wurtsmith air force base housing
wurtsmith air force base housing
A ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to sou I saw a big splash, and then the plane went out of sight.. We came across the gauge cluster, which had the radio call tag, David Losinski said. 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. In March of 1943, the Third Air Force reactivated the field for training of black aviators. 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. Paul B. Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed in 1993, dealing a sharp blow to the economy of rural Iosco County. This judgement flies in the face provided by the federal ATSDR and the National Institute of Health. 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. [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]. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. 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. There were four planes, and I was watching them from our front window, as I usually do when theyre engaged in gunnery practice. On June 30th, 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. 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] 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. Comprehensive Base Plan, Department of the Air Force, Directorate of Engineering and Services DCS/PRE - Washington DC 1 April 1970 (revised 12 July 1978) . Click on a marker for base information. It had everything in it. 2 talking about this. On the other hand, the rear-mounted engine offered increased maneuverability since the weight of the plane would be near its center of gravity. 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. However, the P-6 differed from the P-1 in having its fuselage rounded out to match the fatter engine cowling required by the Conqueror engine. [4] Enchanted Forest Web Page Design Service. 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. [4] Over the tenure of the base it was home to an aerial gunnery range, a fighter-interceptor training base and later home to the 379th Bomb Wing as a member of the Strategic Air Command.[4]. Ruben C. Moffat flew a P-6 converted with a supercharged Conqueror engine on a record-breaking flight. 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. I do hope there is information on Wurtsmith AFB soon. High blood serum levels of PFOA are associated with infertility, decreased semen quality, and a higher risk of thyroid disease. Mr. Norton would occasionally return to fresh fish left by his neighbor on his porch. It has recently been discovered that that the base has been leaking chemicals into the surrounding waterways. Now I see this years later. 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. Norton, arrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air Force, Base in the fall of 1985. Me and Dan drive around base and check out the bunkers that held nuclear weapons during the cold war This lead to Wurtsmith transferring to Air Combat Command control, and then on June 30th 1993, Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed. The ROAM system ensures that aircraft are serviced . This year, we went out diving, and we could see these points of interest from the surface, Losinski said. But these days, the county is becoming a haven for retired people such as the Kuhlmans . I served at Wursmith AFB from 1982 to 1989, living in base housing the entire time and drinking the water. 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. Lee N. 2023 Aspyre Media Group, LLC. DISCLAIMER: Information displayed on U.S. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. Because of this KC-135 squadrons would routinely fly 175 day assignments and return to their home base. 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. 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. It is one of the most famous bases located in our state. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. At the start of 1985, Wurtsmith maintained an $80 million annual payroll with 3,600 military and civilian personnel. 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. The majority of married enlisted and officers preferred to live on base because of the free daycare for children. As soon as an assignment went over 180 days it was considered a permanent change in duty station. 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. 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. The cockpit canopy offered exceptional all-round visibility for the pilot. These levels were published by the Enviromental Protection Agency (Mlive.com). [1], The northern tier Strategic Air Command Ready Alert Strike Force bases were considered less than desirable duty stations for one main reason. 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. He said the wreckage from the plane is scattered across the lake bottom. This is a very big issue for the people of Oscoda and the surrounding areas for obvious reasons. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategicwing as it was disbanded. The P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and fighter-bomber was used by the Allied air forces during World War II. Wurtsmith AFB Water Health Issues via water, Organochlorine Pesticides Levels at George AFB Family Housing. Had some issue at Loring Maine where I was stationed from 86-88 and nothing.VA is cricket s on this Richard Stanfill, 12/5/21I was stationed there from 1982 to October of 1985 and lost my left kidney to 3rd stage clear cell carcinoma I never smoked or did drugs. WAFB began operations in 1923, under the name of Camp Skeel, and was officially named the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1953. [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. It was renamed Camp Skeel in 1924, for the World War I Pilot Captain Burt E. Skeel, and was used as an aerial gunnery range and for winter maneuvers 1924 through 1944 by the 1st Pursuit . A bomber squadron for example would be sent out to destroy a target and return to its home base within a week. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons first, permanent duty station in the United States Air Force. Wurtsmith Air, Force Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. 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. The P-6E was quite a good-looking airplane, and became the most famous of the Hawk line of biplane fighters. The Arrow Street purge system, installed in 1982 to remove contaminants from the Building 43 plume, has lowered concentrations o 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. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. 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. These mission were into Iraq. The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls. My first daughter was born there at their hospital.my ex husband now, is very sick. [1] On the first Wednesday the, fresh flight crew would relive the current flight crew in the bunkers. 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. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. These high levels of PFOA elevate the risks of kidney cancer, mesothelioma, and diabetes. "It was a city within a city. Lt. Ennis also thought it would be a great place for young Army Air corps to test aircraft (WAFB.net). Aircraft rolled 630 feet before nosing over. 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. Wurtsmith AirForce Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. [1] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Base, signifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. It was eerie, David Losinski said. ircraft operated from Oscoda Army Airfield. In 1953 it was renamed Wurtsmith Air Force Base after Michigan native, Major General Paul Wurtsmith. 1946. They were stationed at the air base from 1986 to 1993. To all who are interested in the Camp Skeel/Oscoda AAF/Wurtsmith AFB History. 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 former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), located in Oscoda, Iosco County, MI operated from 1924 to 1993. 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. Photos of P-47s flown by French Pilots at Oscoda. China Lake Naval base, California. 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 . to share information regarding health issues, and probable chemical exposure via base water sources. U.S. [THE FLINT JOURNAL VIA AP] This article is from 2018.. Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA. It still haunts me today that we had to do that and were told to just follow orders. The site of Wurtsmith Air Force Base is located 2 miles Northwest of Oscoda, Michigan, about 150 miles North of Detroit. 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. By Steve Elliott 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs. However, the drawdown was fairly rapid after that and they were quickly replaced by P-38s, P-47s and P-51s. 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. USVCP Staff Writers . Since, 2010 sampling by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the U.S. Air Force has identified elevated levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in drinking water wells and some locally caught fish and deer. The 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. By comparing the concentrations of known fluorosurfactants with the total organofluorine, less than 10% of the fluorosurfactants were identified in half of the samples. Theyve seen lots of things underwater, but the story of the P-39 fighter lost just off the Port Huron beachfront touched them. Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. 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. /. [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. 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. [1] Mr. Nortonarrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air ForceBase in the fall of 1985. Because the Committee on Toxicology (NRC, 1979) concluded that it could not determine a level of exposure to chlordane below which there would be no biologic effect under conditions of prolonged exposure of families in military housing. The pesticide levels and CERCLA 120(h) Deed Restrictions are public information and readily available. 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 . He saw the surrounding land and figured it would make a great place for a gunnery range. [1] Mr. Norton also landed. 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. Their children developed asthma, spinal defects and thyroid problems. I have always scheduled an apt with my dr to talk about the possibility of how this may have affected me. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. Located in Iosco County, Michigan, Wurtsmith Air Force Base operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. 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. What's next? 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. Now, I have been diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney failure and congestive heart disease, I am currently on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant. Robert Krouse, 12/31/19Stationed at Wurtsmith AFB from 1978 to 1980 and lived in barracks. 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. The Losinskis havent abandoned their quest to bring this long-forgotten chapter in the history of World War II to light. The 1st Combat Evaluation Group (initially "1CEG", later "1CEVG") was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) unit. The 700 hp Conqueror engine was exceptionally powerful for its day, but it had many minor and some major faults which needed to be corrected. . [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. Stay tuned for further developments. There are many historical planes you can visit as well as other interesting pieces of history that the public may view. 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. 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. Senator Gary Peters (MI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today called on the Air Force to expedite PFAS cleanup efforts at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda.In a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy John . [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. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. empty, 3310 lb gross. 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. The 5,221-acre site is bounded by Van Etten Lake to the north and east . He brought this idea to the attention of his squadron commander Major Carl Spaatz. These organizations primarily fall into seven types of activities: aviation, manufacturing, technology, medical, housing, education, community services and technology. 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. The average person has around 3 or 4 parts per billion of these chemicals present in their blood. [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. The P-6 was generally similar to the P-1 in construction and appearance. This, flight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undisclosed. Im slowly working my way up from 1924 to the present. These bases wereresponsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport became a public airport in 1993. This man later took the proposal to build a gunnery range to the people of Oscoda. After being relieved, the flight crew had until the following Monday morningoff. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. The main mission of Oscoda Army Air Field, at the time, was to defend Sault Ste. The 379th Bomb Wing moved to Wurtsmith Air Force Base in June of19661. The married officers lived in a standalone house with their family. "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. Why are you focusing only on chlordane and other organochlorine pesticide (OCP) contamination at the Family Housing? In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. So now what? [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctor's office, a . This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. distance from the bunker. The brown tint is (mostly) caused by scale build up in the pipes being knocked loose. [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. In addition, the rear fuselage was deepened in order that it could faire cleanly into the bottom of the radiator. [1] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Basesignifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. They included chemicals like MEK, PD 680, TRI CHLOROFLOIANS, ACIDS, ALODIANS, ALL KINDS OF PAINTS, SPECIAL MISSILE SKIN REPAIR KITS. The state says, We dont have jurisdiction over that; its the Air Force, Losinski said. 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. A ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to . 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. 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. I was stationed there 1988-1992. P-6E, serial number 32-156, 17th Pursuit Squadron from Selfridge Field Michigan.
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