The human-made chemicals are in your blood, your clothes, your cosmetics. I remember getting a letter of counseling when I wanted to object as a warning what could happen. These mission were into Iraq. This meant that Wurtsmith Air Force Base was essentially a self-contained airport with all of the necessities to support a full community on Base. 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. I lived in base housing, I want to say 8607H Ohio from 82-84. [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. The 5,221-acre site is bounded by Van Etten Lake to the north and east . A bomber squadron for example would be sent out to destroy a target and return to its home base within a week. Following cleanup, operation and maintenance activities are ongoing. [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. During the Pacific conflicts personnel and the KC-135Stratotankers were deployed to forward bases in the Pacific to support landoperations. Ellsworth Air Force base, South Dakota. ircraft operated from Oscoda Army Airfield. 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. They were stationed at the air base from 1986 to 1993. These bases were, responsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike 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. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. Published August 24, 2021 at 4:15 PM EDT. The state says, We dont have jurisdiction over that; its the Air Force, Losinski said. They want the site to remain a memorial divers can visit. The P-39 had a unique configuration with the engine placed behind the pilot and the drive shaft running under the cockpit to the propeller. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is said to have originally started with a fishing trip between two men. [THE FLINT JOURNAL VIA AP] The 4026th was a SAC Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing that had been organized on 1 August 1958. The Au Sable River is an attraction for families all around Michigan. 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. to share information regarding health issues, and probable chemical exposure via base water sources. 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 . Nothing contained herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of a competent Veteran Service Officer (VSO)in good standing and licensed to practice in your jurisdiction. Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had manydifferent missions. 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. [1] 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 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. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. This lead to Wurtsmith transferring to Air Combat Command control, and then on June 30th 1993, Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed. These contaminants are harmful to the environment. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. Then everything happened so fast it seems unbelievable. Weights were 2450 lb. [4] Enchanted Forest Web Page Design Service. All Rights Reserved. Dover Air Force base, Delaware. Drew said, Dad, thats an airplane., You could see the wings. [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. Veteran Compensation Programs. According to Robert Delaney, a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality specialist, If you pull the water out of the ground in that training area, it still foams, theres so much in there. Since this entire problem stems from the fact that the foam used to extinguish fires on the base is what carried the toxic chemical, that goes to show just how invasive and problematic this contamination can be. 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 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 . Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich., served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. Many of drums ruptured. 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. 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. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in northeastern Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. [1] Mr. Nortonarrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air ForceBase in the fall of 1985. 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. 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. These are simply the specific . City Picto Map, Clark Air Base / Angeles City. As soon as an assignment went over 180 days it was considered a permanent change in duty station. Dallas Naval base, Texas. 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 Air Force's decline to commit to Michigan's standards is among a litany of frustrations Oscoda residents say they have . 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. Even after the base closed in 1993, the base maintained a fire staff for many years. In their letter, the members expressed their concerns that the Air Force's proposed remediation plan . My symptoms looking back were insidious with weakness and muscle fasciculations. We came across the gauge cluster, which had the radio call tag, David Losinski said. [1] Mr. Norton, arrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air Force, Base in the fall of 1985. 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. 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. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. 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. Heart condition, prostate cancer, diabetic, sometimes confused in making decisions. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. 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. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. [1], When the Gulf War started in 1990, the 379th Bomber Wing sent B-52s as well as their accompanying KC-135s into the Middle East. Even studies on fish have been done, where it was found that PFOA is a liver carcinogen in rainbow trout. [1]After one week in the bunker on ready alert the flight crew would be relieved. [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. I served at Wurtsmith from 1974-1977 my whole family has suffered from various ongoing ailments. Michigan Radio. Aircraft upper wing, left lower wing, rudder and propeller damaged. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. TCE in another well on Jet Street near the present day Wurtsmith AFB museum was 1,739-ppb. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, trained at Oscoda for several weeks and stayed on the base. Photos of P-47s flown by French Pilots at Oscoda. 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 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigans lower peninsula. This happened a couple weeks before the IOC which is in the wing,ahistorical records on microfilm. 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. As a young airman, assumed we were returning the stuff to supply to send to the next base. Theseplanes would regularly fly missions from Wurtsmith Air Force Base during thecold war. If you are interested in any particular aircraft of time period please let me know. More than 40 private businesses and public agencies use the former Air Force facilities and infrastructure, providing more than 1,300 jobs to the area, as well as the conversion of former base housing to 700 privately owned residential homes. PFOA exposure is also shown to be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children between ages 12-15. On June 30th, 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctor's office, a . [1], While these crews were on ready alert they did not have a whole, lot to do. There are many historical planes you can visit as well as other interesting pieces of history that the public may view. 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. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. There are many good photos of P-39s at Selfridge Field (Posted below), but none of P-39s at Oscoda. [1] On the first Wednesday the, fresh flight crew would relive the current flight crew in the bunkers. Now, I have been diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney failure and congestive heart disease, I am currently on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant. With this long list of negative effects it is clearly a big health issue for local residents. The Arrow Street purge system, installed in 1982 to remove contaminants from the Building 43 plume, has lowered concentrations o They resumed the investigation last spring. Here is a list of military bases that are known to have had their drinking water contaminated with PFAS chemicals: Alameda Naval base, California. U.S. Air Force should abide by state of Michigan's PFAS Standards, state must hold Air Force accountable. Call 205.328.9200 Claim Application. "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. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), located in Oscoda, Iosco County, MI operated from 1924 to 1993. 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. [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. Theyre looking for other divers who can assist with the effort. Welcome to The WAFB Historical Site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and the units assigned there. I was stationed there from 11/84-1989. The Air Force . These mission were into Iraq. I was stationed there 1978 -81 lived on base they never told us about the water being contaminated . The average person has around 3 or 4 parts per billion of these chemicals present in their blood. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. A total 9589 Airacobras were built before production finally ended on July 25, 1944. The P-6 could climb to 10,000 feet in 6.6 min. 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. Stationed there for 84-88 and am suffering with a motor neuron disease process. 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. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue thetradition from their World War II counterparts. The Air Force says, Any aircraft before 1961, weve abandoned it.. In 1979, the state of Michigan sued the Air Force for the contamination. Just run the water until it clears up. This unfortunately happened on October 11th, 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. After a trip to the Boneyard in September 2019, hundreds of current and vintage photos are being sorted, scanned and uploaded. While these crews were on ready alert they did not have a wholelot to do. Fast forward to 1992, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the US Air Force inactivated Strategic Air Command. [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 cockpit canopy offered exceptional all-round visibility for the pilot. 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. After one week in the bunker on ready alert the flight crew would be relieved. The runways were aligned NE/SW, E/W, and NW/SE. I have always scheduled an apt with my dr to talk about the possibility of how this may have affected me. Off Base Housing. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at WurtsmithAir Force Base. The popular legend, supported by interviews and other historical documents, is that Wurtsmith was established as the direct result of a fishing trip by Lt. Ennis Whitehead (later Lt. Gen. Whitehead, commander of the Fifth and Far Eastern Air Forces during and after World War . The married enlisted airmen who lived on base lived in a condo type set up with their family. He brought this idea to the attention of his squadron commander Major Carl Spaatz. Their water table has been contaminated with high levels of PFOA because of the leakage of chemicals from Wurtsmith 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. [1] This meant that there was always at least three, B-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. Stay tuned for further developments. Aug 24, 2021. In addition, the rear fuselage was deepened in order that it could faire cleanly into the bottom of the radiator. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. 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. Because of the restriction of being close to the Christmas tree theyresorted to playing cards, working out, reading, and sleeping while they werenot conducting recurrent training to stay up to date and proficient on theirequipment. This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. [1] This meant that there was always at least threeB-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does not monitor, pre-screen or moderate posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. Wurtsmith AFB Water Health Issues via water, Organochlorine Pesticides Levels at George AFB Family Housing. 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. Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of fivenorthern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. 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. PORT HURON, Mich. David and Drew Losinski are struck by the coincidence. /. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. The base is influential in Michigan, as well as the United States military history. 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. [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. 70-77 lived on base housing with family, flight line assistant supervisor. This would cause some big problems for the fish and other life that lives beneath the surface. [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. At this time, the camp was renamed and the airfield was under III Fighter Command jurisdiction. The base came to be because of chance. 2 talking about this. Home Buyers Guide; Find a Real Estate Agent; Price: $299,000. 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. 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. The aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. He was stationed at the base. With all of this in a single family, the V.A. Since 1994, the Wurtsmith Air Museum has upheld the mission of preserving the history of the history of Wurtsmith Air Force Base (an integral part of the US Air Force from 1923 until 1993) and aviation in Northeast Michigan. Tests in Michigan near the former Wurtsmith Air Force base have found PFOS in groundwater at levels as high as 42,000 ppt. 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 . The Losinskis said they want to preserve the site for people to dive on. VA counselor "don't waste your time". Once we brought that up and cleaned the tag, we knew it was the 221226 serial number.. Typical occurrences on Wurtsmith Air Force Base included planes flying in and out on missions. History Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. My daughter was born there on base in 1987 she has gastric issues, and was born w heart issues. Bert E. Skeel in 1924. At just after 10 pm on the 30 th October, on-duty personnel at Wurtsmith Air Force Base would report seeing a strange object hovering over the . This weapon system used some hazardous and a lot of special chemicals to support it. These chemicals have been shown to cause problems with thyroid, liver, kidney, reproduction, and other health problems. U.S. [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. [1] This would result in a large amount of paperwork and extra expenses for the Air Force. 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. Airport History. 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. 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. 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. 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. (Superstorm) Sandy came along (in October) and moved things around, David Losinski said. 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. By Steve Elliott 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs. [5] The 379th Bomb Wing immediately continued the 4026th, During the Pacific conflicts personnel and the KC-135, Stratotankers were deployed to forward bases in the Pacific to support land, operations.

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