He brought this idea to the attention of his squadron commander Major Carl Spaatz. Stationed there for 84-88 and am suffering with a motor neuron disease process. There is an ongoing project to decontaminate the area. The 5,221-acre site is bounded by Van Etten Lake to the north and east . Our biodegradation . It was criticized for its low service ceiling, its slow rate of climb, and its generally poor high-altitude performance. [1] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Basesignifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. The 379th was reassigned to Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan without personnel or equipment in January 1961, assuming the aircraft, personnel and equipment of the discontinued 4026th Strategic Wing. After all of that great history, the Wurtsmith Air Force Base is still standing as a place that is visited by a plethora of people. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. [1], The northern tier Strategic Air Command Ready Alert Strike Force bases were considered less than desirable duty stations for one main reason. Environmental groups are calling on the Air Force and the State of Michigan to get serious about cleaning up PFAS around the site of the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Environmental context Total organofluorine and known fluorosurfactants were quantified in 11 aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs) used to extinguish fires in Ontario, Canada, and one commercial AFFF product. 1970 - The Air Force knew that some of the Webb Air Force Base Family Housing units, located in Big Spring Texas, were contaminated with and the occupants exposed to a large quantity of chlordane. This remoteness of Wurtsmith Air Force Base, as well as common brotherhood of being in the United States Air Force resulted in a tight knit community formed by the airmen and their families. The ROAM system ensures that aircraft are serviced . Bert E. Skeel in 1924. This includes extra parts, munitions, fuel, and flight crews. After a trip to the Boneyard in September 2019, hundreds of current and vintage photos are being sorted, scanned and uploaded. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/06/wurtsmith_veterans_health.html, http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/11/13/deq-we-dont-yet-know-full-extent-wurtsmith-air-base-contamination/93242484/, https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/08/18/21105/military-bases-contamination-will-affect-water-generations, http://www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html, Military History of the Upper Great Lakes. [6] The 379th Bomb Wing wasdisbanded on June 30th 1993. The gunnery range was tasked with training pilots from, Selfridge air base in the challenging maneuvers required to land a DeHavilland, biplane on the frozen lake Van Etten for the young Army Air Corps. This is very dear to my heart and want to get involved however I can. The former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), located in Oscoda, Iosco County, MI operated from 1924 to 1993. Senator Gary Peters (MI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today called on the Air Force to expedite PFAS cleanup efforts at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda.In a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy John . It was a feeble effort, for the plane seemed to lift for only a few feet and then it crashed, nose first, into the water. [ July 4, 2018 ] Grissom Air Force Base, ID Air Force [ May 28, 2018 ] March Air Force Base, CA Air Force [ February 17, 2018 ] Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Navy [ November 5, 2017 ] Fort William D. Davis , Panama Army [ August 28, 2017 ] Naval Air Station Alameda, CA Navy [ March 19, 2016 ] Wurtsmith Air Force Base, MI Air Force [ June 2 . The M&FRC is located at 1550 Wurtsmith St . I like combining historical photographs with the stories behind them. At just after 10 pm on the 30 th October, on-duty personnel at Wurtsmith Air Force Base would report seeing a strange object hovering over the . These bases were, responsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. Typical occurrences on Wurtsmith Air Force Base included planes flying in and out on missions. Air Force - DOD Base Family Housing There is a lot of open runways still today that can be rented out for a multitude of events. [1] While this was a relatively boring week, it was extremely stressfulbecause no one knew when the alarm would sound, but more importantly no oneknew if it would be a drill or not. I will try and highlight some of the most interesting aircraft and their stories!. distance from the bunker. Student projects from Michigan Tech's SS3505 Military History of the United States, on the people, places, and objects involving our military history in the upper Great Lakes region. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at Wurtsmith, Air Force Base. The Wurtsmith base closed in 1991, sending the Harrises to Plattsburgh, N.Y., where friends and neighbors remembered the boys as Scouts and Little Leaguers, and their parents as being involved in . The water table is about 10 feet below land surface in the western part of the Base and about 25 feet below land surface in the eastern part. Photos of P-47s flown by French Pilots at Oscoda. Theseplanes would regularly fly missions from Wurtsmith Air Force Base during thecold war. That plane actually crashed April 11, 1944, which was 70 years to the date that the picture was taken, Drew Losinski said. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue the, tradition from their World War II counterparts. It is one of the most famous bases located in our state. The Losinskis found an account of the crash in the Times Herald. In 1955 Wurtsmith Air Force Base became an official permanent post in the United States Air Force, which meant that many new services were implemented on base. If a banker had not taken Lt. Whitehead on a fishing trip there would not have been an Air Force Base in Oscoda Michigan. The P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and fighter-bomber was used by the Allied air forces during World War II. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. Because Wurtsmith Air Force Base was an Air Force Base it had to have the ability to go into complete lock-down in times of emergency and still support the mission. During the Cold War, the base became part of Strategic Air Command. The 379th Bomb Wing moved to Wurtsmith Air Force Base in June of19661. The P-6 could climb to 10,000 feet in 6.6 min. Ground-water contamination at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan [1] On the first Wednesday thefresh flight crew would relive the current flight crew in the bunkers. Wurtsmith Air Force Base History - Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Authority The Wurtsmith Air Museum is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to preserving the history of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and aviation in Northeastern Michigan. Military's Filthy 50 sites contaminated with 'forever chemicals' haven Visiting Wurtsmith Air Museum, Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan - YouTube Wurtsmith AFB Water Health Issues via water, Organochlorine Pesticides Levels at George AFB Family Housing. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. More individuals impacted by these chemicals are Cindi and Lawrence Ashbeck. These, planes would regularly fly missions from Wurtsmith Air Force Base during the, The 379th Bomb Wing moved to Wurtsmith Air Force Base in June of, 19661. People who are exposed every day for an extended period of time are the ones who start to see real problems, some of which I mentioned above. 'We've been betrayed:' Veterans blame Air Force base water for - mlive This bunker compound housedthe flight crews on ready alert, the three B-52 bombers ready to take off at amoments notice, and the accompanying KC-135s ready to top off the B-52s after takeoff. Veteran Compensation Programs. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. The armament of the P-1 was a pair of 0.30 cal machine guns mounted in the upper fuselage decking inside the V-cylinder blocks and synchronized to fire through the propeller arc. Wurtsmith AirForce Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. Because of the economic impact of Wurtsmith Air Force Base the community was generally supportive of the airmen, and the base itself. Wurtsmith Air, Force Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. Why are you focusing only on chlordane and other organochlorine pesticide (OCP) contamination at the Family Housing? Their children developed asthma, spinal defects and thyroid problems. Since its establishment in 1923, Wurtsmith played an important role in World War II, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War, hosting the 134th Army Air Force Base Fighter Unit and 379th Bombardment Wing respectively. This building was like the barracks, but each officer had his own room. Traci Kroushour, an Oscoda resident until the age of 12, had her uterus removed at the age of 28 and can never have children. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at WurtsmithAir Force Base. [1], As new technologies and mission goals evolved with time the need for the Strategic Air Commands need for the northern tier became obsolete. After a devastating fire in Oscoda which cleared over 600 buildings, the remaining citizens heard about the proposal to clear an area for the base. Wurtsmith airforce base bomb bunkers - YouTube The Bell P-39 Airacobra was not the best fighter aircraft of WWII, but it was the only fighter available in quantity during the first six months of the war. Press | No Defense On June 30th, 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. The base is influential in Michigan, as well as the United States military history. On National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we recognize the many men and women who served and fought during the difficult conflict, giving them the appreciation they deserve. The airplane operated on a flight from Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport, MI to Oscoda-Wurtsmith AFB, MI (OSC). Military challenging states on $2 billion chemical liability - Unwell Water Double Jeopardy - Exposed at Kadena and Wurtsmith - Civilian Exposure It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. It was built out of a portion of the decommissioned Wurtsmith Air Force Base which housed nuclear armed B-52 Stratofortress bombers during the Cold War as well as air refueling squadrons. From: Members of the ground crew move a maintenance cart into position next to a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft parked on the flight line. However, the drawdown was fairly rapid after that and they were quickly replaced by P-38s, P-47s and P-51s. However, the P-6 differed from the P-1 in having its fuselage rounded out to match the fatter engine cowling required by the Conqueror engine. The base is influential in Michigan, as well as the United States military history. When the Gulf War started in 1990, the 379, Bomber Wing sent B-52s as well as their accompanying KC-135s into the Middle East. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. The base became a permanent installation on January 1, 1951, when the U. S. Air Force designated it as a fighter training base for the Air Defense command. At this time, the camp was renamed and the airfield was under III Fighter Command jurisdiction. History Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. [1] Mr. Nortonarrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air ForceBase in the fall of 1985. [1], While these crews were on ready alert they did not have a whole, lot to do. Following cleanup, operation and maintenance activities are ongoing. . A new report compiled by a local group, Need Our Water (NOW) and the National Wildlife Federation . Why women were told 'Don't get pregnant at George Air Force Base' I was shocked when we drove to a wooded area not far from bomber alert pad and WSA up the road of the k9 area where a bull dozed had dug a large trench and we were ordered to dump the shit. My wife has breast cancer, and Hashimoto's Disease (auto immune), I had a double mastectomy to remove growths, hormone issues, kidney scaring liver lesions, lumps in both lungs, sleep APNEA, sudden onset Headaches, unexplained stress attacks, to name a few. Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does not monitor, pre-screen or moderate posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. On January 18, 1994 it was listed as a Superfund due to extensive groundwater contamination with heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, including trichloroethylene, 1,1-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane . .. did this bill die in the committee s? The brown tint is (mostly) caused by scale build up in the pipes being knocked loose. The Realignment of Griffiss Air Force Base. Heart condition, prostate cancer, diabetic, sometimes confused in making decisions. DOD Base Family Housing - Organochlorine Pesticide Contamination [4] Its mission was to, maintain half of the fleet on a 15 minute alert, meaning the plane could be in, the air in 15 minutes, to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet preemptive missile, strike. The Strategic Air Command activated a wing there on August 1, 1958. "It was a city within a city. (Superstorm) Sandy came along (in October) and moved things around, David Losinski said. PFAS Military Base Lawsuits | Contaminated Water | ClassAction.org In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. This unfortunately happened on October 11th, 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. It is primarily a large jet airplane salvage, jet engine maintenance and light general aviation . Wurtsmith Air Force Base - Alchetron, the free social encyclopedia Typical occurrences on Wurtsmith Air Force Base included planes flying in and out on missions. My ex wife has thyroid disease and auto immune disease. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. I served at Wurtsmith from 1974-1977 my whole family has suffered from various ongoing ailments. Ground-water contamination at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan - USGS We offer visitors three hangars full of military (all branches) and aviation history, static aircraft displays, artifacts, equipment and lots of WAFB memorabilia. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. The majority of married enlisted and officers preferred to live on base because of the free daycare for children. The base was put into a standby status to be there just in case something happened in those areas. What us the compensation for this? One of these places included directly underneath the Oscoda high school. The Allison V-1710-85 liquid-cooled V-12 engine behind the pilots seat drove the propeller by means of a driveshaft mounted under the pilots seat. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. But these days, the county is becoming a haven for retired people such as the Kuhlmans . [1] As tensions increased around the world and the likelihood of an actual mission being flown while on ready alert increased, the week, The typical activities while not on ready alert varied greatly, from person to person. Today the Wurtsmith district is integral to the community's economic potential. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. City Picto Map, Clark Air Base / Angeles City. Aircraft was at Camp Skeel, Oscoda Michigan for Aerial Gunnery training. For example a KC-135 could take off from Wurtsmith Air Force Base, fly across the Pacific Ocean, land in Spain, have the flight crew be relieved by a fresh crew, fly into theater, complete the mission and return to Spain, where the original crew would be rested and ready to fly the KC-135 back to Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Two years after release I started to experience very visible loss of musculature and strength. Six Are Killed in Crash Of an Air Force Tanker. The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Oct. 1988, www.nytimes.com/1988/10/12/us/six-are-killed-in-crash-of-an-air-force-tanker.html. After one week in the bunker on ready alert the flight crew would be relieved. . The history of Oscoda Military Aviation is the same as the History of the Air Force. PFOA exposure is also shown to be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children between ages 12-15. This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. Paul B. Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed in 1993, dealing a sharp blow to the economy of rural Iosco County. U.S. Veteran Compensation Programs The Airacobra reached its peak usage in the USAAF in early 1944, with over 2100 in service. [1] Mr. Norton also landedthe first KC-135 in operation Southern Watch. My first daughter was born there at their hospital.my ex husband now, is very sick. The military has not begun cleanups at any of the 50 Department of Defense sites Congress has identified as highly contaminated with the "forever chemicals" known as PFAS - and it could be years before cleanups are complete. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. /. I kept up with all this for a while then gave up. Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of fivenorthern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. The views and opinions expressed in this website/articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of the U.S. government, We are the men and women of the U.S. Military, Wurtsmith AFB is a Superfund Site. Because of the restriction of being close to the Christmas tree they, resorted to playing cards, working out, reading, and sleeping while they were, not conducting recurrent training to stay up to date and proficient on their, equipment. [5] The 379th Bomb Wing immediately continued the 4026th, During the Pacific conflicts personnel and the KC-135, Stratotankers were deployed to forward bases in the Pacific to support land, operations. This could be from hydrant flushing or a water main break. I was stationed there from 11/84-1989. Contaminated water has been shown to be the main way that humans get exposed to this chemical, which is exactly whats going on in Oscoda. It was the most horrible thing I have ever witnessed, she said. I remember getting a letter of counseling when I wanted to object as a warning what could happen. Leaking chemical storage tanks and waste disposal operations contaminated soil and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. If your base is not on the map or list above, this does not mean you were not exposed to PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam. In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. 1942 -- Camp Skeel is renamed Oscoda Army Air Field and becomes a P-47 fighter base. During those efforts, they noted several areas they wanted to investigate, including one about four miles north of the Blue Water Bridge. This lead to Wurtsmith transferring to Air Combat Command control, and then on June 30th 1993, Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed. NPL Status: Proposed Street Address: AFBCA/DB, OSCODA, MI 54961 Congressional District: 01 EPA ID: MI5570024278 Population (within 1 mile): 101-1,000 Contaminant Information. [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctors office, a fully equipped gym, and a store where basic necessities were available, military police, office space, and everything necessary to ensure the planes are fully functioning and ready to fly missions. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base that was closed by the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC 2) and is a proposed EPA Superfund site. [1], When the Gulf War started in 1990, the 379th Bomber Wing sent B-52s as well as their accompanying KC-135s into the Middle East. In a nutshell, this is what were trying to do get permission to relocate the parts so they would resemble a plane, David Losinski said. The Au Sable River is an attraction for families all around Michigan. The P-6 Hawk (1932-1937) Aircraft was @ Oscoda. [5] While the 379thBomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the ReadyAlert Nuclear Strike Force. [1], These KC-135s were necessary because the B-52 could not take off with both a, full load of ordnance and a full tank of gas.[1]. My daughter was born at the base hospital. Is this a common thing at other Air Force bases? : r/AirForce At Oscoda Army Air Field, from the Group Historian: Over the sandy pine shores of Lake Huron, pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group polished up their flight and gunnery tactics for threat inevitable test of their skill and courage which will eventually lead them to pursuit and battle in the skies of Europe and Asia. By the end of November 1943 all training for the 332nd had been completed at Oscoda and the Group departed for overseas. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is said to have originally started with a fishing trip between two men. The base is located in Oscoda, Iosco County, Michigan. This is an evolving issue with many moving parts. The P-47D, in general service by the spring of 1944, had a maximum speed of 440 miles (700 km) per hour and a ceiling of 40,000 feet (12,200 meters). [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Im using a combination of several source materials to tell the history of the area. It is perhaps the best-known of all the between wars Army pursuits. Contaminated water still plagues lakeside community in Michigan There are many different ways that PFOA and PFOS can affect the human body. In July 2018 the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), set the table for Congress to consider legislation that would force the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to extend health benefits to base veterans without making them prove their illnesses are linked to chemical exposure.

Graham Funeral Home Georgetown, Swift Air Flight Attendant, Brian Cross Obituary 2021, William Holden Interview, Articles W