A ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to . Aircraft was at Camp Skeel, Oscoda Michigan for Aerial Gunnery training. The Losinskis found an account of the crash in the Times Herald. Now that the contamination has reached the Au Sable river, it could potentially carry this contamination into Lake Huron. If you, a friend, or loved one has been injured or died as a result of the contamination at a DOD Superfund Site please follow the steps that are outlined at Get Help. [5] While the 379thBomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the ReadyAlert Nuclear Strike Force. As soon as an assignment went over 180 days it was considered a permanent change in duty station. 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. [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctor's office, a . 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. Wurtsmith AirForce Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. Robert Krouse, 12/31/19Stationed at Wurtsmith AFB from 1978 to 1980 and lived in barracks. U.S. It was criticized for its low service ceiling, its slow rate of climb, and its generally poor high-altitude performance. The base is located in Oscoda, Iosco County, Michigan. Eielson Air Force base, Alaska. This lead to Wurtsmith transferring to Air Combat Command control, and then on June 30th 1993, Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed. 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 . I am pretty sure Diabetes and Sleep Apnea I have now and neuro dammage in both arms are related , So Presumptive Claims puzzleing I have a claim in and never heard anything I know Senator Kilddee of Michigan is trying to help veterans on this matter but congress are dragging this out. I was stationed there 1978 -81 lived on base they never told us about the water being contaminated . In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. On June 30th, 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. After a trip to the Boneyard in September 2019, hundreds of current and vintage photos are being sorted, scanned and uploaded. He saw the surrounding land and figured it would make a great place for a gunnery range. Why are you focusing only on chlordane and other organochlorine pesticide (OCP) contamination at the Family Housing? [1] As tensions increased around the world and the likelihood of an actual mission being flown while on ready alert increased, the weekbecame more stressful. Weve done quite a bit of documenting and measuring, David Losinski said. All four of the the guys that were in that flight were from Tuskegee, Losinksi said. A series of stringers were added to the fuselage sides to round out the cross section. They resumed the investigation last spring. .. did this bill die in the committee s? 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. 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 married enlisted airmen who lived on base lived in a condo type set up with their family. One example of this is autocross racing. [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. In 1932, Capt. Located in Oscoda, Michigan this base is positioned no more than two miles off the shore of Lake Huron. Most Air Corps/Force types used Oscoda at one time or another. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. 2 talking about this. This resulted in KC-135 squadrons spending a greater amount of time on temporary duty assignments than other squadrons from Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Anyone know the status on this? Wurtsmith Air Force base (Oscoda), Michigan; PFAS Water Contamination Map . [1] Most individuals are not educated on what the base did before and after World War II, what is currently happening at this . Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. 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. Maximum speed was 178 mph at sea level, 171 mph at 10,000 feet. The presumptive disabilities from contaminated water at Wurtsmith AFB would lead to automatic compensation to potentially thousands of veterans. 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. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. I have had many other health issues since and have recently found all of this. Theseplanes would regularly fly missions from Wurtsmith Air Force Base during thecold war. The P-6 could climb to 10,000 feet in 6.6 min. Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. At this time, the camp was renamed and the airfield was under III Fighter Command jurisdiction. 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. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. He was stationed at the 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. . My first assignment as a Nuclear Weapons specialist was at wurtsmith where we deployed the AGM 69A SRAM missile system. They have been detected in air, water, soils, sediments, and in rain at levels that would be considered unsafe in drinking . Welcome to The WAFB Historical Site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and the units assigned there. 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. [1] On the first Wednesday thefresh flight crew would relive the current flight crew in the bunkers. Theyre looking for other divers who can assist with the effort. 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. It had everything in it. 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. [6], During the Gulf War B-52s from Wurtsmith Air Force Base were flownout of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 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], The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. PFOA exposure is also shown to be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children between ages 12-15. During those efforts, they noted several areas they wanted to investigate, including one about four miles north of the Blue Water Bridge. The history of Oscoda Military Aviation is the same as the History of the Air Force. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. She gave Kelly the rundown of the base. [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]. The base was first named after Capt. After being relieved, the flight crew had until the following Monday morning, off. Investigation determined a defective tire caused the accident. 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. China Lake Naval base, California. [6] The 379th Bomb Wing was, Dave Norton resigned his commotion as a United States Air Force, , 1993 exactly 9 years after receiving his commission, Lt. form the United States Air Force Academy. 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. Following cleanup, operation and maintenance activities are ongoing. No injuries to the pilot. the first KC-135 in operation Southern Watch. Air Force Base was essentially a self-contained airport with all of the necessities to support a full community on Base. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. At the time, George was a hub of F-4 Phantom fighter jets and OV-10 Bronco reconnaissance planes. The state says, We dont have jurisdiction over that; its the Air Force, Losinski said. 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. They were stationed at the air base from 1986 to 1993. I have had sever kidney problems since 1983 that carried on into my mid teens. [1], As new technologies and mission goals evolved with time the need for the Strategic Air Commands need for the northern tier became obsolete. 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. [1] This meant that there was always at least threeB-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. 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. 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. [1], The usefulness and mission type of the KC-135 in maintaining air superiority, as well as supporting missions originating in the United States meant that they would have longer assignments, as well as much more fluid assignments than other types of squadrons. They want the site to remain a memorial divers can visit. There is an ongoing project to decontaminate the area. Major Gary Geiger assigned to the 911TH Safety Office with me back in the late 60's or early 70's was a Navitgator on the B-52's assigned to Westover AFB as he used to tell me when we deployed there do not know if he did time at Wurstmith AFB. [1], As new technologies and mission goals evolved with time the need for the Strategic Air Commands need for the northern tier became obsolete. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. "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. Over the course of Mr. Nortons career as both a KC-135 Navigatorand a DC-10 Pilot, Mr. Norton served as a flight commander, served numerousdeployments during the Gulf War escorting fighter squadrons from the UnitedStates into theater, supporting fighter squadrons and bomber squadrons intheater, served multiple temporary duty assignments to England, Spain, SaudiArabia, Alaska, and other Air Force Bases around the globe. This would cause some big problems for the fish and other life that lives beneath the surface. Although in the past the Wurtsmith Air Force Base was extremely successful there are some prevalent issues with it today. History Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. 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). He was training with fellow pilots out of what was then Selfridge Field when his plane crashed. 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. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. 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. USVCP Not A U.S. Government Publication. The human-made chemicals are in your blood, your clothes, your cosmetics. [5] The 379th Bomb Wing immediately continued the 4026thStrategic Wing operations and training. The site of Wurtsmith Air Force Base is located 2 miles Northwest of Oscoda, Michigan, about 150 miles North of Detroit. During World War II, P-47 fighters were assigned to Oscoda. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. 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. Airport History. Timothy Marcum, 1/15/2071-73 camp lejeune nc bad water va in redding pretends they know nothing about having problems. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategicwing as it was disbanded. In March of 1943, the Third Air Force reactivated the field for training of black aviators. Even studies on fish have been done, where it was found that PFOA is a liver carcinogen in rainbow trout. 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. ROME, N.Y. -- There was nothing small-scale about Griffiss Air Force Base in the 1990s. still rejects and "nexus" to the toxic chemicals on the 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. Tests in Michigan near the former Wurtsmith Air Force base have found PFOS in groundwater at levels as high as 42,000 ppt. 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. The runways were aligned NE/SW, E/W, and NW/SE. As a young airman, assumed we were returning the stuff to supply to send to the next base. Stationed there for 84-88 and am suffering with a motor neuron disease process. It remained named Camp Skeel until 1942 when it was renamed Oscoda Army Air Field (WAFB.net). I like combining historical photographs with the stories behind them. Having high amounts of this chemical directly underneath their high school could have serious long-term effects on the kids that attend school as well as the faculty. Today, the Wurtsmith Air Force Base has a museum where you can learn about its history. 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. [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. Published August 24, 2021 at 4:15 PM EDT. 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 majority of married enlisted and officers preferred to live on base because of the free daycare for children. [1] Mr. Norton, arrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air Force, Base in the fall of 1985. [3], [1] Dave Norton, Former United States Air Force Captain, interviewed on 23 OCT 2017, [2] Ap. The Air Force says, Any aircraft before 1961, weve abandoned it.. 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. 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. 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. The Au Sable River is an attraction for families all around Michigan. The intent is to create a self-help registry for those who were harmed by the extremely toxic organochlorine pesticide contamination detected at Military Family Housing. TCE in another well on Jet Street near the present day Wurtsmith AFB museum was 1,739-ppb. Bert E. Skeel was a WWI pilot who died in an air race in Ohio. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at Wurtsmith, Air Force Base. 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. These organizations primarily fall into seven types of activities: aviation, manufacturing, technology, medical, housing, education, community services and technology. View All Homes - Homes for Rent In 2016, residents near Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan discovered that the water they drank, bathed in, swam in, and fished in was contaminated with jet fuel, cancer-causing chlorinated . These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. My ex wife has thyroid disease and auto immune disease. Service ceiling 27,200 feet, and range was 260 miles. According to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the private well located across the road from Oscoda High School tested about the 70 parts-per-trillion advisory level that was established for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS). A total 9589 Airacobras were built before production finally ended on July 25, 1944. This article is from 2018.. The documentary by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim focuses on PFAS contamination at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. I was stationed there 1988-1992. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. 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). Ellsworth Air Force base, South Dakota. Thisflight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undiscloseddistance from the bunker. [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. purposes only, and is not legal advice. On April 1, 1960, Strategic Air Command assumed operational control of what was then Wurtsmith Air Force Base from Air Defense Command; on Jan. 9, 1961, the 379th Bombardment Wing, flying B-52H's and KC-135A's, became the host unit. 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. 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. Just run the water until it clears up. 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. Lee N. 2023 Aspyre Media Group, LLC. There are many different ways that PFOA and PFOS can affect the human body. For more information regarding services offered by the Lackland Air Force Base Education Center, call 210-671-2895 or DSN 473-2895. . 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 Air Force Base has been an integral part of the United States Air Force from the 1920's to June 3rd 1993. . [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. Im using a combination of several source materials to tell the history of the area. Weights were 2450 lb. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. [5] Wurtsmith AFB, Mich SAC 379th Bomb Wing B-52, www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Wurtsmith_AFB.htm. 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] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Basesignifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. The brown tint is (mostly) caused by scale build up in the pipes being knocked loose. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, trained at Oscoda for several weeks and stayed on the base. At this time Wurtsmith Air Force Base was still part of theStrategic Air Commands bomber fleet. Typical occurrences on Wurtsmith Air Force Base included planes flying in and out on missions. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. He brought this idea to the attention of his squadron commander Major Carl Spaatz. 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. This, flight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undisclosed. The typical activities while not on ready alert varied greatlyfrom person to person. 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. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. 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. 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. 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 . 1942 -- Camp Skeel is renamed Oscoda Army Air Field and becomes a P-47 fighter 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. On June 30, , 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. U.S. Air Force should abide by state of Michigan's PFAS Standards, state must hold Air Force accountable. The study doesn't estimate past concentrations or exposure dosage and was released with . The P-6 was generally similar to the P-1 in construction and appearance. He flew from Dayton, Ohio to Washington, D.C. at a speed of approximately 266 mph, at an altitude of 25,000 ft. At one point, they had to use these toxic foam chemicals to put out a fire at the Oscoda High School in 1995. A ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to sou Here is a list of military bases that are known to have had their drinking water contaminated with PFAS chemicals: Alameda Naval base, California. More individuals impacted by these chemicals are Cindi and Lawrence Ashbeck. [1] This was followed by one and a half weeks of normal day to day activitiesuntil the flight crew relieved crew on ready alert in the bunkers.[1]. U.S. This is very dear to my heart and want to get involved however I can. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. Prior to our IOC inspection for the SRAM we were ordered to clean out igloos full of barrels 5gal to 55gal drums,1,000s of gallons which had been ordered by mistake to start the system. 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. The 1st Combat Evaluation Group (initially "1CEG", later "1CEVG") was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) unit. Wurtsmith earned recognition during the war as the leader of the group of pilots using P-40 and P-38 fighter . 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. 1944 -- Maj. Gen. Paul B. Wurtsmith, born in Detroit in 1906, led U. S. Army Air Corps training flights to Camp Skeel near Oscoda prior to World War II. The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls.
James Campanella Judge, Active Shooter In Marshall Mi, Thornfield Hall Thompson, Ct, Roy Sullivan Death Plainfield, Nj, Articles W