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. Veteran Compensation Programs. https://www.oscairport.com/index.php/available-properties/, https://www.oscairport.com/index.php/development-site/, https://www.afhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/APH-Winter2016.pdf, http://www.armytimes.com/story/news/2014/07/30/divers-find-wreckage-of-world-war-ii-era-plane/13354373/, https://wurtsmithairmuseum.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Air-Refueling-Squadron-_-Real-People-_-George-Schlatter720p.mp4. The P-6E was quite a good-looking airplane, and became the most famous of the Hawk line of biplane fighters. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. By Steve Elliott 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs. .. did this bill die in the committee s? The Realignment of Griffiss Air Force Base. By comparing the concentrations of known fluorosurfactants with the total organofluorine, less than 10% of the fluorosurfactants were identified in half of the samples. We offer visitors three hangars full of military (all branches) and aviation history, static aircraft displays, artifacts, equipment and lots of WAFB memorabilia. He said the wreckage from the plane is scattered across the lake bottom. 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. [5] One crew flew 29, mission out of Jeddah, setting the record for most missions flew by a bomber, crew in theater. 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. I didnt know anything about the Tuskegee Airmen until we got into this.. 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. These bases wereresponsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. Wurtsmith earned recognition during the war as the leader of the group of pilots using P-40 and P-38 fighter . Weve done quite a bit of documenting and measuring, David Losinski said. 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. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. In March of 1943, the Third Air Force reactivated the field for training of black aviators. Before we move on to that, however, it is very much worth examining a very similar incident that occurred over Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan on 30 th October. City Picto Map, Clark Air Base / Angeles City. "It was a city within a city. It has found from testing this area that some places to have over 1000 parts-per-trillion for PFOS and PFOA. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. Within a few days, a mere 28 Airmen established housing for over 400 personnel, replete with . GitHub export from English Wikipedia. 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. Dallas Naval base, Texas. [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. It excelled in low-altitude ground support as a well-built and reliable aircraft capable of absorbing quite a bit of battle damage. Learn how your comment data is processed. /. Thanks for sending to you and Pat. The base is influential in Michigan, as well as the United States military history. 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 . [1], Over the course of Mr. Nortons career as both a KC-135 Navigator, and a DC-10 Pilot, Mr. Norton served as a flight commander, served numerous, deployments during the Gulf War escorting fighter squadrons from the United, States into theater, supporting fighter squadrons and bomber squadrons in, theater, served multiple temporary duty assignments to England, Spain, Saudi, Arabia, Alaska, and other Air Force Bases around the globe. The B-52 is being serviced under the Strategic Air Command Recovery Oriented Aircraft Maintenance (ROAM) system. Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA. This year, we went out diving, and we could see these points of interest from the surface, Losinski said. An unusual feature of the P-39 Airacobra was the automobile-type doors that had roll-down windows on each side of the cockpit. 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. The 1st Combat Evaluation Group (initially "1CEG", later "1CEVG") was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) unit. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. This judgement flies in the face provided by the federal ATSDR and the National Institute of Health. 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. It was the most horrible thing I have ever witnessed, she said. 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. [1] This was further broken down by marital status. 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 . Wurtsmith AFB Water Health Issues via water, Organochlorine Pesticides Levels at George AFB Family Housing. Typical occurrences on Wurtsmith Air Force Base included planes flying in and out on missions. The aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. Home Buyers Guide; Find a Real Estate Agent; Price: $299,000. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue the, tradition from their World War II counterparts. They want the site to remain a memorial divers can visit. 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. How is it that these large and respected scientific organizations can continue to be ignored in the face of statistically overwhelming data and human impacts. Aircraft upper wing, left lower wing, rudder and propeller damaged. At this time Wurtsmith Air Force Base was still part of the, Strategic Air Commands bomber fleet. At this time, the camp was renamed and the airfield was under III Fighter Command jurisdiction. Pieces include the engine, the tail, part of the door and the 37-millimeter cannon that fired through the propeller hub. 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 documentary by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim focuses on PFAS contamination at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. My mom was recently diagnosed a month ago with colon cancer and skin cancer and still being treated by a dr, my broth had sever ulcers his entire early childhood. More individuals impacted by these chemicals are Cindi and Lawrence Ashbeck. Dover Air Force base, Delaware. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategicwing as it was disbanded. Lee N. 2023 Aspyre Media Group, LLC. [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. The airplane operated on a flight from Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport, MI to Oscoda-Wurtsmith AFB, MI (OSC). Welcome to The WAFB Historical Site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and the units assigned there. They included chemicals like MEK, PD 680, TRI CHLOROFLOIANS, ACIDS, ALODIANS, ALL KINDS OF PAINTS, SPECIAL MISSILE SKIN REPAIR KITS. The Au Sable River is an attraction for families all around Michigan. [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 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. 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. Only afterthe plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not. There is an ongoing project to decontaminate the area. In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. These organizations primarily fall into seven types of activities: aviation, manufacturing, technology, medical, housing, education, community services and technology. 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. 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. On the other hand, the rear-mounted engine offered increased maneuverability since the weight of the plane would be near its center of gravity. 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. The KC-135s would finish one mission and there would be another one waiting for them as soon as they were available. Military bases are known for significant staffing turnover. My ex wife has thyroid disease and auto immune disease. It is primarily a large jet airplane salvage, jet engine maintenance and light general aviation . [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. David Losinski said he and his son were assisting the state Department of Environmental Quality with a barge that sank in Lake Huron in July 2012. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons firstpermanent duty station in the United States Air Force.[1]. 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. My daughter was born at the base hospital. ircraft operated from Oscoda Army Airfield. [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. Maximum speed was 178 mph at sea level, 171 mph at 10,000 feet. 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. The Losinskis havent abandoned their quest to bring this long-forgotten chapter in the history of World War II to light. still rejects and "nexus" to the toxic chemicals on the base. The result was an airplane which had a much deeper and broader fuselage than did the P-1. 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 . 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. For more information regarding services offered by the Lackland Air Force Base Education Center, call 210-671-2895 or DSN 473-2895. . Heart condition, prostate cancer, diabetic, sometimes confused in making decisions. I have had sever kidney problems since 1983 that carried on into my mid teens. 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. Its poor high-altitude performance was a result of a critical decision to remove the turbo-supercharger. These high levels of PFOA elevate the risks of kidney cancer, mesothelioma, and diabetes. Off Base Housing. 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. Following cleanup, operation and maintenance activities are ongoing. Drew said, Dad, thats an airplane., You could see the wings. 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. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport became a public airport in 1993. [5] Wurtsmith AFB, Mich SAC 379th Bomb Wing B-52, www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Wurtsmith_AFB.htm. History. In July 2018 the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), set the table for Congress to consider legislation that would force the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to extend health benefits to base veterans without making them prove their illnesses are linked to chemical exposure. There were frequently extremely large and loud airplanes taxiing, taking off, and landing in the base. Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. 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. 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. Beginning in July 1944, the P-47 Thunderbolt was used extensively to train Free French Air Force pilots at Oscoda Army Air Field (AAF). It was eerie, David Losinski said. 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. A bomber squadron for example would be sent out to destroy a target and return to its home base within a week. 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. 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. We didnt know really what we had.. 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. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. In 1960 it became part of the Strategic Air Command . In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. [1], The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. 1942 -- Camp Skeel is renamed Oscoda Army Air Field and becomes a P-47 fighter base. Student projects from Michigan Tech's SS3505 Military History of the United States, on the people, places, and objects involving our military history in the upper Great Lakes region, Wurtsmith Air Force Base has been an integral part of the United States Air Force from the 1920s to June 3rd 1993. The former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), located in Oscoda, Iosco County, MI operated from 1924 to 1993. The base came to be because of chance. Report also stated that the Oscoda Michigan gunnery field was very rough and sandy and notoriously hard on wheels, landing gears etc. [1], The northern tier Strategic Air Command Ready Alert Strike Force bases were considered less than desirable duty stations for one main reason. [1] This would result in a large amount of paperwork and extra expenses for the Air Force. During World War II, P-47 fighters were assigned to Oscoda. The Lackland Air Force Base Education Center is located at 1550 Wurtsmith Street, Suite 5. . If there's a main break, sections of the base will . [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctors office, a fully equipped gym, and a store where basic necessities were available, military police, office space, and everything necessary to ensure the planes are fully functioning and ready to fly missions. The Allison V-1710-85 liquid-cooled V-12 engine behind the pilots seat drove the propeller by means of a driveshaft mounted under the pilots seat. I will try and highlight some of the most interesting aircraft and their stories!. Stay tuned for further developments. WAFB began operations in 1923, under the name of Camp Skeel, and was officially named the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1953. Veteran Compensation Programs (veteranprograms.com) assumes NO liability, and expressly disclaims any and all responsibility, for the content of all posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. To all who are interested in the Camp Skeel/Oscoda AAF/Wurtsmith AFB History. Typically, brown-ish water occurs when there is large change in pressure/flow in a distribution system. (Superstorm) Sandy came along (in October) and moved things around, David Losinski said. 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. It had everything in it. 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. 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. But these days, the county is becoming a haven for retired people such as the Kuhlmans . Photos of P-47s flown by French Pilots at Oscoda. Comprehensive Base Plan, Department of the Air Force, Directorate of Engineering and Services DCS/PRE - Washington DC 1 April 1970 (revised 12 July 1978) . A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. 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. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. He saw the surrounding land and figured it would make a great place for a gunnery range. The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. Physical Location:4071 East Van Ettan StreetOscoda, Michigan 48750, Mailing Address:PO Box 664Oscoda, Michigan 48750, Tele: (989) 739-7555(Not answered Nov-Apr)Email:email@wurtsmithairmuseum.net, AN ARTIFACT FROM WURTSMITHS COLD WAR PAST HAS RETURNED HOME, There was one final project I wanted to accomplish before departing my assignment as Flight Commander of Aircrew Flight Equipment and SERE at the. Anyone know the status on this? With that being said, these chemicals are going to be reaching a lot more people than just the Oscoda residents. 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 FLINT JOURNAL VIA AP] She gave Kelly the rundown of the base. Even after the base closed in 1993, the base maintained a fire staff for many years. If you are interested in any particular aircraft of time period please let me know. There are a lot of stories to tell. Click on a marker for base information. Service ceiling 27,200 feet, and range was 260 miles. The base is influential in Michigan, as well as the United States military history. The landing gear was changed from rubber-block shock absorbers inside the fuselage to oleo-and-spring units mounted in the outer forward strut. 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. 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. He brought this idea to the attention of his squadron commander Major Carl Spaatz. 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. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. What's next? 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. These bases were, responsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. 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. It had a commissary, a gas station, a hospital, housing, a bowling alley," said veteran Michael Grogan. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. 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. 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. Two years after release I started to experience very visible loss of musculature and strength. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. [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. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/04/wurtsmith_pfas_pfc_april_45_me.html. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at Wurtsmith, Air Force Base. 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 Air Force says, Any aircraft before 1961, weve abandoned it.. to share information regarding health issues, and probable chemical exposure via base water sources. What us the compensation for this? 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. [1] From humble beginnings in the 1920's as a aircraft gunnery range, to its status as a vital member of our strategic defense, Wurtsmith Air Force Base has distinguished itself as an important part of our country's military history. The letter never said what I was objecting to, but that I was refusing to for a lawful order. 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. They raised $600 to clear the land, which at the time was plenty for this job. The presumptive disabilities from contaminated water at Wurtsmith AFB would lead to automatic compensation to potentially thousands of veterans. After a trip to the Boneyard in September 2019, hundreds of current and vintage photos are being sorted, scanned and uploaded. All kind of special chemicals that Boeing told the USAF we had to have. They were stationed at the air base from 1986 to 1993.