Survived stage 3 oral cancer and per medical review, origin unknown since I have never smoked. There are many good photos of P-39s at Selfridge Field (Posted below), but none of P-39s at Oscoda. It is one of the most famous bases located in our state. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. As soon as an assignment went over 180 days it was considered a permanent change in duty station. TCE in another well on Jet Street near the present day Wurtsmith AFB museum was 1,739-ppb. The Strategic Air Command activated a wing there on August 1, 1958. I have also read about the PFAS via fire retardant foam. Thisflight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undiscloseddistance from the bunker. This happened a couple weeks before the IOC which is in the wing,ahistorical records on microfilm. 70-77 lived on base housing with family, flight line assistant supervisor. Mapping PFAS Chemical Contamination at 206 U.S. Military Sites The Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. Typical occurrences on Wurtsmith Air Force Base included planes flying in and out on missions. I lived in base housing, I want to say 8607H Ohio from 82-84. 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 . Visiting Wurtsmith Air Museum, Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan - YouTube 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 aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. 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. Two years after release I started to experience very visible loss of musculature and strength. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. 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. We came across the gauge cluster, which had the radio call tag, David Losinski said. As previously stated, there is a museum open to the public which has artifacts and information on the bases history. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. History Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. Dallas Naval base, Texas. The ROAM system ensures that aircraft are serviced . 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. 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. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. Typically, brown-ish water occurs when there is large change in pressure/flow in a distribution system. Wurtsmith Air Force Base Toxic Exposure | ELG Law The documentary by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim focuses on PFAS contamination at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. 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 . Wurtsmith got its start in 1923 as Loud-Reames Aviation Field, a soft-surface landing site for Arm Air Corps aircraft from Selfridge Field. 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. [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. Veteran Compensation Programs (USVCP) (www.veteranprograms.com), and any of their associated websites is for general informational. Ellsworth Air Force base, South Dakota. In 1960 it became part of the Strategic Air Command . The last was delivered in December 1930. After one week in the bunker on ready alert the flight crew would be relieved. OSCODA, Mich. - Oscoda residents and PFAS activists today held a press conference on the shores of Van Etten Lake to set the record straight on the Air Force's contamination of their community from the former Wurtsmith Air . 'We've been betrayed:' Veterans blame Air Force base water for - mlive What are PFAS, how toxic are they and how do you become exposed? 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. Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA. Photos of P-47s flown by French Pilots at Oscoda. Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does NOT represent or warrant, and makes no claims, promises or guarantees about, the usefulness, completeness, adequacy or accuracy of any information, posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses contained in or linked to this website, or the competency, qualifications or identity of any person providing information or making a post, survey, topic, comment, blog or response contained in or linked to this website. 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. [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. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. High blood serum levels of PFOA are associated with infertility, decreased semen quality, and a higher risk of thyroid disease. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. [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. They were stationed at the air base from 1986 to 1993. 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). ROME, N.Y. -- There was nothing small-scale about Griffiss Air Force Base in the 1990s. Oscoda, Michigan and Tales of Wurtsmith Air Force Base - Postcard History My symptoms looking back were insidious with weakness and muscle fasciculations. 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. The M&FRC is located at 1550 Wurtsmith St . 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. 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. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. Wurtsmith Air Force Base - storymaps.arcgis.com 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. At one point, they had to use these toxic foam chemicals to put out a fire at the Oscoda High School in 1995. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigans lower peninsula. The married officers lived in a standalone house with their family. In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. This lead to Wurtsmith transferring to Air Combat Command control, and then on June 30th 1993, Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had manydifferent missions. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. [1] On the first Wednesday thefresh flight crew would relive the current flight crew in the bunkers. 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. The KC-135s would finish one mission and there would be another one waiting for them as soon as they were available. Wurtsmith Air Museum (Oscoda) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go [1] While this was a relatively boring week, it was extremely stressfulbecause no one knew when the alarm would sound, but more importantly no oneknew if it would be a drill or not. Hill Housing area-- Wurtsmith Elementary School, Grissom Elementary School, Wagner Middle School, . This could be from hydrant flushing or a water main break. [1] 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. to share information regarding health issues, and probable chemical exposure via base water sources. March 7, 1942: The first class of Tuskegee Airmen graduate from U.S. Army Air Force Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama. At just after 10 pm on the 30 th October, on-duty personnel at Wurtsmith Air Force Base would report seeing a strange object hovering over the . I was stationed there 1988-1992. [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. 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. Today the Wurtsmith district is integral to the community's economic potential. 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. This weapon system used some hazardous and a lot of special chemicals to support it. In March of 1943, the Third Air Force reactivated the field for training of black aviators. The Air Force's decline to commit to Michigan's standards is among a litany of frustrations Oscoda residents say they have . Just run the water until it clears up. Following cleanup, operation and maintenance activities are ongoing. [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. The P-6 was generally similar to the P-1 in construction and appearance. Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. This air field was in dire need of a gunnery range because they being forced out of their gunnery range on Lake St. Clair. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. USVCP Staff Writers . Weve done quite a bit of documenting and measuring, David Losinski said. 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. The P-47D, in general service by the spring of 1944, had a maximum speed of 440 miles (700 km) per hour and a ceiling of 40,000 feet (12,200 meters). Beginning in July 1944, the P-47 Thunderbolt was used extensively to train Free French Air Force pilots at Oscoda Army Air Field (AAF). ASN Aircraft accident Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker 60-0317 Oscoda 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. These chemicals have been shown to cause problems with thyroid, liver, kidney, reproduction, and other health problems. This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. 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. 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. This is very dear to my heart and want to get involved however I can. 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. 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. U.S. My daughter was born at the base hospital. the first KC-135 in operation Southern Watch. Call 205.328.9200 Claim Application. 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. . Wurtsmith Air Force Base. A Brief History of Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html. 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. I do hope there is information on Wurtsmith AFB soon. Its poor high-altitude performance was a result of a critical decision to remove the turbo-supercharger. [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 man later took the proposal to build a gunnery range to the people of Oscoda. There is no amount of PFOA that is officially recognized as harmful. However, many studies have shown otherwise. wikipedia.en/Mole_hole.md at main chinapedia/wikipedia.en 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. 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. Aircraft rolled 630 feet before nosing over. 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. The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls. Paul B. Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed in 1993, dealing a sharp blow to the economy of rural Iosco County. Welcome to The WAFB Historical Site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and the units assigned there. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. For more information regarding services offered by the Lackland Air Force Base Education Center, call 210-671-2895 or DSN 473-2895. . What us the compensation for this? Maximum speed was 178 mph at sea level, 171 mph at 10,000 feet. Double Jeopardy - Exposed at Kadena and Wurtsmith - Civilian Exposure U.S. Air Force should abide by state of Michigan's PFAS Standards, state must hold Air Force accountable. Even studies on fish have been done, where it was found that PFOA is a liver carcinogen in rainbow trout. Wurtsmith Air Force Base | Detailed Pedia distance from the bunker. [1] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Basesignifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. Multi-capable Airmen sustain strategic - Joint Base Charleston Our History - Wurtsmith Air Museum Wurtsmith Air Force Base - Oscoda, MI - Civilian Exposure [3] Search Superfund Site Information. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 28 Dec. 2016, cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0503675. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. The base came to be because of chance. Wurtsmith Air, Force Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. Robert Krouse, 12/31/19Stationed at Wurtsmith AFB from 1978 to 1980 and lived in barracks. 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. This is a very big issue for the people of Oscoda and the surrounding areas for obvious reasons. Click on a marker for base information. Some areas of the site are still under investigation. 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 - Oscoda There were 10 passengers and six crew members on board. On the other hand, the rear-mounted engine offered increased maneuverability since the weight of the plane would be near its center of gravity. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in Iosco County, Michigan.It operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. This resulted in KC-135 squadrons spending a greater amount of time on temporary duty assignments than other squadrons from Wurtsmith Air Force Base. It was criticized for its low service ceiling, its slow rate of climb, and its generally poor high-altitude performance. Air Force - DOD Base Family Housing The museum's exhibits are extensive and incredibly high-quality -- including several aircraft that can be examined up . 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. 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. Me and Dan drive around base and check out the bunkers that held nuclear weapons during the cold war They resumed the investigation last spring. Wurtsmith Air Force base (Oscoda), Michigan; PFAS Water Contamination Map . 1942 -- Camp Skeel is renamed Oscoda Army Air Field and becomes a P-47 fighter base. 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 . Military History of the Upper Great Lakes, Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had many, different missions. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. If you are interested in any particular aircraft of time period please let me know. [1] Mr. Norton also landed. A map of the base locations listed above can be viewed below. 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. The Losinskis havent abandoned their quest to bring this long-forgotten chapter in the history of World War II to light. Even after the base closed in 1993, the base maintained a fire staff for many years. [3], www.nytimes.com/1988/10/12/us/six-are-killed-in-crash-of-an-air-force-tanker.html, www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html, www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Wurtsmith_AFB.htm, www.strategic-air-command.com/wings/0379bw.htm, http://ss.sites.mtu.edu/mhugl/2015/10/11/wurtsmith-air-force-base/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wurtsmith_Air_Force_Base. 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. "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. [1], The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. ircraft operated from Oscoda Army Airfield. My daughter was born there on base in 1987 she has gastric issues, and was born w heart issues. 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. If there's a main break, sections of the base will . 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 judgement flies in the face provided by the federal ATSDR and the National Institute of Health. 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. These bases were, responsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. Spouse Connections Five & Thrive targets spouses' top five challenges 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. It remained named Camp Skeel until 1942 when it was renamed Oscoda Army Air Field (WAFB.net). In July 2018 the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), set the table for Congress to consider legislation that would force the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to extend health benefits to base veterans without making them prove their illnesses are linked to chemical exposure. [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. So now what? In 1953 it was renamed Wurtsmith Air Force Base after Michigan native, Major General Paul Wurtsmith. 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). [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons firstpermanent duty station in the United States Air Force.[1]. Thanks for sending to you and Pat. 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. empty, 3310 lb gross. DISCLAIMER: Information displayed on U.S. On National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we recognize the many men and women who served and fought during the difficult conflict, giving them the appreciation they deserve. The history of Oscoda Military Aviation is the same as the History of the Air Force. The brown tint is (mostly) caused by scale build up in the pipes being knocked loose. Only after, the plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not.[1]. 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 . What's next? Tests in Michigan near the former Wurtsmith Air Force base have found PFOS in groundwater at levels as high as 42,000 ppt. Theseplanes would regularly fly missions from Wurtsmith Air Force Base during thecold war. 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 . In this June 6, 2018 photo, PFAS foam washes up on the shoreline of Van Etten Lake in Oscoda Township, Mich., near Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (BRAC 1991) - AF Assessment of ground-water contamination at Wurtsmith Air Force Base
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