While the vast majority of personnel on Wurtsmith AirForce Base were not part of a flight crew rotating through ready alert, theirrespective jobs all served to ensure those planes could take off at a momentsnotice. Lee N. 2023 Aspyre Media Group, LLC. Maximum speed was 178 mph at sea level, 171 mph at 10,000 feet. 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. This unfortunately happened on October 11. , 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. Typical occurrences on Wurtsmith Air Force Base included planes flying in and out on missions. In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport became a public airport in 1993. The cockpit was fairly easy to enter and exit, but the doors had a tendency to fly open in midair at high speed if improperly secured. WAFB began operations in 1923, under the name of Camp Skeel, and was officially named the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1953. [ 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 . As seen, in the picture of the runways, there is a Christmas tree coming off of the, beginning of the runway with a building next to it. Weve done quite a bit of documenting and measuring, David Losinski said. 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. The B-52 is being serviced under the Strategic Air Command Recovery Oriented Aircraft Maintenance (ROAM) system. 2 talking about this. We didnt know really what we had.. Because the Committee on Toxicology (NRC, 1979) concluded that it could not determine a level of exposure to chlordane below which there would be no biologic effect under conditions of prolonged exposure of families in military housing. The pesticide levels and CERCLA 120(h) Deed Restrictions are public information and readily available. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. One of these men were named Lt. Ennis Whitehead. Eielson Air Force base, Alaska. Drinking water laced with high levels of poisonous chemicals may be to blame for cancer and other chronic disease among veterans and families who lived at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northern Michigan, according to a new federal health report draft. [1] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Basesignifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/04/wurtsmith_pfas_pfc_april_45_me.html. 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. These chemicals have been shown to cause problems with thyroid, liver, kidney, reproduction, and other health problems. I was stationed there 1988-1992. The gunnery range was tasked with training pilots fromSelfridge air base in the challenging maneuvers required to land a DeHavillandbiplane on the frozen lake Van Etten for the young Army Air Corps. This bunker compound housed, the flight crews on ready alert, the three B-52 bombers ready to take off at a, moments notice, and the accompanying KC-135s ready to top off the B-52s after takeoff. [1] This meant that they could be flying a mission supporting a fighter squadron in Iraq, then be redirected to refuel a bomber squadron over Saudi Arabia, then fly back to Spain to land. This weapon system used some hazardous and a lot of special chemicals to support it. [1] As soon as the wheels touched down the clock would be reset and they could be sent out on another assignment. It remained named Camp Skeel until 1942 when it was renamed Oscoda Army Air Field (WAFB.net). A new report compiled by a local group, Need Our Water (NOW) and the National Wildlife Federation . History. The Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. They resumed the investigation last spring. 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. We thought that was kind of unbelievable.. I have also read about the PFAS via fire retardant foam. They were stationed at the air base from 1986 to 1993. In 1953 it was renamed Wurtsmith Air Force Base after Michigan native, Major General Paul Wurtsmith. WAFB closed in 1993 and is gradually being turned over to the Oscoda Airport Authority for reuse as an industrial park and airfield (EPA 2012). 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. This lead to Wurtsmith transferring to Air Combat Command control, and then on June 30th 1993, Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed. JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas - Announced in late 2021 by the spouse of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Sharene Brown, it increases focus and attention on the top five quality of life challenges military families face. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Just run the water until it clears up. [THE FLINT JOURNAL VIA AP] I served at Wurtsmith from 1974-1977 my whole family has suffered from various ongoing ailments. But these days, the county is becoming a haven for retired people such as the Kuhlmans . I do hope there is information on Wurtsmith AFB soon. Marie and the straights of Mackinac. U.S. To gain a measure of the extremely high levels of contaminated drinking water, according to the ATSDR, TCE levels in a well at the corner of Arrow Street and N. Skeel Avenue were as high as 5,173 parts-per-billion (ppb) during 1977, 1978, & 1979 tests, which is more than 1,000 times the EPA's current limit of 5-ppb for TCE in drinking water. It had everything in it. 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. Everyone from the mechanics keeping the planes flyable, to the cookspreparing food for the airmen stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, to thecommanders who ensured that everything from the flight schedules being correctto the proper paperwork being completed to allow the missions to continue. They want the site to remain a memorial divers can visit. The story stated Moody and three other pilots were taking gunnery practice about three miles north of Port Huron. Me and Dan drive around base and check out the bunkers that held nuclear weapons during the cold war The EPA Superfund Contaminants of Concern Update of June 3, 2016 lists all the same contaminants listed in 38-3307(7)(i) as it relates to USMC Camp Lejeune water contaminants. The Losinskis are divers David has been diving since 1977; his son, Drew, since 2002 and both are former members of the St. Clair County Dive Team. 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). 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. This resulted in KC-135 squadrons spending a greater amount of time on temporary duty assignments than other squadrons from Wurtsmith Air Force Base. [1] Mr. Nortonarrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air ForceBase in the fall of 1985. The 5,221-acre site is bounded by Van Etten Lake to the north and east . China Lake Naval base, California. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue thetradition from their World War II counterparts. The Tuskegee Airmen were African-American members of the 332nd Fighter Group and 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Force who fought in Europe during World War II. The aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. [4] In the lateryears of World War II Wurtsmith Air Force Base was used as a fighter-interceptor training base and housed the 332d fighter group, which was part of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. He was training with fellow pilots out of what was then Selfridge Field when his plane crashed. One specific and important waterway being affected by these pollutants is the Au Sable River. 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. A bomber squadron for example would be sent out to destroy a target and return to its home base within a week. Wurtsmith Air Force base (Oscoda), Michigan; PFAS Water Contamination Map . A short time later in July 1944 it was being used to train Free French Air Force pilots, which eventually led to more and more training and more and more storage of aircraft like the B-52G (oscairport.com). In their letter, the members expressed their concerns that the Air Force's proposed remediation plan . [1], The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. It still haunts me today that we had to do that and were told to just follow orders. 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. It was eerie, David Losinski said. He flew from Dayton, Ohio to Washington, D.C. at a speed of approximately 266 mph, at an altitude of 25,000 ft. As soon as an assignment went over 180 days it was considered a permanent change in duty station. Because of the restriction of being close to the Christmas tree theyresorted to playing cards, working out, reading, and sleeping while they werenot conducting recurrent training to stay up to date and proficient on theirequipment. City Picto Map, Clark Air Base / Angeles City. To all who are interested in the Camp Skeel/Oscoda AAF/Wurtsmith AFB History. 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. In 1977 the 379th Bomb Wing upgraded the B-52H fleet to B-52Gaircraft. Leaking chemical storage tanks and waste disposal operations contaminated soil and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. Thisflight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undiscloseddistance from the bunker. 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. Wurtsmith got its start in 1923 as Loud-Reames Aviation Field, a soft-surface landing site for Arm Air Corps aircraft from Selfridge Field. The last was delivered in December 1930. Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had manydifferent missions. Kelly mentioned she'd been thinking about getting . In March of 1943, the Third Air Force reactivated the field for training of black aviators. The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls. At one point, they had to use these toxic foam chemicals to put out a fire at the Oscoda High School in 1995. TCE in another well on Jet Street near the present day Wurtsmith AFB museum was 1,739-ppb. 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. . During those efforts, they noted several areas they wanted to investigate, including one about four miles north of the Blue Water Bridge. More individuals impacted by these chemicals are Cindi and Lawrence Ashbeck. Veteran Compensation Programs (USVCP) (www.veteranprograms.com), and any of their associated websites is for general informational. Military bases are known for significant staffing turnover. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. PORT HURON, Mich. David and Drew Losinski are struck by the coincidence. I remember getting a letter of counseling when I wanted to object as a warning what could happen. While the vast majority of personnel on Wurtsmith Air, Force Base were not part of a flight crew rotating through ready alert, their, respective jobs all served to ensure those planes could take off at a moments, notice. The married enlisted airmen who lived on base lived in a condo type set up with their family. The site of Wurtsmith Air Force Base is located 2 miles Northwest of Oscoda, Michigan, about 150 miles North of Detroit. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. Aug 24, 2021. These levels were published by the Enviromental Protection Agency (Mlive.com). [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. There were frequently extremely large and loud airplanes taxiing, taking off, and landing in the base. 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. It excelled in low-altitude ground support as a well-built and reliable aircraft capable of absorbing quite a bit of battle damage. [1] On the first Wednesday the, fresh flight crew would relive the current flight crew in the bunkers. An unusual feature of the P-39 Airacobra was the automobile-type doors that had roll-down windows on each side of the cockpit. On June 30, , 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. Traci Kroushour, an Oscoda resident until the age of 12, had her uterus removed at the age of 28 and can never have children. Located in Oscoda, Michigan this base is positioned no more than two miles off the shore of Lake Huron. Survived stage 3 oral cancer and per medical review, origin unknown since I have never smoked. Comprehensive Base Plan, Department of the Air Force, Directorate of Engineering and Services DCS/PRE - Washington DC 1 April 1970 (revised 12 July 1978) . 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. This would cause some big problems for the fish and other life that lives beneath the surface. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. The P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and fighter-bomber was used by the Allied air forces during World War II. I saw a big splash, and then the plane went out of sight.. [6] The 379th Bomb Wing wasdisbanded on June 30th 1993. Off Base Housing. [1] [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. 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. 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. All four of the the guys that were in that flight were from Tuskegee, Losinksi said. It is one of the most famous bases located in our state. At the time, George was a hub of F-4 Phantom fighter jets and OV-10 Bronco reconnaissance planes. The sources Im using include The Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFRA); Photo collections from Wurtsmith Museum; Photo collections from Selfridge Museum, Selfridge AFB Historical files; and Aircraft Accident Reports. 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. It is one of the most famous bases located in our state. Since, 2010 sampling by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the U.S. Air Force has identified elevated levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in drinking water wells and some locally caught fish and deer. This judgement flies in the face provided by the federal ATSDR and the National Institute of Health. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. The documentary by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim focuses on PFAS contamination at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. These bases wereresponsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. PFOA exposure is also shown to be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children between ages 12-15. The Air Force's decline to commit to Michigan's standards is among a litany of frustrations Oscoda residents say they have . Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. Lt. Ennis also thought it would be a great place for young Army Air corps to test aircraft (WAFB.net). Its poor high-altitude performance was a result of a critical decision to remove the turbo-supercharger. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. This is a very big issue for the people of Oscoda and the surrounding areas for obvious reasons. ircraft operated from Oscoda Army Airfield. The base is located in Oscoda, Iosco County, Michigan. [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. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at Wurtsmith, Air Force Base. 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. The "Red Tail" P-51 Mustangs flown by the Tuskeegee Airmen []. 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. The 4026th was a SAC Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing that had been organized on 1 August 1958. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons firstpermanent duty station in the United States Air Force.[1]. [5] While the 379thBomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the ReadyAlert Nuclear Strike Force. This unfortunately happened on October 11th, 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. There are a lot of stories to tell. Heart condition, prostate cancer, diabetic, sometimes confused in making decisions. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. [3], [1] Dave Norton, Former United States Air Force Captain, interviewed on 23 OCT 2017, [2] Ap. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Stationed there for 84-88 and am suffering with a motor neuron disease process. What they had was a one-seat warplane piloted by 2nd Lt. Frank H. Moody, of Los Angeles. The popular legend, supported by interviews and other historical documents, is that Wurtsmith was established as the direct result of a fishing trip by Lt. Ennis Whitehead (later Lt. Gen. Whitehead, commander of the Fifth and Far Eastern Air Forces during and after World War . [1], As new technologies and mission goals evolved with time the need for the Strategic Air Commands need for the northern tier became obsolete. 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. U.S. Only afterthe plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not. Call 205.328.9200 Claim Application. [1], As new technologies and mission goals evolved with time the need for the Strategic Air Commands need for the northern tier became obsolete. This man later took the proposal to build a gunnery range to the people of Oscoda. to the proper paperwork being completed to allow the missions to continue. With this long list of negative effects it is clearly a big health issue for local residents. 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 flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue the, tradition from their World War II counterparts. [1] This tight knit community was not confined to just the Air Force Base, but extended into the community as well. Aircraft rolled 630 feet before nosing over. I worked on the flight line. This is very dear to my heart and want to get involved however I can. 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. These high levels of PFOA elevate the risks of kidney cancer, mesothelioma, and diabetes. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. Drinking water laced with high levels of poisonous chemicals may be to blame for cancer and other chronic disease among veterans and families who lived at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northern Michigan, according to a new federal health report draft. This article is from 2018.. The single officers who lived on base lived in a dorm type building. 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. I will try and highlight some of the most interesting aircraft and their stories!. 1942 -- Camp Skeel is renamed Oscoda Army Air Field and becomes a P-47 fighter base. According to Robert Delaney, a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality specialist, If you pull the water out of the ground in that training area, it still foams, theres so much in there. Since this entire problem stems from the fact that the foam used to extinguish fires on the base is what carried the toxic chemical, that goes to show just how invasive and problematic this contamination can be.