As long as these assignments were under 180 days they were considered Temporary Duty Assignments. This happened a couple weeks before the IOC which is in the wing,ahistorical records on microfilm. In addition, the rear fuselage was deepened in order that it could faire cleanly into the bottom of the radiator. 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. [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. 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). Welcome to The WAFB Historical Site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and the units assigned there. The museum's exhibits are extensive and incredibly high-quality -- including several aircraft that can be examined up . The base is influential in Michigan, as well as the United States military history. The airplane operated on a flight from Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport, MI to Oscoda-Wurtsmith AFB, MI (OSC). This unfortunately happened on October 11th, 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had manydifferent missions. As soon as an assignment went over 180 days it was considered a permanent change in duty station. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. At one point, they had to use these toxic foam chemicals to put out a fire at the Oscoda High School in 1995. [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. 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 Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does not monitor, pre-screen or moderate posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. Its poor high-altitude performance was a result of a critical decision to remove the turbo-supercharger. [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]. One of these places included directly underneath the Oscoda high school. Following cleanup, operation and maintenance activities are ongoing. During the Pacific conflicts personnel and the KC-135Stratotankers were deployed to forward bases in the Pacific to support landoperations. A total of 15,683 Thunderbolts were produced by wars end, more than any other U.S. fighter. 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. The "Red Tail" P-51 Mustangs flown by the Tuskeegee Airmen []. All Rights Reserved. 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. There are many different ways that PFOA and PFOS can affect the human body. Survived stage 3 oral cancer and per medical review, origin unknown since I have never smoked. [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. This is heinous, and my heart goes out to so many. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The human-made chemicals are in your blood, your clothes, your cosmetics. According to the Air Force's account, in October 1977, a Wurtsmith base housing resident complained about a peculiar odor and taste in the drinking water. The average person has around 3 or 4 parts per billion of these chemicals present in their blood. 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 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 still stay in touch with Gary but do not know if he has an e-mail account. 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. WAFB began operations in 1923, under the name of Camp Skeel, and was officially named the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1953. The Realignment of Griffiss Air Force Base. Theyve seen lots of things underwater, but the story of the P-39 fighter lost just off the Port Huron beachfront touched them. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. 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. Stay tuned for further developments. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at Wurtsmith, Air Force Base. The base came to be because of chance. The state says, We dont have jurisdiction over that; its the Air Force, Losinski said. [5] One crew flew 29mission out of Jeddah, setting the record for most missions flew by a bombercrew in theater. See: Organochlorine Pesticides Levels at George AFB Family Housing, CERCLA 120(h) Quitclaim Deed Restrictions for the George AFB Family Housing, Organochlorine Pesticide Contamination at George AFB Schools, Terri Crooks won her VA C&P Claim for service connected injury for her exposure to chlordane and other organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), Frank Vera www.BaseFamilyHousing.Info PO Box 1313 Jamestown, CA, 95327-1313 Phone: 209-782-4541, Copyright 2020 - BaseFamilyHousing.Info. 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. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. WAFB closed in 1993 and is gradually being turned over to the Oscoda Airport Authority for reuse as an industrial park and airfield (EPA 2012). Bert E. Skeel was a WWI pilot who died in an air race in Ohio. The Au Sable River is an attraction for families all around Michigan. PORT HURON, Mich. David and Drew Losinski are struck by the coincidence. 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. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. 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. Cindi developed hypertension and Lawrence diagnosed with lung disease. 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. I remember getting a letter of counseling when I wanted to object as a warning what could happen. Wurtsmith AFB Water Health Issues via water, Organochlorine Pesticides Levels at George AFB Family Housing. 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. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. Physical Location:4071 East Van Ettan StreetOscoda, Michigan 48750, Mailing Address:PO Box 664Oscoda, Michigan 48750, Tele: (989) 739-7555(Not answered Nov-Apr)Email:email@wurtsmithairmuseum.net, AN ARTIFACT FROM WURTSMITHS COLD WAR PAST HAS RETURNED HOME, There was one final project I wanted to accomplish before departing my assignment as Flight Commander of Aircrew Flight Equipment and SERE at the. Traci Kroushour, an Oscoda resident until the age of 12, had her uterus removed at the age of 28 and can never have children. I am pretty sure Diabetes and Sleep Apnea I have now and neuro dammage in both arms are related , So Presumptive Claims puzzleing I have a claim in and never heard anything I know Senator Kilddee of Michigan is trying to help veterans on this matter but congress are dragging this out. As a young airman, assumed we were returning the stuff to supply to send to the next base. We make no endorsements or recommendations of any VSO, attorney, law firm, claims specialists or organization working with veterans on their service-connected claim(s). 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. 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. Their children developed asthma, spinal defects and thyroid problems. Groundwater data collected in 1999 at Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Michigan), Tyndall Air Force Base (Florida) and Naval Air Station Fallon (Nevada), where PFC concentrations ranged from below detection limit to over 14,000 g/L, suggest that any military site where AFFFs have been used is likely to have a dissolved plume containing . Wurtsmith got its start in 1923 as Loud-Reames Aviation Field, a soft-surface landing site for Arm Air Corps aircraft from Selfridge Field. [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. The result was an airplane which had a much deeper and broader fuselage than did the P-1. [1] This was further broken down by marital status. 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 Losinskis havent abandoned their quest to bring this long-forgotten chapter in the history of World War II to light. 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 . I saw a big splash, and then the plane went out of sight.. 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. 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 . At this time Wurtsmith Air Force Base was still part of theStrategic Air Commands bomber fleet. Aircraft rolled 630 feet before nosing over. There were 10 passengers and six crew members on board. The P-6E was quite a good-looking airplane, and became the most famous of the Hawk line of biplane fighters. On the other hand, the rear-mounted engine offered increased maneuverability since the weight of the plane would be near its center of gravity. August 8, 2018. 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. The typical activities while not on ready alert varied greatlyfrom person to person. Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. Aug 24, 2021. P-6E, serial number 32-156, 17th Pursuit Squadron from Selfridge Field Michigan. The former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), located in Oscoda, Iosco County, MI operated from 1924 to 1993. This air field was in dire need of a gunnery range because they being forced out of their gunnery range on Lake St. Clair. There is an ongoing project to decontaminate the area. [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 1977 the 379th Bomb Wing upgraded the B-52H fleet to B-52Gaircraft. Most Air Corps/Force types used Oscoda at one time or another. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. This bunker compound housedthe flight crews on ready alert, the three B-52 bombers ready to take off at amoments notice, and the accompanying KC-135s ready to top off the B-52s after takeoff. 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. 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. 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. This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. "Keeping Wurtsmith AFB and Aviation History of NE MI Alive" Opens on Armed Forces Day in May, hosts a Welcome Home. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. Mrs. Cecil V. Fowler saw the crash, according to the Times Herald article. Since 1994, the Wurtsmith Air Museum has upheld the mission of preserving the history of the history of Wurtsmith Air Force Base (an integral part of the US Air Force from 1923 until 1993) and aviation in Northeast Michigan. The 5,221-acre site is bounded by Van Etten Lake to the north and east . The KC-135s would finish one mission and there would be another one waiting for them as soon as they were available. . Contaminated water has been shown to be the main way that humans get exposed to this chemical, which is exactly whats going on in Oscoda. Aircraft upper wing, left lower wing, rudder and propeller damaged. [6] 379th Bomb Wing Homestead AFB B-47 Wurtsmith AFB B-52, www.strategic-air-command.com/wings/0379bw.htm. 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. There is no amount of PFOA that is officially recognized as harmful. However, many studies have shown otherwise. [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. Two years after release I started to experience very visible loss of musculature and strength. 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. I am not a doctor or attorney, and cannot give medical advice or legal advice. 70-77 lived on base housing with family, flight line assistant supervisor. 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. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. It was the most horrible thing I have ever witnessed, she said. [1] Mr. Nortonarrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air ForceBase in the fall of 1985. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. After one week in the bunker on ready alert the flight crew would be relieved. These organizations primarily fall into seven types of activities: aviation, manufacturing, technology, medical, housing, education, community services and technology. Wurtsmith AirForce Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. The 379th Bomb Wing moved to Wurtsmith Air Force Base in June of19661. [1] As soon as the wheels touched down the clock would be reset and they could be sent out on another assignment. The base is located in Oscoda, Iosco County, Michigan. One specific and important waterway being affected by these pollutants is the Au Sable River. Neither Michigan nor any U.S. officials have conducted a comprehensive study on the contaminants and pollutants under the base. Timothy Marcum, 1/15/2071-73 camp lejeune nc bad water va in redding pretends they know nothing about having problems. The intent is to create a self-help registry for those who were harmed by the extremely toxic organochlorine pesticide contamination detected at Military Family Housing. Ellsworth Air Force base, South Dakota. These bases wereresponsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. 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. Why are you focusing only on chlordane and other organochlorine pesticide (OCP) contamination at the Family Housing? This article is from 2018.. 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 ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to sou Now that the contamination has reached the Au Sable river, it could potentially carry this contamination into Lake Huron. Off Base Housing. Veteran Compensation Programs (USVCP) (www.veteranprograms.com), and any of their associated websites is for general informational. I served at Wursmith AFB from 1982 to 1989, living in base housing the entire time and drinking the water. The Air Force says, Any aircraft before 1961, weve abandoned it.. [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. At the start of 1985, Wurtsmith maintained an $80 million annual payroll with 3,600 military and civilian personnel.