The Losinskis found an account of the crash in the Times Herald. The Air Force knew about the contamination and spent millions since 1977 to try to cover up the problem by adding phosphates to mask the odor of the chemical in the water. The history of Oscoda Military Aviation is the same as the History of the Air Force. 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. I have also read about the PFAS via fire retardant foam. My son, was born on the base, has a malformed aorta and congenital nerve damage hearing loss. 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. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. 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. We offer visitors three hangars full of military (all branches) and aviation history, static aircraft displays, artifacts, equipment and lots of WAFB memorabilia. They resumed the investigation last spring. On June 30, , 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. The human-made chemicals are in your blood, your clothes, your cosmetics. 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. The base came to be because of chance. 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 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. Mr. Norton would occasionally return to fresh fish left by his neighbor on his porch. I didnt know anything about the Tuskegee Airmen until we got into this.. If you are interested in any particular aircraft of time period please let me know. P-6E, serial number 32-156, 17th Pursuit Squadron from Selfridge Field Michigan. This resulted in KC-135 squadrons spending a greater amount of time on temporary duty assignments than other squadrons from Wurtsmith Air Force Base. These high levels of PFOA elevate the risks of kidney cancer, mesothelioma, and diabetes. 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. The 379th Bomb Wing moved to Wurtsmith Air Force Base in June of19661. 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 includes extra parts, munitions, fuel, and flight crews. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at WurtsmithAir Force Base. Service ceiling 27,200 feet, and range was 260 miles. 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. These contaminants are harmful to the environment. The ROAM system ensures that aircraft are serviced . [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]After one week in the bunker on ready alert the flight crew would be relieved. The "Red Tail" P-51 Mustangs flown by the Tuskeegee Airmen []. I have had many other health issues since and have recently found all of this. This could be from hydrant flushing or a water main break. The Losinskis said they want to preserve the site for people to dive on. Because of the economic impact of Wurtsmith Air Force Base the community was generally supportive of the airmen, and the base itself. Following cleanup, operation and maintenance activities are ongoing. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. These bases were, responsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. [1], The northern tier Strategic Air Command Ready Alert Strike Force bases were considered less than desirable duty stations for one main reason. [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. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. 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. empty, 3310 lb gross. The cockpit canopy offered exceptional all-round visibility for the pilot. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. If a banker had not taken Lt. Whitehead on a fishing trip there would not have been an Air Force Base in Oscoda Michigan. I remember getting a letter of counseling when I wanted to object as a warning what could happen. This weapon system used some hazardous and a lot of special chemicals to support it. 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. At this time Wurtsmith Air Force Base was still part of the, Strategic Air Commands bomber fleet. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. [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. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue thetradition from their World War II counterparts. The base was first named after Capt. 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. I saw a big splash, and then the plane went out of sight.. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, trained at Oscoda for several weeks and stayed on the base. An unusual feature of the P-39 Airacobra was the automobile-type doors that had roll-down windows on each side of the cockpit. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategicwing as it was disbanded. The former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), located in Oscoda, Iosco County, MI operated from 1924 to 1993. Because Wurtsmith Air Force Base was an Air Force Base it had to have the ability to go into complete lock-down in times of emergency and still support the mission. The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls. As long as these assignments were under 180 days they were considered Temporary Duty Assignments. On the other hand, the rear-mounted engine offered increased maneuverability since the weight of the plane would be near its center of gravity. Now, I have been diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney failure and congestive heart disease, I am currently on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant. 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. Posts and surveys made on this website are opinions or suggestions of users of this website and are not representations, opinions or suggestions of U.S. Even studies on fish have been done, where it was found that PFOA is a liver carcinogen in rainbow trout. There were also problems with the complex nose-mounted reduction gear, which caused reliability problems and resulted in fairly low serviceability rates as compared with other fighters. This is a very big issue for the people of Oscoda and the surrounding areas for obvious reasons. Wurtsmith Air Force Base has been an integral part of the United States Air Force from the 1920's to June 3rd 1993. . Im slowly working my way up from 1924 to the present. 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. The pilot apparently noticed it and tried to lift his ship. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. Welcome to The WAFB Historical Site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and the units assigned there. At the start of 1985, Wurtsmith maintained an $80 million annual payroll with 3,600 military and civilian personnel. The single officers who lived on base lived in a dorm type building. No injuries to the pilot. The museum's exhibits are extensive and incredibly high-quality -- including several aircraft that can be examined up . As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. 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. Airport History. The M&FRC is located at 1550 Wurtsmith St . Only after, the plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not.[1]. 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). Weights were 2450 lb. As a young airman, assumed we were returning the stuff to supply to send to the next base. At this time Wurtsmith Air Force Base was still part of theStrategic Air Commands bomber fleet. After being relieved, the flight crew had until the following Monday morningoff. Hill Housing area-- Wurtsmith Elementary School, Grissom Elementary School, Wagner Middle School, . The result was an airplane which had a much deeper and broader fuselage than did the P-1. All kind of special chemicals that Boeing told the USAF we had to have. 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 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. In addition across the base boundary dirt road was the EOD range where every friday morning we burned and destroyed old munitions and other stuff they needed disposed of. Why are you focusing only on chlordane and other organochlorine pesticide (OCP) contamination at the Family Housing? [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons firstpermanent duty station in the United States Air Force.[1]. It excelled in low-altitude ground support as a well-built and reliable aircraft capable of absorbing quite a bit of battle damage. Now that the contamination has reached the Au Sable river, it could potentially carry this contamination into Lake Huron. 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. 1942 -- Camp Skeel is renamed Oscoda Army Air Field and becomes a P-47 fighter base. 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. Its poor high-altitude performance was a result of a critical decision to remove the turbo-supercharger. [5] Wurtsmith AFB, Mich SAC 379th Bomb Wing B-52, www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Wurtsmith_AFB.htm. out of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Military bases are known for significant staffing turnover. . It is perhaps the best-known of all the between wars Army pursuits. The P-6 Hawk (1932-1937) Aircraft was @ Oscoda. These mission were into Iraq. Maximum speed was 178 mph at sea level, 171 mph at 10,000 feet. 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. Marie and the straights of Mackinac. There is an ongoing project to decontaminate the area. 2 talking about this. Aug 24, 2021. [1] Mr. Norton also landedthe first KC-135 in operation Southern Watch. He saw the surrounding land and figured it would make a great place for a gunnery range. By comparing the concentrations of known fluorosurfactants with the total organofluorine, less than 10% of the fluorosurfactants were identified in half of the samples. 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 . 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). The Losinskis havent abandoned their quest to bring this long-forgotten chapter in the history of World War II to light. High blood serum levels of PFOA are associated with infertility, decreased semen quality, and a higher risk of thyroid disease. These levels were published by the Enviromental Protection Agency (Mlive.com). [1] This meant that there was always at least threeB-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. Learn how your comment data is processed. Someone who works in a place that uses these chemicals and is exposed to them can have up to 100 parts per million, or 0.01%, in their blood. The base became a permanent installation on January 1, 1951, when the U. S. Air Force designated it as a fighter training base for the Air Defense command. My ex wife has thyroid disease and auto immune disease. Their children developed asthma, spinal defects and thyroid problems. The Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. [1] This tight knit community was not confined to just the Air Force Base, but extended into the community as well. [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. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. They also were known as the Red Tails because they painted the tails of their aircraft red. 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. Within a few days, a mere 28 Airmen established housing for over 400 personnel, replete with . This is a short video about the small museum located at the decommissioned Wurtsmith AFB in Oscoda Mi.http://www.rv-project.com 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. China Lake Naval base, California. City officials in Dayton, Ohio, have also found the response from the Air Force to cleanup contamination at Wright Patterson Air Force Base to be inadequate. The base is influential in Michigan, as well as the United States military history. We knew we had some kind of plane.. Engine not damaged. In 1979, the state of Michigan sued the Air Force for the contamination. We make no endorsements or recommendations of any VSO, attorney, law firm, claims specialists or organization working with veterans on their service-connected claim(s). There were frequently extremely large and loud airplanes taxiing, taking off, and landing in the base. [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. [5] While the 379thBomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the ReadyAlert Nuclear Strike Force. Lester Graham. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategic, wing as it was disbanded. [1] While this was a relatively boring week, it was extremely stressful, because no one knew when the alarm would sound, but more importantly no one, knew if it would be a drill or not. It was criticized for its low service ceiling, its slow rate of climb, and its generally poor high-altitude performance. The main mission of Oscoda Army Air Field, at the time, was to defend Sault Ste. (Superstorm) Sandy came along (in October) and moved things around, David Losinski said. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. TCE in another well on Jet Street near the present day Wurtsmith AFB museum was 1,739-ppb. 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. Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does not monitor, pre-screen or moderate posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. This building was like the barracks, but each officer had his own room. 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. Investigation determined a defective tire caused the accident. This man later took the proposal to build a gunnery range to the people of Oscoda. 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. There are a lot of stories to tell. [1] This was further broken down by marital status. U.S. Air Force should abide by state of Michigan's PFAS Standards, state must hold Air Force accountable. 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. 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 . However, the P-6 differed from the P-1 in having its fuselage rounded out to match the fatter engine cowling required by the Conqueror engine. I do hope there is information on Wurtsmith AFB soon. DISCLAIMER: Information displayed on U.S. 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. [ 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 . The Lackland Air Force Base Education Center is located at 1550 Wurtsmith Street, Suite 5. . Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of fivenorthern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. [1] Mr. Nortonarrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air ForceBase in the fall of 1985. Stationed there for 84-88 and am suffering with a motor neuron disease process. At this time, the camp was renamed and the airfield was under III Fighter Command jurisdiction. Aircraft upper wing, left lower wing, rudder and propeller damaged. In addition, the rear fuselage was deepened in order that it could faire cleanly into the bottom of the radiator. [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. The brown tint is (mostly) caused by scale build up in the pipes being knocked loose. It is one of the most famous bases located in our state. The runways were aligned NE/SW, E/W, and NW/SE. I was stationed there 1988-1992. 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. The sources Im using include The Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFRA); Photo collections from Wurtsmith Museum; Photo collections from Selfridge Museum, Selfridge AFB Historical files; and Aircraft Accident Reports. The P-47s radial engine proved remarkably resistant to battle damage and, with its heavy armament and well-armored cockpit, the Thunderbolt established a reputation as one of the most effective fighter-bombers of the war. As seenin the picture of the runways, there is a Christmas tree coming off of thebeginning of the runway with a building next to it. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. My first daughter was born there at their hospital.my ex husband now, is very sick. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. The aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA. A series of stringers were added to the fuselage sides to round out the cross section. [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. To all who are interested in the Camp Skeel/Oscoda AAF/Wurtsmith AFB History. PFOA exposure is also shown to be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children between ages 12-15. The P-6 was generally similar to the P-1 in construction and appearance. 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. They raised $600 to clear the land, which at the time was plenty for this job. In their letter, the members expressed their concerns that the Air Force's proposed remediation plan . 1946. [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. "Keeping Wurtsmith AFB and Aviation History of NE MI Alive" Opens on Armed Forces Day in May, hosts a Welcome Home. The 1st Combat Evaluation Group (initially "1CEG", later "1CEVG") was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) unit. The P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and fighter-bomber was used by the Allied air forces during World War II. 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. [3], [1] Dave Norton, Former United States Air Force Captain, interviewed on 23 OCT 2017, [2] Ap. 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. [1] This would result in a large amount of paperwork and extra expenses for the Air Force. [6], During the Gulf War B-52s from Wurtsmith Air Force Base were flownout of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It had everything in it. The Tuskegee Airmen were African-American members of the 332nd Fighter Group and 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Force who fought in Europe during World War II. This would cause some big problems for the fish and other life that lives beneath the surface.
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