is allowing the damp to rise. The DPC below the floor is not at such an exposed position so the DPC is managing to still retain its inpermeability.
Your son really needs to seek advice from someone who can actually diagnose the problem properly after surveying the property.