1946. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. U.S. Veteran Compensation Programs I served at Wursmith AFB from 1982 to 1989, living in base housing the entire time and drinking the water. There is an ongoing project to decontaminate the area. Heart condition, prostate cancer, diabetic, sometimes confused in making decisions. My daughter was born there on base in 1987 she has gastric issues, and was born w heart issues. This man later took the proposal to build a gunnery range to the people of Oscoda. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. The Strategic Air Command activated a wing there on August 1, 1958. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport - Wikipedia In addition, the rear fuselage was deepened in order that it could faire cleanly into the bottom of the radiator. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. Me and Dan drive around base and check out the bunkers that held nuclear weapons during the cold war 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 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. At the time, George was a hub of F-4 Phantom fighter jets and OV-10 Bronco reconnaissance planes. Our biodegradation . These bases wereresponsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. 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. Environmental groups issue report, 'setting the record straight' about Anyone know the status on this? 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. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls. [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]. 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. All four of the the guys that were in that flight were from Tuskegee, Losinksi said. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. The 1st Combat Evaluation Group (initially "1CEG", later "1CEVG") was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) unit. The history of Oscoda Military Aviation is the same as the History of the Air Force. The Losinskis found an account of the crash in the Times Herald. Did Wurtsmith Air Force Base cause health woes? - Detroit Free Press Tests in Michigan near the former Wurtsmith Air Force base have found PFOS in groundwater at levels as high as 42,000 ppt. Theyve seen lots of things underwater, but the story of the P-39 fighter lost just off the Port Huron beachfront touched them. Engine not damaged. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. Air Force Base was essentially a self-contained airport with all of the necessities to support a full community on Base. 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. They have been detected in air, water, soils, sediments, and in rain at levels that would be considered unsafe in drinking . For more information regarding services offered by the Lackland Air Force Base Education Center, call 210-671-2895 or DSN 473-2895. . The Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. Lt. Ennis also thought it would be a great place for young Army Air corps to test aircraft (WAFB.net). So now what? What they had was a one-seat warplane piloted by 2nd Lt. Frank H. Moody, of Los Angeles. With all of this in a single family, the V.A. My son, was born on the base, has a malformed aorta and congenital nerve damage hearing loss. Military's Filthy 50 sites contaminated with 'forever chemicals' haven The P-6 was generally similar to the P-1 in construction and appearance. 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. Section 107, the written material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for educational purposes. The runways were aligned NE/SW, E/W, and NW/SE. 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. A Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker plane, serial 60-0317, was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Oscoda-Wurtsmith AFB, MI (OSC), United States of America. The majority of married enlisted and officers preferred to live on base because of the free daycare for children. This unfortunately happened on October 11. , 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. It is perhaps the best-known of all the between wars Army pursuits. purposes only, and is not legal advice. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, trained at Oscoda for several weeks and stayed on the base. Lackland AFB, TX | Educational Services On May 9, 1961, the base took delivery of its first new Boeing B-52 H Stratofortress, The State of Michigan. What's next? This lead to Wurtsmith transferring to Air Combat Command control, and then on June 30th 1993, Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed. History. 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 . This is heinous, and my heart goes out to so many. Bert E. Skeel in 1924. In this June 6, 2018 photo, PFAS foam washes up on the shoreline of Van Etten Lake in Oscoda Township, Mich., near Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Lester Graham. This would cause some big problems for the fish and other life that lives beneath the surface. The Air Force . Wurtsmith Air Force Base | Detailed Pedia There were four planes, and I was watching them from our front window, as I usually do when theyre engaged in gunnery practice. [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctor's office, a . The ROAM system ensures that aircraft are serviced . This article is from 2018.. Former Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich. During World War II, P-47 fighters were assigned to Oscoda. The P-6 could climb to 10,000 feet in 6.6 min. Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. The Air Force knew that due to the method used to apply the pesticide, the building design flaw, that a completed exposure pathway (CEP) existed at a large percentage of its tenantable/habitual . Report also stated that the Oscoda Michigan gunnery field was very rough and sandy and notoriously hard on wheels, landing gears etc. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base - Alchetron, the free social encyclopedia During those efforts, they noted several areas they wanted to investigate, including one about four miles north of the Blue Water Bridge. 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. It is primarily a large jet airplane salvage, jet engine maintenance and light general aviation . [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue the, tradition from their World War II counterparts. She gave Kelly the rundown of the base. This year, we went out diving, and we could see these points of interest from the surface, Losinski said. [4] In the later, years 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. Contaminated water still plagues lakeside community in Michigan It has recently been discovered that that the base has been leaking chemicals into the surrounding waterways. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. The chemicals, notably benzene and trichloroethylene (TCE), were documented at extremely high levels in Wurstmith AFB water many times when the former Strategic Air Command (SAC) base was active and home to B-52 Bomber Wings. /. [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. U.S. Air Force should abide by state of Michigan's PFAS Standards, state must hold Air Force accountable. . U.S. 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 . 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 . The married officers lived in a standalone house with their family. Beginning in July 1944, the P-47 Thunderbolt was used extensively to train Free French Air Force pilots at Oscoda Army Air Field (AAF). A total of 15,683 Thunderbolts were produced by wars end, more than any other U.S. fighter. Marie and the straights of Mackinac. It was eerie, David Losinski said. The Airacobra reached its peak usage in the USAAF in early 1944, with over 2100 in service. 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. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Investigation determined a defective tire caused the accident. The Air Force's decline to commit to Michigan's standards is among a litany of frustrations Oscoda residents say they have . [3], www.nytimes.com/1988/10/12/us/six-are-killed-in-crash-of-an-air-force-tanker.html, www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html, www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Wurtsmith_AFB.htm, www.strategic-air-command.com/wings/0379bw.htm, http://ss.sites.mtu.edu/mhugl/2015/10/11/wurtsmith-air-force-base/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wurtsmith_Air_Force_Base. 70-77 lived on base housing with family, flight line assistant supervisor. 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. Mr. Norton experienced this first hand while being station at Wurtsmith Air Force Base when he had his Squadron Commander help him hang drywall in his house. Typically, brown-ish water occurs when there is large change in pressure/flow in a distribution system. [3], [1] Dave Norton, Former United States Air Force Captain, interviewed on 23 OCT 2017, [2] Ap. 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. Stationed there for 84-88 and am suffering with a motor neuron disease process. Download Images of Wurtsmith air force base - Free for commercial use, no attribution required. But these days, the county is becoming a haven for retired people such as the Kuhlmans . Their water table has been contaminated with high levels of PFOA because of the leakage of chemicals from Wurtsmith Air Force Base. They want the site to remain a memorial divers can visit. It had everything in it. Dallas Naval base, Texas. Only after, the plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not.[1]. I recall we lost a tanker on touch and goes which had to be extinguished with a massive amount of this chemical. It was renamed Camp Skeel in 1924, for the World War I Pilot Captain Burt E. Skeel, and was used as an aerial gunnery range and for winter maneuvers 1924 through 1944 by the 1st Pursuit . [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. With this long list of negative effects it is clearly a big health issue for local residents. All the artifacts that were taken off were replaced in their original position and original situation except for the tag we cleaned up, he said. These bases were, responsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. [1] This tight knit community was not confined to just the Air Force Base, but extended into the community as well. 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. The 4026th was a SAC Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing that had been organized on 1 August 1958. There are many people who were exposed to the Wurtsmith water that are now coming out and blaming the chemical filled drinking water for their health problems. Like the former Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth and Newington, the former Michigan base is now a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) site. Service ceiling 27,200 feet, and range was 260 miles. At the time, it was considered a vital Air Defense Command base and was equipped and manned with interceptor aircraft capable of flying over the North Pole into the Soviet Union. 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. The married enlisted airmen who lived on base lived in a condo type set up with their family. [1] Mr. Norton also landedthe first KC-135 in operation Southern Watch. (Superstorm) Sandy came along (in October) and moved things around, David Losinski said. I was stationed there 1978 -81 lived on base they never told us about the water being contaminated . I have had sever kidney problems since 1983 that carried on into my mid teens. The Air Force says, Any aircraft before 1961, weve abandoned it.. Military challenging states on $2 billion chemical liability - Unwell Water There were 10 passengers and six crew members on board. Wurtsmith Air, Force Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. This unfortunately happened on October 11th, 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. We offer visitors three hangars full of military (all branches) and aviation history, static aircraft displays, artifacts, equipment and lots of WAFB memorabilia. Military Bases Linked to Cancer and Health Problems There is no amount of PFOA that is officially recognized as harmful. However, many studies have shown otherwise. In a fly off against the contemporary Boeing P-12B, the P-6E was faster, but the P-12B was more maneuverable. Timothy Marcum, 1/15/2071-73 camp lejeune nc bad water va in redding pretends they know nothing about having problems. This, flight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undisclosed. to share information regarding health issues, and probable chemical exposure via base water sources. OSCODA, Mich. - Oscoda residents and PFAS activists today held a press conference on the shores of Van Etten Lake to set the record straight on the Air Force's contamination of their community from the former Wurtsmith Air . China Lake Naval base, California. 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. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. Today, the Wurtsmith Air Force Base has a museum where you can learn about its history. History Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. 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. More individuals impacted by these chemicals are Cindi and Lawrence Ashbeck. Even studies on fish have been done, where it was found that PFOA is a liver carcinogen in rainbow trout. Theyre looking for other divers who can assist with the effort. Veteran Compensation Programs (USVCP) (www.veteranprograms.com), and any of their associated websites is for general informational. Thisflight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undiscloseddistance from the bunker. Dover Air Force base, Delaware. CLU-IN | TechDirect and Newsletters > Technology News and Trends 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. [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. 1942 -- Camp Skeel is renamed Oscoda Army Air Field and becomes a P-47 fighter base. My husband and our two children lived there from 1985-1993 I have a nerve problem my daughter has autoimmune (MS) youngest daughter has kidney problems. In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. Wurtsmith Air Force Base, MI - DOD Base Family Housing It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. Wurtsmith airforce base bomb bunkers - YouTube It has been discovered that the chemicals that are impacting the health of these local citizens are chemicals that come from the foam that fire fighters used to put out fires that were on the base. Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of five, northern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. wurtsmith air force base - PICRYL [1] This meant that there was always at least three, B-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. We have a lot of sick civilians and = veterans from contaminated drinking water. If a banker had not taken Lt. Whitehead on a fishing trip there would not have been an Air Force Base in Oscoda Michigan. Its poor high-altitude performance was a result of a critical decision to remove the turbo-supercharger. 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. [6], During the Gulf War B-52s from Wurtsmith Air Force Base were flownout of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Im slowly working my way up from 1924 to the present. [1] This meant that there was always at least threeB-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. [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. 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. Weve done quite a bit of documenting and measuring, David Losinski said. U.S. Oscoda, Michigan and Tales of Wurtsmith Air Force Base - Postcard History The brown tint is (mostly) caused by scale build up in the pipes being knocked loose. With that being said, these chemicals are going to be reaching a lot more people than just the Oscoda residents. They are surely exposed to this chemical nearly every day, whether it be playing outside on the playground or from being exposed to the chemicals via drinking the water. Fast forward to 1992, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the US Air Force inactivated Strategic Air Command. This gave the Army operations the opportunity to begin creating the base we know today. 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. At this time Wurtsmith Air Force Base was still part of the, Strategic Air Commands bomber fleet. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Losinskis havent abandoned their quest to bring this long-forgotten chapter in the history of World War II to light. [THE FLINT JOURNAL VIA AP] Because of this KC-135 squadrons would routinely fly 175 day assignments and return to their home base. I was born on base November 1978, and lived on base with my mom, brother born 1989 on base, and my dad, a civil engineer stationed on base until oct 1982. Now I see this years later. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at Wurtsmith, Air Force Base. We came across the gauge cluster, which had the radio call tag, David Losinski said. Stay tuned for further developments. The KC-135s would finish one mission and there would be another one waiting for them as soon as they were available. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. The site of Wurtsmith Air Force Base is located 2 miles Northwest of Oscoda, Michigan, about 150 miles North of Detroit. [6] The 379th Bomb Wing wasdisbanded on June 30th 1993. 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. DOD Base Family Housing - Organochlorine Pesticide Contamination U.S. Military Once Again Pollutes Drinking Water and Won't Clean It Up [ 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 . Military History of the Upper Great Lakes, Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had many, different missions. Peters, Stabenow, Kildee, Slotkin Press | Senator Gary Peters [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. The state says, We dont have jurisdiction over that; its the Air Force, Losinski said. [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. While many of the airmen preferred to live on base it was possible for them to buy or rent a house or apartment off post. 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. 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. Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. Wurtsmith Air Force Base - Oscoda The cockpit canopy offered exceptional all-round visibility for the pilot. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. These levels were published by the Enviromental Protection Agency (Mlive.com). 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. 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. A single-seat low-wing fighter developed for the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) by Republic Aviation, it was the largest single-engined piston fighter ever produced. 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. [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 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). During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of fivenorthern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. 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. As long as these assignments were under 180 days they were considered Temporary Duty Assignments. There is an ongoing project to decontaminate the area. My daughter was born at the base hospital. From: Members of the ground crew move a maintenance cart into position next to a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft parked on the flight line. The 700 hp Conqueror engine was exceptionally powerful for its day, but it had many minor and some major faults which needed to be corrected. It remained named Camp Skeel until 1942 when it was renamed Oscoda Army Air Field (WAFB.net).
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