wurtsmith air force base housing

Prior to our IOC inspection for the SRAM we were ordered to clean out igloos full of barrels 5gal to 55gal drums,1,000s of gallons which had been ordered by mistake to start the system. U.S. Wurtsmith Air Force Base - Oscoda The Wurtsmith Air Force Incident. Having high amounts of this chemical directly underneath their high school could have serious long-term effects on the kids that attend school as well as the faculty. This gave the Army operations the opportunity to begin creating the base we know today. Just run the water until it clears up. 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. [1], As new technologies and mission goals evolved with time the need for the Strategic Air Commands need for the northern tier became obsolete. All Rights Reserved. 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. wikipedia.en/Mole_hole.md at main chinapedia/wikipedia.en 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. TCE in another well on Jet Street near the present day Wurtsmith AFB museum was 1,739-ppb. The former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), located in Oscoda, Iosco County, MI operated from 1924 to 1993. 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. There are many different ways that PFOA and PFOS can affect the human body. He saw the surrounding land and figured it would make a great place for a gunnery range. He said the wreckage from the plane is scattered across the lake bottom. That plane actually crashed April 11, 1944, which was 70 years to the date that the picture was taken, Drew Losinski said. There are many good photos of P-39s at Selfridge Field (Posted below), but none of P-39s at Oscoda. Former Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich. 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 . 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 . The site of Wurtsmith Air Force Base is located 2 miles Northwest of Oscoda, Michigan, about 150 miles North of Detroit. "It was a city within a city. This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. The base is influential in Michigan, as well as the United States military history. [THE FLINT JOURNAL VIA AP] 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. 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. 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 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. Beginning in July 1944, the P-47 Thunderbolt was used extensively to train Free French Air Force pilots at Oscoda Army Air Field (AAF). I will try and highlight some of the most interesting aircraft and their stories!. The Bell P-39 Airacobra was not the best fighter aircraft of WWII, but it was the only fighter available in quantity during the first six months of the war. 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. Survived stage 3 oral cancer and per medical review, origin unknown since I have never smoked. Philippines -- Clark Air Base Maps, Charts, and Blueprints PFAS & Military Bases: Here's What We Know! Lester Graham. The P-6E was quite a good-looking airplane, and became the most famous of the Hawk line of biplane fighters. The plane was equipped with the cannon and four .50-caliber machine guns two mounted on the wings, two more just behind the propeller and timed to fire through the spinning blades. ROME, N.Y. -- There was nothing small-scale about Griffiss Air Force Base in the 1990s. 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. The P-6 was generally similar to the P-1 in construction and appearance. Learn how your comment data is processed. On June 30th, 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. 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. The base was first named after Capt. What's next? 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. At one point, they had to use these toxic foam chemicals to put out a fire at the Oscoda High School in 1995. CSIRO PUBLISHING | Environmental Chemistry [4] Its mission was tomaintain half of the fleet on a 15 minute alert, meaning the plane could be inthe air in 15 minutes, to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet preemptive missilestrike. Pieces include the engine, the tail, part of the door and the 37-millimeter cannon that fired through the propeller hub. [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. [1] Mr. Norton, arrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air Force, Base in the fall of 1985. Wurtsmith AirForce Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. This resulted in KC-135 squadrons spending a greater amount of time on temporary duty assignments than other squadrons from Wurtsmith Air Force Base. 1942 -- Camp Skeel is renamed Oscoda Army Air Field and becomes a P-47 fighter base. out of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. What they had was a one-seat warplane piloted by 2nd Lt. Frank H. Moody, of Los Angeles. It was eerie, David Losinski said. 1946. 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. DISCLAIMER: Information displayed on U.S. I do hope there is information on Wurtsmith AFB soon. They also were known as the Red Tails because they painted the tails of their aircraft red. She also has many other irregular health problems including bone death, fibromyalgia, irregular heartbeat, gastrointestinal problems, and underdeveloped reproductive organs. 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. Former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (BRAC 1991) - AF For the civil use of this facility and airport information, see Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in northeastern Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. I have always scheduled an apt with my dr to talk about the possibility of how this may have affected me. A ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to sou The typical activities while not on ready alert varied greatlyfrom person to person. This weapon system used some hazardous and a lot of special chemicals to support it. My son, was born on the base, has a malformed aorta and congenital nerve damage hearing loss. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. 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 . Marie and the straights of Mackinac. Wurtsmith Air Force Base - Oscoda, MI - Civilian Exposure One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. 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. 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. 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. Veterans 'likely' drank PFAS at Wurtsmith air base Oscoda PFAS Activists set the record straight on PFAS from U.S. Air The average person has around 3 or 4 parts per billion of these chemicals present in their blood. But these days, the county is becoming a haven for retired people such as the Kuhlmans . 379th Air Expeditionary Wing | Military Wiki | Fandom 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. Here is a list of military bases that are known to have had their drinking water contaminated with PFAS chemicals: Alameda Naval base, California. 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 Arrow Street purge system, installed in 1982 to remove contaminants from the Building 43 plume, has lowered concentrations o This is an evolving issue with many moving parts. [1], While these crews were on ready alert they did not have a whole, lot to do. The 1st Combat Evaluation Group (initially "1CEG", later "1CEVG") was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) unit. This, flight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undisclosed. . At the time, it was considered a vital Air Defense Command base and was equipped and manned with interceptor aircraft capable of flying over the North Pole into the Soviet Union. The Air Force . One of these places included directly underneath the Oscoda high school. [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 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. Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. I have had many other health issues since and have recently found all of this. Residents of the Oscoda area raised $600 to clear 40 acres of land next to the lake as a spot for a training camp and target range. 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. I was stationed there from 11/84-1989. The military has not begun cleanups at any of the 50 Department of Defense sites Congress has identified as highly contaminated with the "forever chemicals" known as PFAS - and it could be years before cleanups are complete. [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. As soon as an assignment went over 180 days it was considered a permanent change in duty station. 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. empty, 3310 lb gross. Air Force Base was essentially a self-contained airport with all of the necessities to support a full community on Base. Then everything happened so fast it seems unbelievable. [5] One crew flew 29, mission out of Jeddah, setting the record for most missions flew by a bomber, crew in theater. [1] This tight knit community was not confined to just the Air Force Base, but extended into the community as well. Like the former Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth and Newington, the former Michigan base is now a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) site. Wurtsmith earned recognition during the war as the leader of the group of pilots using P-40 and P-38 fighter . [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. 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. 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. Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does not monitor, pre-screen or moderate posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. Therefore, regardless of the location of cancer in your body, we strongly encourage you to contact our law firm if you spent time at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, either as a veteran or as a family member of one, to recover the financial compensation you are entitled to. ASN Aircraft accident Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker 60-0317 Oscoda 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 single enlisted airmen who lived on base were housed in barracks. U.S. Air Force should abide by state of Michigan's PFAS Standards, state must hold Air Force accountable. 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. China Lake Naval base, California. 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. VA counselor "don't waste your time". [1] Investigating PFAS in Michigan | ATSDR Now, I have been diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney failure and congestive heart disease, I am currently on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant. A Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker plane, serial 60-0317, was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Oscoda-Wurtsmith AFB, MI (OSC), United States of America. Lackland AFB, TX | Educational Services Wurtsmith Air Force base (Oscoda), Michigan; PFAS Water Contamination Map . [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategicwing as it was disbanded. Before we move on to that, however, it is very much worth examining a very similar incident that occurred over Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan on 30 th October. It is primarily a large jet airplane salvage, jet engine maintenance and light general aviation . However, the drawdown was fairly rapid after that and they were quickly replaced by P-38s, P-47s and P-51s. One specific and important waterway being affected by these pollutants is the Au Sable River. 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 . Wurtsmith Air Force Base | Detailed Pedia The Loring Air Force Base UFO Encounter - UFO Insight Their children developed asthma, spinal defects and thyroid problems. These organizations primarily fall into seven types of activities: aviation, manufacturing, technology, medical, housing, education, community services and technology. [1] This meant that there was always at least three, B-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. Leaking chemical storage tanks and waste disposal operations contaminated soil and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. All the artifacts that were taken off were replaced in their original position and original situation except for the tag we cleaned up, he said. After a trip to the Boneyard in September 2019, hundreds of current and vintage photos are being sorted, scanned and uploaded. [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]. Within a few days, a mere 28 Airmen established housing for over 400 personnel, replete with . Why women were told 'Don't get pregnant at George Air Force Base' Welcome to The WAFB Historical Site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and the units assigned there. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. The base is located in Oscoda, Iosco County, Michigan. Did Wurtsmith Air Force Base cause health woes? - Detroit Free Press 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. 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. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. I have also read about the PFAS via fire retardant foam. The Losinskis said they want to preserve the site for people to dive on. Aircraft upper wing, left lower wing, rudder and propeller damaged. We came across the gauge cluster, which had the radio call tag, David Losinski said. Two years after release I started to experience very visible loss of musculature and strength. This article is from 2018.. Aircraft was at Camp Skeel, Oscoda Michigan for Aerial Gunnery training. 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. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. These bases were, responsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. [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. Airport History. Ruben C. Moffat flew a P-6 converted with a supercharged Conqueror engine on a record-breaking flight. There were frequently extremely large and loud airplanes taxiing, taking off, and landing in the base. They are surely exposed to this chemical nearly every day, whether it be playing outside on the playground or from being exposed to the chemicals via drinking the water. With this long list of negative effects it is clearly a big health issue for local residents. The last was delivered in December 1930. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at WurtsmithAir Force Base. Major Gary Geiger assigned to the 911TH Safety Office with me back in the late 60's or early 70's was a Navitgator on the B-52's assigned to Westover AFB as he used to tell me when we deployed there do not know if he did time at Wurstmith AFB. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. 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. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. I saw a big splash, and then the plane went out of sight.. 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. I was shocked when we drove to a wooded area not far from bomber alert pad and WSA up the road of the k9 area where a bull dozed had dug a large trench and we were ordered to dump the shit. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. 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). One of these men were named Lt. Ennis Whitehead. 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). 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 P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and fighter-bomber was used by the Allied air forces during World War II. The married officers lived in a standalone house with their family. The airplane operated on a flight from Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport, MI to Oscoda-Wurtsmith AFB, MI (OSC). They took a photo on April 11, from the surface of Lake Huron, of the wing of a Wold War II-era fighter plane that crashed during a training exercise, killing its pilot. During the Pacific conflicts personnel and the KC-135Stratotankers were deployed to forward bases in the Pacific to support landoperations. My symptoms looking back were insidious with weakness and muscle fasciculations. [5] While the 379thBomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the ReadyAlert Nuclear Strike Force. More individuals impacted by these chemicals are Cindi and Lawrence Ashbeck. Some areas of the site are still under investigation. David Losinski said he and his son were assisting the state Department of Environmental Quality with a barge that sank in Lake Huron in July 2012. I like combining historical photographs with the stories behind them. The state says, We dont have jurisdiction over that; its the Air Force, Losinski said. Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. My daughter was born at the base hospital. According to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the private well located across the road from Oscoda High School tested about the 70 parts-per-trillion advisory level that was established for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS). Visiting Wurtsmith Air Museum, Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan - YouTube Only after, the plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not.[1]. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons first, permanent duty station in the United States Air Force. 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. Dover Air Force base, Delaware. It is perhaps the best-known of all the between wars Army pursuits. [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. As previously stated, there is a museum open to the public which has artifacts and information on the bases history. [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 total of 15,683 Thunderbolts were produced by wars end, more than any other U.S. fighter. All kind of special chemicals that Boeing told the USAF we had to have. This air field was in dire need of a gunnery range because they being forced out of their gunnery range on Lake St. Clair. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. 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. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/04/wurtsmith_pfas_pfc_april_45_me.html. 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 . The majority of married enlisted and officers preferred to live on base because of the free daycare for children. 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. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. WAFB began operations in 1923, under the name of Camp Skeel, and was officially named the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1953. Representatives Dan Kildee (MI-05) and Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) today urged the U.S. Air Force to take more significant steps to address PFAS contamination around the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base near Oscoda.

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