Posts and surveys made on this website are opinions or suggestions of users of this website and are not representations, opinions or suggestions of U.S. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. On June 30, , 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. P-6E, serial number 32-156, 17th Pursuit Squadron from Selfridge Field Michigan. Aircraft was at Camp Skeel, Oscoda Michigan for Aerial Gunnery training. Today, the Wurtsmith Air Force Base has a museum where you can learn about its history. All four of the the guys that were in that flight were from Tuskegee, Losinksi said. 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. There were four planes, and I was watching them from our front window, as I usually do when theyre engaged in gunnery practice. "It was a city within a city. The P-39 had a unique configuration with the engine placed behind the pilot and the drive shaft running under the cockpit to the propeller. Me and Dan drive around base and check out the bunkers that held nuclear weapons during the cold war purposes only, and is not legal advice. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport became a public airport in 1993. This man later took the proposal to build a gunnery range to the people of Oscoda. 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. 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. [1]These KC-135s were necessary because the B-52 could not take off with both afull load of ordnance and a full tank of gas. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda Township, Mich. U.S. Department of Defense In Oscoda, authorities tracked the contamination of Van Etten Lake to Wurtsmith Air Force Base , which closed in 1993. They were stationed at the air base from 1986 to 1993. Continued study of ground-water contamination at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, defined the movement and distribution of volatile organic compounds in the glacial sand and gravel aquifer at known sites of contamination, and has defined new plumes at two other sites. [1] Mr. Norton, arrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air Force, Base in the fall of 1985. 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. 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, Wurtsmith Air Force Base has been an integral part of the United States Air Force from the 1920s to June 3rd 1993. Eielson Air Force base, Alaska. 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). These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. These levels were published by the Enviromental Protection Agency (Mlive.com). Drew said, Dad, thats an airplane., You could see the wings. The Wurtsmith Air Force Incident. The Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. 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. 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. With this long list of negative effects it is clearly a big health issue for local residents. Heart condition, prostate cancer, diabetic, sometimes confused in making decisions. The human-made chemicals are in your blood, your clothes, your cosmetics. A total 9589 Airacobras were built before production finally ended on July 25, 1944. The museum's exhibits are extensive and incredibly high-quality -- including several aircraft that can be examined up . The main mission of Oscoda Army Air Field, at the time, was to defend Sault Ste. She also has many other irregular health problems including bone death, fibromyalgia, irregular heartbeat, gastrointestinal problems, and underdeveloped reproductive organs. The last was delivered in December 1930. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A new report compiled by a local group, Need Our Water (NOW) and the National Wildlife Federation . Wurtsmith AFB Water Health Issues via water, Organochlorine Pesticides Levels at George AFB Family Housing. In 1960 it became part of the Strategic Air Command . Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, trained at Oscoda for several weeks and stayed on the base. Theyve seen lots of things underwater, but the story of the P-39 fighter lost just off the Port Huron beachfront touched them. They included chemicals like MEK, PD 680, TRI CHLOROFLOIANS, ACIDS, ALODIANS, ALL KINDS OF PAINTS, SPECIAL MISSILE SKIN REPAIR KITS. Located in Oscoda, Michigan this base is positioned no more than two miles off the shore of Lake Huron. Veterans of the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda from the 1970s, and their families who lived with them on the base, face increased risks of leukemia and other harmful effects from prolonged exposures to toxic volatile organic compounds that were in the now-shuttered base's water supply at the time, a federal health agency has found. The typical activities while not on ready alert varied greatlyfrom person to person. [1] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Basesignifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. [4] Its mission was tomaintain half of the fleet on a 15 minute alert, meaning the plane could be inthe air in 15 minutes, to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet preemptive missilestrike. The base was put into a standby status to be there just in case something happened in those areas. My ex wife has thyroid disease and auto immune disease. Wurtsmith AFB has a better paper trail showing irrefutable evidence of contamination of the base drinking water with Trichloroethelene (TCE) first discovered in 1977 as a result of a complaint from a base housing resident. out of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. There are a lot of stories to tell. The base is influential in Michigan, as well as the United States military history. In their letter, the members expressed their concerns that the Air Force's proposed remediation plan . It is primarily a large jet airplane salvage, jet engine maintenance and light general aviation . [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does NOT represent or warrant, and makes no claims, promises or guarantees about, the usefulness, completeness, adequacy or accuracy of any information, posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses contained in or linked to this website, or the competency, qualifications or identity of any person providing information or making a post, survey, topic, comment, blog or response contained in or linked to this website. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. The P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and fighter-bomber was used by the Allied air forces during World War II. The majority of married enlisted and officers preferred to live on base because of the free daycare for children. He was stationed at the base. A bomber squadron for example would be sent out to destroy a target and return to its home base within a week. Theseplanes would regularly fly missions from Wurtsmith Air Force Base during thecold war. This is desirable from a strategic standpoint, but for the airmen that served on the bases themselves this meant that they were removed from the vast majority of society. State officials' concerns about pollution in the area date back to 2012, when the health department issued a "do not eat" advisory for all fish caught near Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Had some issue at Loring Maine where I was stationed from 86-88 and nothing.VA is cricket s on this Richard Stanfill, 12/5/21I was stationed there from 1982 to October of 1985 and lost my left kidney to 3rd stage clear cell carcinoma I never smoked or did drugs. 1942 -- Camp Skeel is renamed Oscoda Army Air Field and becomes a P-47 fighter base. [1] This would result in a large amount of paperwork and extra expenses for the Air Force. [1], As new technologies and mission goals evolved with time the need for the Strategic Air Commands need for the northern tier became obsolete. 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. My first daughter was born there at their hospital.my ex husband now, is very sick. 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. I didnt know anything about the Tuskegee Airmen until we got into this.. [1] At some point over the week an alarm would sound, signaling to the flight crew that the B-52s had to be in the air. I was stationed there from 11/84-1989. Since 1994, the Wurtsmith Air Museum has upheld the mission of preserving the history of the history of Wurtsmith Air Force Base (an integral part of the US Air Force from 1923 until 1993) and aviation in Northeast Michigan. During those efforts, they noted several areas they wanted to investigate, including one about four miles north of the Blue Water Bridge. It was formed on 1 August 1961 to merge the 3908th Strategic Standardization Group for SAC aircrew evaluation with the 1st Radar Bomb Scoring Group that had originated from the 263rd Army Air Force Base Unit which transferred from 15th AF to directly under Strategic Air Command c. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. The average person has around 3 or 4 parts per billion of these chemicals present in their blood. Report also stated that the Oscoda Michigan gunnery field was very rough and sandy and notoriously hard on wheels, landing gears etc. I will try and highlight some of the most interesting aircraft and their stories!. Groundwater data collected in 1999 at Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Michigan), Tyndall Air Force Base (Florida) and Naval Air Station Fallon (Nevada), where PFC concentrations ranged from below detection limit to over 14,000 g/L, suggest that any military site where AFFFs have been used is likely to have a dissolved plume containing . These Air Force bases were remote. The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls. Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had manydifferent missions. Physical Location:4071 East Van Ettan StreetOscoda, Michigan 48750, Mailing Address:PO Box 664Oscoda, Michigan 48750, Tele: (989) 739-7555(Not answered Nov-Apr)Email:email@wurtsmithairmuseum.net, AN ARTIFACT FROM WURTSMITHS COLD WAR PAST HAS RETURNED HOME, There was one final project I wanted to accomplish before departing my assignment as Flight Commander of Aircrew Flight Equipment and SERE at the. Wurtsmith earned recognition during the war as the leader of the group of pilots using P-40 and P-38 fighter . [4] Over the tenure of the base it was home to an aerial gunnery range, a fighter-interceptor training base and later home to the 379th Bomb Wing as a member of the Strategic Air Command.[4]. The Lackland Air Force Base Education Center is located at 1550 Wurtsmith Street, Suite 5. . PFOA exposure is also shown to be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children between ages 12-15. 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. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. PORT HURON, Mich. David and Drew Losinski are struck by the coincidence. No injuries to the pilot. Even studies on fish have been done, where it was found that PFOA is a liver carcinogen in rainbow trout. The letter never said what I was objecting to, but that I was refusing to for a lawful order. Ellsworth Air Force base, South Dakota. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in northeastern Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. My mom was recently diagnosed a month ago with colon cancer and skin cancer and still being treated by a dr, my broth had sever ulcers his entire early childhood. This unfortunately happened on October 11. , 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. [1]After one week in the bunker on ready alert the flight crew would be relieved. This unfortunately happened on October 11th, 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. It was criticized for its low service ceiling, its slow rate of climb, and its generally poor high-altitude performance. The cockpit canopy offered exceptional all-round visibility for the pilot. These contaminants are harmful to the environment. On May 9, 1961, the base took delivery of its first new Boeing B-52 H Stratofortress, The State of Michigan. An unusual feature of the P-39 Airacobra was the automobile-type doors that had roll-down windows on each side of the cockpit. In 1979, the state of Michigan sued the Air Force for the contamination. Aircraft upper wing, left lower wing, rudder and propeller damaged. According to the Air Force's account, in October 1977, a Wurtsmith base housing resident complained about a peculiar odor and taste in the drinking water. This, flight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undisclosed. The airplane operated on a flight from Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport, MI to Oscoda-Wurtsmith AFB, MI (OSC). The aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. Residents of the Oscoda area raised $600 to clear 40 acres of land next to the lake as a spot for a training camp and target range. At least thirty French piloted P-47 aircraft accidents were reported at Oscoda AAF during the time period 1944-1945 and resulted in at least four pilots killed. 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 . Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. Veteran Compensation Programs (veteranprograms.com) assumes NO liability, and expressly disclaims any and all responsibility, for the content of all posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. [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. Ruben C. Moffat flew a P-6 converted with a supercharged Conqueror engine on a record-breaking flight. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Nothing contained herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of a competent Veteran Service Officer (VSO)in good standing and licensed to practice in your jurisdiction. The Airacobra reached its peak usage in the USAAF in early 1944, with over 2100 in service. Wurtsmith Today The former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (AFB) properties are being reutilized by 28 businesses and agencies that collectively employ more than 1,660 workers (representing 240 percent of civilian jobs lost). Veteran Compensation Programs. This includes extra parts, munitions, fuel, and flight crews. The history of Oscoda Military Aviation is the same as the History of the Air Force. Typically, brown-ish water occurs when there is large change in pressure/flow in a distribution system. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. WAFB began operations in 1923, under the name of Camp Skeel, and was officially named the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1953. The base is located in Oscoda, Iosco County, Michigan. https://www.oscairport.com/index.php/available-properties/, https://www.oscairport.com/index.php/development-site/, https://www.afhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/APH-Winter2016.pdf, http://www.armytimes.com/story/news/2014/07/30/divers-find-wreckage-of-world-war-ii-era-plane/13354373/, https://wurtsmithairmuseum.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Air-Refueling-Squadron-_-Real-People-_-George-Schlatter720p.mp4. 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. Wurtsmith Air Force Base. A Brief History of Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigans lower peninsula. 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. These high levels of PFOA elevate the risks of kidney cancer, mesothelioma, and diabetes. What's next? Why are you focusing only on chlordane and other organochlorine pesticide (OCP) contamination at the Family Housing? The former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), located in Oscoda, Iosco County, MI operated from 1924 to 1993. Today the Wurtsmith district is integral to the community's economic potential. On June 30th, 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. Although in the past the Wurtsmith Air Force Base was extremely successful there are some prevalent issues with it today. [5] One crew flew 29, mission out of Jeddah, setting the record for most missions flew by a bomber, crew in theater. Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does not monitor, pre-screen or moderate posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. The landing gear was changed from rubber-block shock absorbers inside the fuselage to oleo-and-spring units mounted in the outer forward strut. to the proper paperwork being completed to allow the missions to continue. [ 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 . One of these places included directly underneath the Oscoda high school. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. Anyone know the status on this? By Steve Elliott 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs. The EPA began requiring public water systems to monitor for PFOA and PFOS in 2012, but even today there is no federal drinking water standards for PFOA or PFOS. They want the site to remain a memorial divers can visit. .. did this bill die in the committee s? Only after, the plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not.[1]. Kelly mentioned she'd been thinking about getting . [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. The 4026th was a SAC Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing that had been organized on 1 August 1958. I lived in base housing, I want to say 8607H Ohio from 82-84. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is said to have originally started with a fishing trip between two men. Representatives Dan Kildee (MI-05) and Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) today urged the U.S. Air Force to take more significant steps to address PFAS contamination around the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base near Oscoda. With all of this in a single family, the V.A. The Strategic Air Command activated a wing there on August 1, 1958. These mission were into Iraq. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. Engine not damaged. ROME, N.Y. -- There was nothing small-scale about Griffiss Air Force Base in the 1990s. It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of five, northern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. [1] This meant that there was always at least threeB-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. Many of drums ruptured. [1] As soon as the wheels touched down the clock would be reset and they could be sent out on another assignment. The married enlisted airmen who lived on base lived in a condo type set up with their family. ircraft operated from Oscoda Army Airfield. We didnt know really what we had.. Everyone from the mechanics keeping the planes flyable, to the cooks, preparing food for the airmen stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, to the, commanders who ensured that everything from the flight schedules being correct. This is an evolving issue with many moving parts. Only afterthe plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not.