wurtsmith air force base housing

A total 9589 Airacobras were built before production finally ended on July 25, 1944. Call 205.328.9200 Claim Application. Lee N. 2023 Aspyre Media Group, LLC. 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 The popular legend, supported by interviews and other historical documents, is that Wurtsmith was established as the direct result of a fishing trip by Lt.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 cockpit canopy offered exceptional all-round visibility for the pilot. 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. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. 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. The EPA began requiring public water systems to monitor for PFOA and PFOS in 2012, but even today there is no federal drinking water standards for PFOA or PFOS. Download Images of Wurtsmith air force base - Free for commercial use, no attribution required. 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. What's next? 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 . Since its establishment in 1923, Wurtsmith played an important role in World War II, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War, hosting the 134th Army Air Force Base Fighter Unit and 379th Bombardment Wing respectively. Now, I have been diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney failure and congestive heart disease, I am currently on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant. Some areas of the site are still under investigation. still rejects and "nexus" to the toxic chemicals on the base. The human-made chemicals are in your blood, your clothes, your cosmetics. 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. These bases were, responsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. I have had sever kidney problems since 1983 that carried on into my mid teens. Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. 70-77 lived on base housing with family, flight line assistant supervisor. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport became a public airport in 1993. In addition, it would facilitate the installation of nose cannon since the armament could be mounted near the centerline, minimizing the effects of recoil forces. A map of the base locations listed above can be viewed below. 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. My first assignment as a Nuclear Weapons specialist was at wurtsmith where we deployed the AGM 69A SRAM missile system. 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. All four of the the guys that were in that flight were from Tuskegee, Losinksi said. For more information regarding services offered by the Lackland Air Force Base Education Center, call 210-671-2895 or DSN 473-2895. . We didnt know really what we had.. The letter never said what I was objecting to, but that I was refusing to for a lawful order. 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. [1] At some point over the week an alarm would sound,signaling to the flight crew that the B-52s had to be in the air. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. 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. Six Are Killed in Crash Of an Air Force Tanker. The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Oct. 1988, www.nytimes.com/1988/10/12/us/six-are-killed-in-crash-of-an-air-force-tanker.html. [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. This is an evolving issue with many moving parts. The Strategic Air Command activated a wing there on August 1, 1958. [1] This tight knit community was not confined to just the Air Force Base, but extended into the community as well. 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. 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. It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Bert E. Skeel in 1924. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in Iosco County, Michigan.It operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. I served at Wursmith AFB from 1982 to 1989, living in base housing the entire time and drinking the water. to share information regarding health issues, and probable chemical exposure via base water sources. Thanks for sending to you and Pat. 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 . 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. They included chemicals like MEK, PD 680, TRI CHLOROFLOIANS, ACIDS, ALODIANS, ALL KINDS OF PAINTS, SPECIAL MISSILE SKIN REPAIR KITS. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in Iosco County, Michigan.It operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. Drew said, Dad, thats an airplane., You could see the wings. Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich., served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. Paul B. Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed in 1993, dealing a sharp blow to the economy of rural Iosco County. Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does NOT represent or warrant, and makes no claims, promises or guarantees about, the usefulness, completeness, adequacy or accuracy of any information, posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses contained in or linked to this website, or the competency, qualifications or identity of any person providing information or making a post, survey, topic, comment, blog or response contained in or linked to this website. They want the site to remain a memorial divers can visit. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. With all of this in a single family, the V.A. Veteran Compensation Programs. Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of fivenorthern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. Because of this KC-135 squadrons would routinely fly 175 day assignments and return to their home base. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategicwing as it was disbanded. 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. The gunnery range was tasked with training pilots fromSelfridge air base in the challenging maneuvers required to land a DeHavillandbiplane on the frozen lake Van Etten for the young Army Air Corps. When the Gulf War started in 1990, the 379, Bomber Wing sent B-52s as well as their accompanying KC-135s into the Middle East. He flew from Dayton, Ohio to Washington, D.C. at a speed of approximately 266 mph, at an altitude of 25,000 ft. [3] Search Superfund Site Information. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 28 Dec. 2016, cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0503675. 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. 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. 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 . In addition, the rear fuselage was deepened in order that it could faire cleanly into the bottom of the radiator. The airplane operated on a flight from Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport, MI to Oscoda-Wurtsmith AFB, MI (OSC). My family lived on this base in 1983 to 1987, are we at risk? This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. 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. Their water table has been contaminated with high levels of PFOA because of the leakage of chemicals from 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. This lead to Wurtsmith transferring to Air Combat Command control, and then on June 30th 1993, Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed. Because of the economic impact of Wurtsmith Air Force Base the community was generally supportive of the airmen, and the base itself. This unfortunately happened on October 11. , 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at WurtsmithAir Force Base. I still stay in touch with Gary but do not know if he has an e-mail account. 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. Airport History. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. In 1953 it was renamed Wurtsmith Air Force Base after Michigan native, Major General Paul Wurtsmith. The base was first named after Capt. Within a few days, a mere 28 Airmen established housing for over 400 personnel, replete with . Lt. Ennis also thought it would be a great place for young Army Air corps to test aircraft (WAFB.net). Air Force Base was essentially a self-contained airport with all of the necessities to support a full community on Base. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons first, permanent duty station in the United States Air Force. [5] The 379th Bomb Wing immediately continued the 4026thStrategic Wing operations and training. The Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. No injuries to the pilot. By Steve Elliott 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs. TCE in another well on Jet Street near the present day Wurtsmith AFB museum was 1,739-ppb. 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. 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 . As a young airman, assumed we were returning the stuff to supply to send to the next base. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. Pieces include the engine, the tail, part of the door and the 37-millimeter cannon that fired through the propeller hub. [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. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. After a trip to the Boneyard in September 2019, hundreds of current and vintage photos are being sorted, scanned and uploaded. PFOA exposure is also shown to be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children between ages 12-15. He brought this idea to the attention of his squadron commander Major Carl Spaatz. During the Pacific conflicts personnel and the KC-135Stratotankers were deployed to forward bases in the Pacific to support landoperations. At the time, George was a hub of F-4 Phantom fighter jets and OV-10 Bronco reconnaissance planes. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategic, wing as it was disbanded. As seen, in the picture of the runways, there is a Christmas tree coming off of the, beginning of the runway with a building next to it. This weapon system used some hazardous and a lot of special chemicals to support it. Engine not damaged. The story stated Moody and three other pilots were taking gunnery practice about three miles north of Port Huron. Lora Cole, 1/8/20 I am the daughter to a vet that was in this I was a baby at the time. distance from the bunker. 2 talking about this. 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. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. [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. 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. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. Anyone know the status on this? The main mission of Oscoda Army Air Field, at the time, was to defend Sault Ste. In their letter, the members expressed their concerns that the Air Force's proposed remediation plan . 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. 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. 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). 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 could be from hydrant flushing or a water main break. Heavily armed with eight wing-mounted 0.50-inch (12.7-mm) machine guns, it could carry a bomb load of as much as 2,500 pounds (1,100 kg) and could carry ten 5-inch (127-mm) rockets beneath the wings. This, flight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undisclosed. The Losinskis found an account of the crash in the Times Herald. I was stationed there 1988-1992. [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 series of stringers were added to the fuselage sides to round out the cross section. 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. Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. 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. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. [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. At this time, the camp was renamed and the airfield was under III Fighter Command jurisdiction. Wurtsmith AirForce Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue thetradition from their World War II counterparts. 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. What they had was a one-seat warplane piloted by 2nd Lt. Frank H. Moody, of Los Angeles. We have a lot of sick civilians and = veterans from contaminated drinking water. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. Once we brought that up and cleaned the tag, we knew it was the 221226 serial number.. [3], [1] Dave Norton, Former United States Air Force Captain, interviewed on 23 OCT 2017, [2] Ap. These organizations primarily fall into seven types of activities: aviation, manufacturing, technology, medical, housing, education, community services and technology. This building was like the barracks, but each officer had his own room. Me and Dan drive around base and check out the bunkers that held nuclear weapons during the cold war A total of 15,683 Thunderbolts were produced by wars end, more than any other U.S. fighter. I kept up with all this for a while then gave up. I was stationed there 1978 -81 lived on base they never told us about the water being contaminated . Veteran Compensation Programs (USVCP) (www.veteranprograms.com), and any of their associated websites is for general informational. 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 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. [5] While the 379thBomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the ReadyAlert Nuclear Strike Force. It was the most horrible thing I have ever witnessed, she said. empty, 3310 lb gross. This is a very big issue for the people of Oscoda and the surrounding areas for obvious reasons. He said the wreckage from the plane is scattered across the lake bottom. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. A bomber squadron for example would be sent out to destroy a target and return to its home base within a week. Neither Michigan nor any U.S. officials have conducted a comprehensive study on the contaminants and pollutants under the base. It excelled in low-altitude ground support as a well-built and reliable aircraft capable of absorbing quite a bit of battle damage. He was training with fellow pilots out of what was then Selfridge Field when his plane crashed. [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. A ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to sou After being relieved, the flight crew had until the following Monday morning, off. Weve done quite a bit of documenting and measuring, David Losinski said. My daughter was born at the base hospital. They raised $600 to clear the land, which at the time was plenty for this job. After a devastating fire in Oscoda which cleared over 600 buildings, the remaining citizens heard about the proposal to clear an area for the base. Comprehensive Base Plan, Department of the Air Force, Directorate of Engineering and Services DCS/PRE - Washington DC 1 April 1970 (revised 12 July 1978) . Located in Iosco County, Michigan, Wurtsmith Air Force Base operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. The documentary by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim focuses on PFAS contamination at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. There were 10 passengers and six crew members on board. At Oscoda Army Air Field, from the Group Historian: Over the sandy pine shores of Lake Huron, pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group polished up their flight and gunnery tactics for threat inevitable test of their skill and courage which will eventually lead them to pursuit and battle in the skies of Europe and Asia. By the end of November 1943 all training for the 332nd had been completed at Oscoda and the Group departed for overseas. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, trained at Oscoda for several weeks and stayed on the base. I was born on base November 1978, and lived on base with my mom, brother born 1989 on base, and my dad, a civil engineer stationed on base until oct 1982. She gave Kelly the rundown of the base. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. 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. [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. 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). 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. The 379th was reassigned to Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan without personnel or equipment in January 1961, assuming the aircraft, personnel and equipment of the discontinued 4026th Strategic Wing. Wurtsmith Air Force base (Oscoda), Michigan; PFAS Water Contamination Map . Most individuals are not educated on what the base did before and after World War II, what is currently happening at this . It still haunts me today that we had to do that and were told to just follow orders. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. The 379th Bomb Wing moved to Wurtsmith Air Force Base in June of19661. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. [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]. Investigation determined a defective tire caused the accident. There is no amount of PFOA that is officially recognized as harmful. However, many studies have shown otherwise. Many of drums ruptured. 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. Since its establishment in 1923, Wurtsmith played an important role in World War II, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War, hosting the 134th Army Air Force Base Fighter Unit and 379th Bombardment Wing respectively. 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. This would cause some big problems for the fish and other life that lives beneath the surface. Maximum speed was 178 mph at sea level, 171 mph at 10,000 feet. [1] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Basesignifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. 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. OSCODA, Mich. - Oscoda residents and PFAS activists today held a press conference on the shores of Van Etten Lake to set the record straight on the Air Force's contamination of their community from the former Wurtsmith Air . [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. 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 former base includes 4,626 acres (1,872 ha) located approximately two miles west of Lake Huron in the Charter Township of Oscoda, bordered by Van Ettan Lake, the Au . I recall we lost a tanker on touch and goes which had to be extinguished with a massive amount of this chemical. 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 sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. These Air Force bases were remote. 1942 -- Camp Skeel is renamed Oscoda Army Air Field and becomes a P-47 fighter base.

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