wurtsmith air force base housing

The 4026th was a SAC Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing that had been organized on 1 August 1958. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. This resulted in KC-135 squadrons spending a greater amount of time on temporary duty assignments than other squadrons from Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Is this a common thing at other Air Force bases? : r/AirForce 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. [4] Enchanted Forest Web Page Design Service. Wurtsmith Air Force Base - Oscoda, MI - Civilian Exposure "It was a city within a city. Dover Air Force base, Delaware. She gave Kelly the rundown of the base. It has found from testing this area that some places to have over 1000 parts-per-trillion for PFOS and PFOA. 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. After a trip to the Boneyard in September 2019, hundreds of current and vintage photos are being sorted, scanned and uploaded. 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. Marie and the straights of Mackinac. Now I see this years later. No injuries to the pilot. 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. He said the wreckage from the plane is scattered across the lake bottom. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. 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. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. The "Red Tail" P-51 Mustangs flown by the Tuskeegee Airmen []. 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. [1]After one week in the bunker on ready alert the flight crew would be relieved. If your base is not on the map or list above, this does not mean you were not exposed to PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam. While these crews were on ready alert they did not have a wholelot to do. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in Iosco County, Michigan.It operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. U.S. Veteran Compensation Programs 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. [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. Theyve seen lots of things underwater, but the story of the P-39 fighter lost just off the Port Huron beachfront touched them. A new report compiled by a local group, Need Our Water (NOW) and the National Wildlife Federation . The typical activities while not on ready alert varied greatlyfrom person to person. In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. [ 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 . Wurtsmith Air Force Base. A Brief History of Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html. 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. After being relieved, the flight crew had until the following Monday morningoff. I will try and highlight some of the most interesting aircraft and their stories!. At this time, the camp was renamed and the airfield was under III Fighter Command jurisdiction. Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich., served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. [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. A series of stringers were added to the fuselage sides to round out the cross section. [5] The 379th Bomb Wing immediately continued the 4026thStrategic Wing operations and training. The history of Oscoda Military Aviation is the same as the History of the Air Force. History. 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. 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. With all of this in a single family, the V.A. The runways were aligned NE/SW, E/W, and NW/SE. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. 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. distance from the bunker. Wurtsmith AFB and its Contamination - Military History of the Upper purposes only, and is not legal advice. On April 1, 1960, Strategic Air Command assumed operational control of what was then Wurtsmith Air Force Base from Air Defense Command; on Jan. 9, 1961, the 379th Bombardment Wing, flying B-52H's and KC-135A's, became the host unit. The cockpit canopy offered exceptional all-round visibility for the pilot. Aircraft was at Camp Skeel, Oscoda Michigan for Aerial Gunnery training. In 1960 it became part of the Strategic Air Command . Thisflight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undiscloseddistance from the bunker. Did Wurtsmith Air Force Base cause health woes? - Detroit Free Press The single officers who lived on base lived in a dorm type building. The base came to be because of chance. Veterans of the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda from the 1970s, and their families who lived with them on the base, face increased risks of leukemia and other harmful effects from prolonged exposures to toxic volatile organic compounds that were in the now-shuttered base's water supply at the time, a federal health agency has found. 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. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport became a public airport in 1993. I served at Wurtsmith from 1974-1977 my whole family has suffered from various ongoing ailments. Like the former Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth and Newington, the former Michigan base is now a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) site. Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. 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. My ex wife has thyroid disease and auto immune disease. "Keeping Wurtsmith AFB and Aviation History of NE MI Alive" Opens on Armed Forces Day in May, hosts a Welcome Home. Off Base Housing. He saw the surrounding land and figured it would make a great place for a gunnery range. Visiting Wurtsmith Air Museum, Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan - YouTube What's next? 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. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. The Air Force says, Any aircraft before 1961, weve abandoned it.. The museum's exhibits are extensive and incredibly high-quality -- including several aircraft that can be examined up . Military's Filthy 50 sites contaminated with 'forever chemicals' haven She also has many other irregular health problems including bone death, fibromyalgia, irregular heartbeat, gastrointestinal problems, and underdeveloped reproductive organs. 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. This is a very big issue for the people of Oscoda and the surrounding areas for obvious reasons. 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. Veteran Compensation Programs (USVCP) (www.veteranprograms.com), and any of their associated websites is for general informational. The state says, We dont have jurisdiction over that; its the Air Force, Losinski said. Ground-water contamination at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan This happened a couple weeks before the IOC which is in the wing,ahistorical records on microfilm. These bases wereresponsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. 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. Their children developed asthma, spinal defects and thyroid problems. [1] This meant that there was always at least threeB-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. Airport History. 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. 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 base is influential in Michigan, as well as the United States military history. Bert E. Skeel was a WWI pilot who died in an air race in Ohio. [1] This meant that there was always at least three, B-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. It had everything in it. As Michigan makes PFAS strides, Oscoda residents say Air Force is I have had many other health issues since and have recently found all of this. Double Jeopardy - Exposed at Kadena and Wurtsmith - Civilian Exposure The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. Beginning in July 1944, the P-47 Thunderbolt was used extensively to train Free French Air Force pilots at Oscoda Army Air Field (AAF). Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan Redevelopment Profile The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls. The Airacobra reached its peak usage in the USAAF in early 1944, with over 2100 in service. Our History - Wurtsmith Air Museum [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. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. Drew said, Dad, thats an airplane., You could see the wings. Hill Housing area-- Wurtsmith Elementary School, Grissom Elementary School, Wagner Middle School, . [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. My son, was born on the base, has a malformed aorta and congenital nerve damage hearing loss. This year, we went out diving, and we could see these points of interest from the surface, Losinski said. PFOA exposure is also shown to be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children between ages 12-15. 379th Air Expeditionary Wing | Military Wiki | Fandom [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue the, tradition from their World War II counterparts. [1] As soon as the wheels touched down the clock would be reset and they could be sent out on another assignment. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/06/wurtsmith_veterans_health.html, http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/11/13/deq-we-dont-yet-know-full-extent-wurtsmith-air-base-contamination/93242484/, https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/08/18/21105/military-bases-contamination-will-affect-water-generations, http://www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html, Military History of the Upper Great Lakes. Welcome to The WAFB Historical Site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and the units assigned there. The views and opinions expressed in this website/articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of the U.S. government, We are the men and women of the U.S. Military, Wurtsmith AFB is a Superfund Site. 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. However, the drawdown was fairly rapid after that and they were quickly replaced by P-38s, P-47s and P-51s. VA counselor "don't waste your time". What us the compensation for this? As previously stated, there is a museum open to the public which has artifacts and information on the bases history. 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. still rejects and "nexus" to the toxic chemicals on the base. TCE in another well on Jet Street near the present day Wurtsmith AFB museum was 1,739-ppb. [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 airplane operated on a flight from Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport, MI to Oscoda-Wurtsmith AFB, MI (OSC). So now what? In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. 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 . Wurtsmith Air Museum (Oscoda) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Even after the base closed in 1993, the base maintained a fire staff for many years. This unfortunately happened on October 11th, 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. High blood serum levels of PFOA are associated with infertility, decreased semen quality, and a higher risk of thyroid disease. The base was put into a standby status to be there just in case something happened in those areas. Wurtsmith Air, Force Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. 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. There is an ongoing project to decontaminate the area. [5] While the 379thBomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the ReadyAlert Nuclear Strike Force. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. 'We've been betrayed:' Veterans blame Air Force base water for - mlive By Steve Elliott 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs. It excelled in low-altitude ground support as a well-built and reliable aircraft capable of absorbing quite a bit of battle damage. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. 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. Robert Krouse, 12/31/19Stationed at Wurtsmith AFB from 1978 to 1980 and lived in barracks. Then everything happened so fast it seems unbelievable. By comparing the concentrations of known fluorosurfactants with the total organofluorine, less than 10% of the fluorosurfactants were identified in half of the samples. March 7, 1942: The first class of Tuskegee Airmen graduate from U.S. Army Air Force Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama. It remained named Camp Skeel until 1942 when it was renamed Oscoda Army Air Field (WAFB.net). 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.