For the civil use of this facility and airport information, see Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in northeastern Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is perhaps the best-known of all the between wars Army pursuits. The Strategic Air Command activated a wing there on August 1, 1958. Veteran Compensation Programs. ircraft operated from Oscoda Army Airfield. distance from the bunker. The state says, We dont have jurisdiction over that; its the Air Force, Losinski said. With that being said, these chemicals are going to be reaching a lot more people than just the Oscoda residents. Aircraft rolled 630 feet before nosing over. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. [1] Mr. Norton also landed. Facebook: Wurtsmith AFB Water Health Issues via water Created to serve as a reference point for former WAFB residents to share information regarding health issues, and probable chemical exposure via base water sources. I worked on the flight line. 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. As previously stated, there is a museum open to the public which has artifacts and information on the bases history. Wurtsmith Air Force Base - Oscoda, MI - Civilian Exposure The tire bead failed, allowing the casing to slip over the rim on one side and bind on edge of the wheel fairing on takeoff. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. Investigation determined a defective tire caused the accident. If there's a main break, sections of the base will . Today, the Wurtsmith Air Force Base has a museum where you can learn about its history. I have always scheduled an apt with my dr to talk about the possibility of how this may have affected me. Feds: Wurtsmith veterans could get cancer, other health problems from By Steve Elliott 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs. Tests in Michigan near the former Wurtsmith Air Force base have found PFOS in groundwater at levels as high as 42,000 ppt. 70-77 lived on base housing with family, flight line assistant supervisor. Kelly mentioned she'd been thinking about getting . Theseplanes would regularly fly missions from Wurtsmith Air Force Base during thecold war. 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 KC-135s would finish one mission and there would be another one waiting for them as soon as they were available. There are many good photos of P-39s at Selfridge Field (Posted below), but none of P-39s at Oscoda. Now, I have been diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney failure and congestive heart disease, I am currently on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant. [1] This meant that there was always at least three, B-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. It still haunts me today that we had to do that and were told to just follow orders. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. The single officers who lived on base lived in a dorm type building. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. Former military base a magnet for retirees - middletownpress.com This, flight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undisclosed. Stationed there for 84-88 and am suffering with a motor neuron disease process. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in Iosco County, Michigan.It operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. The ROAM system ensures that aircraft are serviced . Located in Iosco County, Michigan, Wurtsmith Air Force Base operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. With this long list of negative effects it is clearly a big health issue for local residents. This is very dear to my heart and want to get involved however I can. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. It had a commissary, a gas station, a hospital, housing, a bowling alley," said veteran Michael Grogan. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport - Wikipedia 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 . purposes only, and is not legal advice. The plane was equipped with the cannon and four .50-caliber machine guns two mounted on the wings, two more just behind the propeller and timed to fire through the spinning blades. As a young airman, assumed we were returning the stuff to supply to send to the next base. He said the wreckage from the plane is scattered across the lake bottom. The base came to be because of chance. By comparing the concentrations of known fluorosurfactants with the total organofluorine, less than 10% of the fluorosurfactants were identified in half of the samples. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Congress set a May 2022 deadline for the DOD to report on the cleanup status of these bases, the Filthy 50, with extremely high levels of PFAS contamination. Home - Wurtsmith Air Museum Report also stated that the Oscoda Michigan gunnery field was very rough and sandy and notoriously hard on wheels, landing gears etc. [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. Survived stage 3 oral cancer and per medical review, origin unknown since I have never smoked. Although in the past the Wurtsmith Air Force Base was extremely successful there are some prevalent issues with it today. We came across the gauge cluster, which had the radio call tag, David Losinski said. It was eerie, David Losinski said. [1] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Base, signifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. [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. DOD Base Family Housing - Organochlorine Pesticide Contamination A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. Most individuals are not educated on what the base did before and after World War II, what is currently happening at this . 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). It has recently been discovered that that the base has been leaking chemicals into the surrounding waterways. The M&FRC is located at 1550 Wurtsmith St . The Air Force says, Any aircraft before 1961, weve abandoned it.. For more information regarding services offered by the Lackland Air Force Base Education Center, call 210-671-2895 or DSN 473-2895. . The P-6 was generally similar to the P-1 in construction and appearance. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. A bomber squadron for example would be sent out to destroy a target and return to its home base within a week. Eielson Air Force base, Alaska. Ground-water contamination at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan - USGS [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. I still stay in touch with Gary but do not know if he has an e-mail account. 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. Thisflight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undiscloseddistance from the bunker. These Air Force bases were remote. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. Lora Cole, 1/8/20 I am the daughter to a vet that was in this I was a baby at the time. But these days, the county is becoming a haven for retired people such as the Kuhlmans . "The Department of Defense is evaluating [cleanup standards], and we take our lead from what the Department of Defense says," said Stephen TerMaath, who leads the Air Force division in charge of Wurtsmith cleanup. 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. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue thetradition from their World War II counterparts. Heavily armed with eight wing-mounted 0.50-inch (12.7-mm) machine guns, it could carry a bomb load of as much as 2,500 pounds (1,100 kg) and could carry ten 5-inch (127-mm) rockets beneath the wings. The result was an airplane which had a much deeper and broader fuselage than did the P-1. I kept up with all this for a while then gave up. Wurtsmith Air Force Base has been an integral part of the United States Air Force from the 1920's to June 3rd 1993. . 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 . 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. 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. While these crews were on ready alert they did not have a wholelot to do. [1] This meant that there was always at least threeB-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. [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. Michigan Radio. At one point, they had to use these toxic foam chemicals to put out a fire at the Oscoda High School in 1995. I saw a big splash, and then the plane went out of sight.. To all who are interested in the Camp Skeel/Oscoda AAF/Wurtsmith AFB History. [1], As new technologies and mission goals evolved with time the need for the Strategic Air Commands need for the northern tier became obsolete. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport became a public airport in 1993. 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. He was stationed at the base. 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. Wurtsmith Air Force Base | Detailed Pedia If a banker had not taken Lt. Whitehead on a fishing trip there would not have been an Air Force Base in Oscoda Michigan. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. The Air Force . Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of fivenorthern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. Airport History. See: Organochlorine Pesticides Levels at George AFB Family Housing, CERCLA 120(h) Quitclaim Deed Restrictions for the George AFB Family Housing, Organochlorine Pesticide Contamination at George AFB Schools, Terri Crooks won her VA C&P Claim for service connected injury for her exposure to chlordane and other organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), Frank Vera www.BaseFamilyHousing.Info PO Box 1313 Jamestown, CA, 95327-1313 Phone: 209-782-4541, Copyright 2020 - BaseFamilyHousing.Info. 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. Military bases are known for significant staffing turnover. [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 Losinskis said they want to preserve the site for people to dive on. Most individuals are not educated on what the base did before and after World War II, what is currently happening at this location, or how the historical space is impacting the land and local citizens today. The P-6E was quite a good-looking airplane, and became the most famous of the Hawk line of biplane fighters. Anyone know the status on this? On June 30th, 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. What are PFAS, how toxic are they and how do you become exposed? This gave the Army operations the opportunity to begin creating the base we know today. The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport - Ready to launch | Business View Magazine Wurtsmith Air Museum (Oscoda) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go 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. [1] This would result in a large amount of paperwork and extra expenses for the Air Force. At this time, the camp was renamed and the airfield was under III Fighter Command jurisdiction. Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. I served at Wurtsmith from 1974-1977 my whole family has suffered from various ongoing ailments. Mrs. Cecil V. Fowler saw the crash, according to the Times Herald article. Weve done quite a bit of documenting and measuring, David Losinski said. During the Cold War, the base became part of Strategic Air Command. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/04/wurtsmith_pfas_pfc_april_45_me.html. Welcome to The WAFB Historical Site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and the units assigned there. [1] This tight knit community was not confined to just the Air Force Base, but extended into the community as well. In March of 1943, the Third Air Force reactivated the field for training of black aviators. Investigating PFAS in Michigan | ATSDR It is one of the most famous bases located in our state. 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 . Wurtsmith Air Force Base Toxic Exposure | ELG Law 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.

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