If you are interested in any particular aircraft of time period please let me know. High blood serum levels of PFOA are associated with infertility, decreased semen quality, and a higher risk of thyroid disease. Aug 24, 2021. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. But these days, the county is becoming a haven for retired people such as the Kuhlmans . [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. 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. 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. 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 . Ruben C. Moffat flew a P-6 converted with a supercharged Conqueror engine on a record-breaking flight. Dover Air Force base, Delaware. A ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to sou Once we brought that up and cleaned the tag, we knew it was the 221226 serial number.. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. 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. Moodys body was not recovered until it washed ashore in Port Huron on June 4, 1944 two days before D-Day and the invasion of Normandy. [1] This was further broken down by marital status. Although in the past the Wurtsmith Air Force Base was extremely successful there are some prevalent issues with it today. The study doesn't estimate past concentrations or exposure dosage and was released with . There were four planes, and I was watching them from our front window, as I usually do when theyre engaged in gunnery practice. At least thirty French piloted P-47 aircraft accidents were reported at Oscoda AAF during the time period 1944-1945 and resulted in at least four pilots killed. [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. 2 talking about this. [1] As soon as the wheels touched down the clock would be reset and they could be sent out on another assignment. Weve done quite a bit of documenting and measuring, David Losinski said. [4] Its mission was to, maintain half of the fleet on a 15 minute alert, meaning the plane could be in, the air in 15 minutes, to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet preemptive missile, strike. So now what? [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. All four of the the guys that were in that flight were from Tuskegee, Losinksi said. (Superstorm) Sandy came along (in October) and moved things around, David Losinski said. [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. 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. It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. the first KC-135 in operation Southern Watch. 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. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in northeastern Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The Au Sable River is an attraction for families all around Michigan. 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. [5] Wurtsmith AFB, Mich SAC 379th Bomb Wing B-52, www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Wurtsmith_AFB.htm. This man later took the proposal to build a gunnery range to the people of Oscoda. 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. Timothy Marcum, 1/15/2071-73 camp lejeune nc bad water va in redding pretends they know nothing about having problems. Wurtsmith Air Force Base. A Brief History of Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html. 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. In a fly off against the contemporary Boeing P-12B, the P-6E was faster, but the P-12B was more maneuverable. The Losinskis havent abandoned their quest to bring this long-forgotten chapter in the history of World War II to light. Airport History. The main mission of Oscoda Army Air Field, at the time, was to defend Sault Ste. 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. This includes extra parts, munitions, fuel, and flight crews. [1]After one week in the bunker on ready alert the flight crew would be relieved. Today the Wurtsmith district is integral to the community's economic potential. Just run the water until it clears up. By Steve Elliott 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs. WAFB began operations in 1923, under the name of Camp Skeel, and was officially named the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1953. Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. They want the site to remain a memorial divers can visit. It has recently been discovered that that the base has been leaking chemicals into the surrounding waterways. Im using a combination of several source materials to tell the history of the area. U.S. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. Stay tuned for further developments. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. The pilot apparently noticed it and tried to lift his ship. 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. Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of fivenorthern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. A map of the base locations listed above can be viewed below. [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. In March of 1943, the Third Air Force reactivated the field for training of black aviators. Veteran Compensation Programs (veteranprograms.com) assumes NO liability, and expressly disclaims any and all responsibility, for the content of all posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. [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. Heart condition, prostate cancer, diabetic, sometimes confused in making decisions. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, trained at Oscoda for several weeks and stayed on the base. Continued study of ground-water contamination at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, defined the movement and distribution of volatile organic compounds in the glacial sand and gravel aquifer at known sites of contamination, and has defined new plumes at two other sites. These bases wereresponsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. [1], Over the course of Mr. Nortons career as both a KC-135 Navigator, and a DC-10 Pilot, Mr. Norton served as a flight commander, served numerous, deployments during the Gulf War escorting fighter squadrons from the United, States into theater, supporting fighter squadrons and bomber squadrons in, theater, served multiple temporary duty assignments to England, Spain, Saudi, Arabia, Alaska, and other Air Force Bases around the globe. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategic, wing as it was disbanded. This air field was in dire need of a gunnery range because they being forced out of their gunnery range on Lake St. Clair. The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls. U.S. Air Force should abide by state of Michigan's PFAS Standards, state must hold Air Force accountable. This meant that Wurtsmith Air Force Base was essentially a self-contained airport with all of the necessities to support a full community on Base. 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. We have a lot of sick civilians and = veterans from contaminated drinking water. [1] This tight knit community was not confined to just the Air Force Base, but extended into the community as well. These are simply the specific . Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. [3] Search Superfund Site Information. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 28 Dec. 2016, cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0503675. .. did this bill die in the committee s? Theyre looking for other divers who can assist with the effort. There were frequently extremely large and loud airplanes taxiing, taking off, and landing in the base. My son, was born on the base, has a malformed aorta and congenital nerve damage hearing loss. The cockpit canopy offered exceptional all-round visibility for the pilot. Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich., served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. The presumptive disabilities from contaminated water at Wurtsmith AFB would lead to automatic compensation to potentially thousands of veterans. 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. "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. A new report compiled by a local group, Need Our Water (NOW) and the National Wildlife Federation . This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Investigation determined a defective tire caused the accident. They resumed the investigation last spring. That plane actually crashed April 11, 1944, which was 70 years to the date that the picture was taken, Drew Losinski said. No injuries to the pilot. I didnt know anything about the Tuskegee Airmen until we got into this.. Aircraft rolled 630 feet before nosing over. distance from the bunker. In 1977 the 379th Bomb Wing upgraded the B-52H fleet to B-52Gaircraft. The gunnery range was tasked with training pilots from, Selfridge air base in the challenging maneuvers required to land a DeHavilland, biplane on the frozen lake Van Etten for the young Army Air Corps. PFOA exposure is also shown to be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children between ages 12-15. 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 wasdisbanded on June 30th 1993. Photos of P-47s flown by French Pilots at Oscoda. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. These mission were into Iraq. My first daughter was born there at their hospital.my ex husband now, is very sick. The average person has around 3 or 4 parts per billion of these chemicals present in their blood. 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. This, flight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undisclosed. 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 . A total 9589 Airacobras were built before production finally ended on July 25, 1944. This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. They were stationed at the air base from 1986 to 1993. [1] This was followed by one and a half weeks of normal day to day activitiesuntil the flight crew relieved crew on ready alert in the bunkers.[1]. Tests in Michigan near the former Wurtsmith Air Force base have found PFOS in groundwater at levels as high as 42,000 ppt. 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. The result was an airplane which had a much deeper and broader fuselage than did the P-1. This happened a couple weeks before the IOC which is in the wing,ahistorical records on microfilm. My husband and our two children lived there from 1985-1993 I have a nerve problem my daughter has autoimmune (MS) youngest daughter has kidney problems. Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA. Mr. Norton would occasionally return to fresh fish left by his neighbor on his porch. Bert E. Skeel in 1924. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at Wurtsmith, Air Force Base. The KC-135s would finish one mission and there would be another one waiting for them as soon as they were available. Pieces include the engine, the tail, part of the door and the 37-millimeter cannon that fired through the propeller hub. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. The 379th Bomb Wing moved to Wurtsmith Air Force Base in June of19661. 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 . A ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to . WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. 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 . It is primarily a large jet airplane salvage, jet engine maintenance and light general aviation . The base was first named after Capt. I worked on the flight line. 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. 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. 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. Thanks for sending to you and Pat. 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. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. They also were known as the Red Tails because they painted the tails of their aircraft red. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons firstpermanent duty station in the United States Air Force.[1]. What's next? They included chemicals like MEK, PD 680, TRI CHLOROFLOIANS, ACIDS, ALODIANS, ALL KINDS OF PAINTS, SPECIAL MISSILE SKIN REPAIR KITS. 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. [5] While the 379th, Bomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the Ready, Alert Nuclear Strike Force. [5] One crew flew 29mission out of Jeddah, setting the record for most missions flew by a bombercrew in theater. Because of the restriction of being close to the Christmas tree theyresorted to playing cards, working out, reading, and sleeping while they werenot conducting recurrent training to stay up to date and proficient on theirequipment. 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. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. Why are you focusing only on chlordane and other organochlorine pesticide (OCP) contamination at the Family Housing? . [1] Mr. Norton, arrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air Force, Base in the fall of 1985. 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. 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. I saw a big splash, and then the plane went out of sight.. [1], As new technologies and mission goals evolved with time the need for the Strategic Air Commands need for the northern tier became obsolete. 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. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. It had everything in it. 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. Lester Graham. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. 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. . 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. The 5,221-acre site is bounded by Van Etten Lake to the north and east . This could be from hydrant flushing or a water main break. This unfortunately happened on October 11th, 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. I do hope there is information on Wurtsmith AFB soon. The Losinskis found an account of the crash in the Times Herald. Theseplanes would regularly fly missions from Wurtsmith Air Force Base during thecold war. Even after the base closed in 1993, the base maintained a fire staff for many years. 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. 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. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. Ellsworth Air Force base, South Dakota. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons first, permanent duty station in the United States Air Force. ircraft operated from Oscoda Army Airfield. It is one of the most famous bases located in our state. I was stationed there 1978 -81 lived on base they never told us about the water being contaminated . 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. I have always scheduled an apt with my dr to talk about the possibility of how this may have affected me. [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]. 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. We thought that was kind of unbelievable.. 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. 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). This year, we went out diving, and we could see these points of interest from the surface, Losinski said. empty, 3310 lb gross. He was training with fellow pilots out of what was then Selfridge Field when his plane crashed. Many of drums ruptured. Military bases are known for significant staffing turnover. I kept up with all this for a while then gave up. Wurtsmith AirForce Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. 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. 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. [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctor's office, a . In their letter, the members expressed their concerns that the Air Force's proposed remediation plan . 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. Marie and the straights of Mackinac. However, the drawdown was fairly rapid after that and they were quickly replaced by P-38s, P-47s and P-51s. "Keeping Wurtsmith AFB and Aviation History of NE MI Alive" Opens on Armed Forces Day in May, hosts a Welcome Home.

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