PORT HURON, Mich. David and Drew Losinski are struck by the coincidence. There were frequently extremely large and loud airplanes taxiing, taking off, and landing in the base. "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. 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 . I am not a doctor or attorney, and cannot give medical advice or legal advice. out of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 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. These contaminants are harmful to the environment. The letter never said what I was objecting to, but that I was refusing to for a lawful order. One specific and important waterway being affected by these pollutants is the Au Sable River. The married enlisted airmen who lived on base lived in a condo type set up with their family. 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. Wurtsmith earned recognition during the war as the leader of the group of pilots using P-40 and P-38 fighter . The 379th Bomb Wing moved to Wurtsmith Air Force Base in June of19661. This year, we went out diving, and we could see these points of interest from the surface, Losinski said. All kind of special chemicals that Boeing told the USAF we had to have. No injuries to the pilot. Two years after release I started to experience very visible loss of musculature and strength. to the proper paperwork being completed to allow the missions to continue. 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 . Ruben C. Moffat flew a P-6 converted with a supercharged Conqueror engine on a record-breaking flight. 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. [1], While Wurtsmith Air Force Base was its own little town, it was segregated by officers and enlisted. 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. Investigation determined a defective tire caused the accident. A new report compiled by a local group, Need Our Water (NOW) and the National Wildlife Federation . 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 base was first named after Capt. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. History Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. Following cleanup, operation and maintenance activities are ongoing. 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. 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. [6], During the Gulf War B-52s from Wurtsmith Air Force Base were flownout of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. [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. I served at Wurtsmith from 1974-1977 my whole family has suffered from various ongoing ailments. 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. 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. August 8, 2018. 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. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. Maximum speed was 178 mph at sea level, 171 mph at 10,000 feet. This man later took the proposal to build a gunnery range to the people of Oscoda. [1] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Basesignifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. The P-6 could climb to 10,000 feet in 6.6 min. They raised $600 to clear the land, which at the time was plenty for this job. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. 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. There were frequently extremely large and loud airplanes taxiing, taking off, and landing in the base. It is primarily a large jet airplane salvage, jet engine maintenance and light general aviation . Wurtsmith got its start in 1923 as Loud-Reames Aviation Field, a soft-surface landing site for Arm Air Corps aircraft from Selfridge Field. In 1932, Capt. [1] Mr. Norton also landedthe first KC-135 in operation Southern Watch. The base became a permanent installation on January 1, 1951, when the U. S. Air Force designated it as a fighter training base for the Air Defense command. As long as these assignments were under 180 days they were considered Temporary Duty Assignments. [THE FLINT JOURNAL VIA AP] 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 . Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. The Airacobra reached its peak usage in the USAAF in early 1944, with over 2100 in service. Service ceiling 27,200 feet, and range was 260 miles. Ellsworth Air Force base, South Dakota. These are simply the specific . [1], While these crews were on ready alert they did not have a whole, lot to do. What they had was a one-seat warplane piloted by 2nd Lt. Frank H. Moody, of Los Angeles. I remember getting a letter of counseling when I wanted to object as a warning what could happen. Aug 24, 2021. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is said to have originally started with a fishing trip between two men. The last was delivered in December 1930. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. Mr. Norton experienced this first hand while being station at Wurtsmith Air Force Base when he had his Squadron Commander help him hang drywall in his house. At this time, the camp was renamed and the airfield was under III Fighter Command jurisdiction. Anyone know the status on this? My first assignment as a Nuclear Weapons specialist was at wurtsmith where we deployed the AGM 69A SRAM missile system. 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. Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich., served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. The P-6E was quite a good-looking airplane, and became the most famous of the Hawk line of biplane fighters. 2 talking about this. My daughter was born at the base hospital. Most individuals are not educated on what the base did before and after World War II, what is currently happening at this . Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA. Bert E. Skeel was a WWI pilot who died in an air race in Ohio. [1] On the first Wednesday thefresh flight crew would relive the current flight crew in the bunkers. WAFB began operations in 1923, under the name of Camp Skeel, and was officially named the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1953. These mission were into Iraq. The museum's exhibits are extensive and incredibly high-quality -- including several aircraft that can be examined up . The base is located in Oscoda, Iosco County, Michigan. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. 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. 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. [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 was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. Now, I have been diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney failure and congestive heart disease, I am currently on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategicwing as it was disbanded. What us the compensation for this? Marie and the straights of Mackinac. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. The majority of married enlisted and officers preferred to live on base because of the free daycare for children. It has recently been discovered that that the base has been leaking chemicals into the surrounding waterways. This judgement flies in the face provided by the federal ATSDR and the National Institute of Health. 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 aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. PFOA exposure is also shown to be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children between ages 12-15. [5] Wurtsmith AFB, Mich SAC 379th Bomb Wing B-52, www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Wurtsmith_AFB.htm. Kelly mentioned she'd been thinking about getting . [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at WurtsmithAir Force Base. These Air Force bases were remote. The P-6 was generally similar to the P-1 in construction and appearance. . The runways were aligned NE/SW, E/W, and NW/SE. What's next? 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. Lora Cole, 1/8/20 I am the daughter to a vet that was in this I was a baby at the time. Published August 24, 2021 at 4:15 PM EDT. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. Aircraft upper wing, left lower wing, rudder and propeller damaged. I recall we lost a tanker on touch and goes which had to be extinguished with a massive amount of this chemical. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. During the Cold War, the base became part of Strategic Air Command. A map of the base locations listed above can be viewed below. This resulted in KC-135 squadrons spending a greater amount of time on temporary duty assignments than other squadrons from Wurtsmith Air Force Base. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. The Realignment of Griffiss Air Force Base. Now I see this years later. 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. Even studies on fish have been done, where it was found that PFOA is a liver carcinogen in rainbow trout. Download Images of Wurtsmith air force base - Free for commercial use, no attribution required. The ROAM system ensures that aircraft are serviced . [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. 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. I was stationed there 1978 -81 lived on base they never told us about the water being contaminated . 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 Losinskis said they want to preserve the site for people to dive on. 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 . Stay tuned for further developments. 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. 70-77 lived on base housing with family, flight line assistant supervisor. The typical activities while not on ready alert varied greatlyfrom person to person. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. Even after the base closed in 1993, the base maintained a fire staff for many years. There are many different ways that PFOA and PFOS can affect the human body. From humble beginnings in the 1920's as a aircraft gunnery range, to its status as a vital member of our strategic defense, Wurtsmith Air Force Base has distinguished itself as an important part of our country's military history. [1] Mr. Norton, arrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air Force, Base in the fall of 1985. 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. I still stay in touch with Gary but do not know if he has an e-mail account. 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. 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 . If there's a main break, sections of the base will . 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 Air Force base was one of five, northern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. 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 is an evolving issue with many moving parts. empty, 3310 lb gross. 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. 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 . "Keeping Wurtsmith AFB and Aviation History of NE MI Alive" Opens on Armed Forces Day in May, hosts a Welcome Home. Many of drums ruptured. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. Mrs. Cecil V. Fowler saw the crash, according to the Times Herald article. Learn how your comment data is processed. Dallas Naval base, Texas. Mr. Norton would occasionally return to fresh fish left by his neighbor on his porch. 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. They also were known as the Red Tails because they painted the tails of their aircraft red. The story stated Moody and three other pilots were taking gunnery practice about three miles north of Port Huron. 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. 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. . the first KC-135 in operation Southern Watch. These levels were published by the Enviromental Protection Agency (Mlive.com). In March of 1943, the Third Air Force reactivated the field for training of black aviators. The B-52 is being serviced under the Strategic Air Command Recovery Oriented Aircraft Maintenance (ROAM) system. [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. So now what? He brought this idea to the attention of his squadron commander Major Carl Spaatz. The Lackland Air Force Base Education Center is located at 1550 Wurtsmith Street, Suite 5. . I have had many other health issues since and have recently found all of this. 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. The 5,221-acre site is bounded by Van Etten Lake to the north and east . Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in Iosco County, Michigan.It operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. [1], The northern tier Strategic Air Command Ready Alert Strike Force bases were considered less than desirable duty stations for one main reason. Their children developed asthma, spinal defects and thyroid problems. Today, the Wurtsmith Air Force Base has a museum where you can learn about its history. Once we brought that up and cleaned the tag, we knew it was the 221226 serial number.. Wurtsmith AirForce Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. These chemicals have been shown to cause problems with thyroid, liver, kidney, reproduction, and other health problems. [1] As soon as the wheels touched down the clock would be reset and they could be sent out on another assignment. Veteran Compensation Programs (USVCP) (www.veteranprograms.com), and any of their associated websites is for general informational. Wurtsmith Today The former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (AFB) properties are being reutilized by 28 businesses and agencies that collectively employ more than 1,660 workers (representing 240 percent of civilian jobs lost). It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. 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. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. The Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. [1] This meant that there was always at least three, B-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. 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. Here is a list of military bases that are known to have had their drinking water contaminated with PFAS chemicals: Alameda Naval base, California. Airport History. [6] The 379th Bomb Wing wasdisbanded on June 30th 1993. 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. In 1977 the 379th Bomb Wing upgraded the B-52H fleet to B-52Gaircraft. [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctor's office, a . Military bases are known for significant staffing turnover. 1946. My daughter was born there on base in 1987 she has gastric issues, and was born w heart issues. Deliveries of the first P-6s were late, the first example not appearing until October 1929. Theyre looking for other divers who can assist with the effort. 1944 -- Maj. Gen. Paul B. Wurtsmith, born in Detroit in 1906, led U. S. Army Air Corps training flights to Camp Skeel near Oscoda prior to World War II. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons first, permanent duty station in the United States Air Force. 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 . 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. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in northeastern Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Engine not damaged. 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). While these crews were on ready alert they did not have a wholelot to do. 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. Lester Graham. The state says, We dont have jurisdiction over that; its the Air Force, Losinski said. After a devastating fire in Oscoda which cleared over 600 buildings, the remaining citizens heard about the proposal to clear an area for the base. 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.