On June 30th, 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons firstpermanent duty station in the United States Air Force.[1]. This unfortunately happened on October 11th, 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. 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. [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]. 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. I have had many other health issues since and have recently found all of this. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. The Losinskis found an account of the crash in the Times Herald. He said the wreckage from the plane is scattered across the lake bottom. It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. Wafb.net At the start of 1985, Wurtsmith maintained an $80 million annual payroll with 3,600 military and civilian personnel. It is primarily a large jet airplane salvage, jet engine maintenance and light general aviation . Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA. Cindi developed hypertension and Lawrence diagnosed with lung disease. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport - Ready to launch | Business View Magazine It is one of the most famous bases located in our state. Download Images of Wurtsmith air force base - Free for commercial use, no attribution required. Any one else from 84-89 have issues? The Airacobra reached its peak usage in the USAAF in early 1944, with over 2100 in service. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. Wurtsmith Air Force Base | Detailed Pedia The last was delivered in December 1930. Most Air Corps/Force types used Oscoda at one time or another. This gave the Army operations the opportunity to begin creating the base we know today. If there's a main break, sections of the base will . 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. to the proper paperwork being completed to allow the missions to continue. Its poor high-altitude performance was a result of a critical decision to remove the turbo-supercharger. 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 single officers who lived on base lived in a dorm type building. 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. Congress set a May 2022 deadline for the DOD to report on the cleanup status of these bases, the Filthy 50, with extremely high levels of PFAS contamination. Maximum speed was 178 mph at sea level, 171 mph at 10,000 feet. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in Iosco County, Michigan.It operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. There is a lot of open runways still today that can be rented out for a multitude of events. [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. Lora Cole, 1/8/20 I am the daughter to a vet that was in this I was a baby at the time. Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. Testing by the Air Force has found high levels of the toxic chemical PFOS in the foam near a plume coming from the former nuclear bomber base. 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. 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. 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. 1946. They included chemicals like MEK, PD 680, TRI CHLOROFLOIANS, ACIDS, ALODIANS, ALL KINDS OF PAINTS, SPECIAL MISSILE SKIN REPAIR KITS. still rejects and "nexus" to the toxic chemicals on the base. 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. There are a lot of stories to tell. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan Redevelopment Profile At this time Wurtsmith Air Force Base was still part of theStrategic Air Commands bomber fleet. All four of the the guys that were in that flight were from Tuskegee, Losinksi said. Click on a marker for base information. The P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and fighter-bomber was used by the Allied air forces during World War II. Dallas Naval base, Texas. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. I recall we lost a tanker on touch and goes which had to be extinguished with a massive amount of this chemical. Because of the economic impact of Wurtsmith Air Force Base the community was generally supportive of the airmen, and the base itself. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. These mission were into Iraq. [1] Mr. Norton also landed. It was eerie, David Losinski said. If you are interested in any particular aircraft of time period please let me know. Wurtsmith AirForce Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. Wurtsmith Air Force Base. A Brief History of Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html. In a fly off against the contemporary Boeing P-12B, the P-6E was faster, but the P-12B was more maneuverable. Now that the contamination has reached the Au Sable river, it could potentially carry this contamination into Lake Huron. Investigation determined a defective tire caused the accident. 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. 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. This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. We offer visitors three hangars full of military (all branches) and aviation history, static aircraft displays, artifacts, equipment and lots of WAFB memorabilia. . Because of this KC-135 squadrons would routinely fly 175 day assignments and return to their home base. The P-6 Hawk (1932-1937) Aircraft was @ Oscoda. It was criticized for its low service ceiling, its slow rate of climb, and its generally poor high-altitude performance. 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. U.S. [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. Wurtsmith Air Force Base - Oscoda, MI - Civilian Exposure Wurtsmith Air Force Base | Military Wiki | Fandom Home Buyers Guide; Find a Real Estate Agent; Price: $299,000. [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. Here is a list of military bases that are known to have had their drinking water contaminated with PFAS chemicals: Alameda Naval base, California. Military Bases Linked to Cancer and Health Problems [1], The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. Deliveries of the first P-6s were late, the first example not appearing until October 1929. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, trained at Oscoda for several weeks and stayed on the base. 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. In 1977 the 379th Bomb Wing upgraded the B-52H fleet to B-52G, During the Gulf War B-52s from Wurtsmith Air Force Base were flown. Aircraft upper wing, left lower wing, rudder and propeller damaged. This includes extra parts, munitions, fuel, and flight crews. We thought that was kind of unbelievable.. 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 worked on the flight line. 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. 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 . U.S. Today, the Wurtsmith Air Force Base has a museum where you can learn about its history. [1] This meant that there was always at least three, B-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. [5], Dave Norton resigned his commotion as a United States Air ForceCaptain on May 30th, 1993 exactly 9 years after receiving his commissionas a 2nd Lt. form the United States Air Force Academy. 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. This unfortunately happened on October 11. , 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. [1] This meant that there was always at least threeB-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. [1], As new technologies and mission goals evolved with time the need for the Strategic Air Commands need for the northern tier became obsolete. The Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. [ 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 . U.S. Military Once Again Pollutes Drinking Water and Won't Clean It Up All kind of special chemicals that Boeing told the USAF we had to have. I will try and highlight some of the most interesting aircraft and their stories!. Stay tuned for further developments. Some areas of the site are still under investigation. (Superstorm) Sandy came along (in October) and moved things around, David Losinski said. 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 . 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. While these crews were on ready alert they did not have a wholelot to do. 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. Pieces include the engine, the tail, part of the door and the 37-millimeter cannon that fired through the propeller hub. 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. It has found from testing this area that some places to have over 1000 parts-per-trillion for PFOS and PFOA. One of these men were named Lt. Ennis Whitehead. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. There were frequently extremely large and loud airplanes taxiing, taking off, and landing in the base. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue thetradition from their World War II counterparts. 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. 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. 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. We didnt know really what we had.. [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. A ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to . Theyve seen lots of things underwater, but the story of the P-39 fighter lost just off the Port Huron beachfront touched them. At the time, George was a hub of F-4 Phantom fighter jets and OV-10 Bronco reconnaissance planes. The documentary by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim focuses on PFAS contamination at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. 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 . 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. Bert E. Skeel was a WWI pilot who died in an air race in Ohio. The museum's exhibits are extensive and incredibly high-quality -- including several aircraft that can be examined up . 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. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. It had everything in it. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in Iosco County, Michigan.It operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. 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. One specific and important waterway being affected by these pollutants is the Au Sable River. Thanks for sending to you and Pat. The married officers lived in a standalone house with their family. The 5,221-acre site is bounded by Van Etten Lake to the north and east . We came across the gauge cluster, which had the radio call tag, David Losinski said. 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. [1] As soon as the wheels touched down the clock would be reset and they could be sent out on another assignment. Call 205.328.9200 Claim Application. [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctors office, a fully equipped gym, and a store where basic necessities were available, military police, office space, and everything necessary to ensure the planes are fully functioning and ready to fly missions. "It was a city within a city. 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. 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. However, the drawdown was fairly rapid after that and they were quickly replaced by P-38s, P-47s and P-51s. This air field was in dire need of a gunnery range because they being forced out of their gunnery range on Lake St. Clair. Kelly mentioned she'd been thinking about getting . From: Members of the ground crew move a maintenance cart into position next to a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft parked on the flight line. 1970 - The Air Force knew that some of the Webb Air Force Base Family Housing units, located in Big Spring Texas, were contaminated with and the occupants exposed to a large quantity of chlordane. 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. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. P-6E, serial number 32-156, 17th Pursuit Squadron from Selfridge Field Michigan. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at WurtsmithAir Force Base. Only after, the plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not.[1]. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. Survived stage 3 oral cancer and per medical review, origin unknown since I have never smoked. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. Military History of the Upper Great Lakes, Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had many, different missions. Peters, Stabenow, Kildee, Slotkin Press | Senator Gary Peters
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