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Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, trained at Oscoda for several weeks and stayed on the base. He brought this idea to the attention of his squadron commander Major Carl Spaatz. 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. 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. In their letter, the members expressed their concerns that the Air Force's proposed remediation plan . USVCP Staff Writers . He flew from Dayton, Ohio to Washington, D.C. at a speed of approximately 266 mph, at an altitude of 25,000 ft. A series of stringers were added to the fuselage sides to round out the cross section. [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. 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. Service ceiling 27,200 feet, and range was 260 miles. I have always scheduled an apt with my dr to talk about the possibility of how this may have affected me. 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. 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. 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 . The majority of married enlisted and officers preferred to live on base because of the free daycare for children. A ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to sou As previously stated, there is a museum open to the public which has artifacts and information on the bases history. 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], 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. The "Red Tail" P-51 Mustangs flown by the Tuskeegee Airmen []. [6], During the Gulf War B-52s from Wurtsmith Air Force Base were flownout of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. [5] While the 379thBomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the ReadyAlert Nuclear Strike Force. [5] Wurtsmith AFB, Mich SAC 379th Bomb Wing B-52, www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Wurtsmith_AFB.htm. still rejects and "nexus" to the toxic chemicals on the base. distance from the bunker. "It was a city within a city. If a banker had not taken Lt. Whitehead on a fishing trip there would not have been an Air Force Base in Oscoda Michigan. [1] This was followed by one and a half weeks of normal day to day activities, until the flight crew relieved crew on ready alert in the bunkers. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. One of these places included directly underneath the Oscoda high school. The Lackland Air Force Base Education Center is located at 1550 Wurtsmith Street, Suite 5. . 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 . 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] While the 379th, Bomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the Ready, Alert Nuclear Strike Force. 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. One specific and important waterway being affected by these pollutants is the Au Sable River. 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 . The M&FRC is located at 1550 Wurtsmith St . This man later took the proposal to build a gunnery range to the people of Oscoda. [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. Eielson Air Force base, Alaska. I have had many other health issues since and have recently found all of this. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. 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 happened a couple weeks before the IOC which is in the wing,ahistorical records on microfilm. out of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. They want the site to remain a memorial divers can visit. This year, we went out diving, and we could see these points of interest from the surface, Losinski said. 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 . On the other hand, the rear-mounted engine offered increased maneuverability since the weight of the plane would be near its center of gravity. 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. August 8, 2018. 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. Only afterthe plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not. The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls. Bert E. Skeel was a WWI pilot who died in an air race in Ohio. 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. Any one else from 84-89 have issues? As seenin the picture of the runways, there is a Christmas tree coming off of thebeginning of the runway with a building next to it. Within a few days, a mere 28 Airmen established housing for over 400 personnel, replete with . [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. U.S. 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. The documentary by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim focuses on PFAS contamination at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. 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 . VA counselor "don't waste your time". Then everything happened so fast it seems unbelievable. 1946. What they had was a one-seat warplane piloted by 2nd Lt. Frank H. Moody, of Los Angeles. 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. 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. The Airacobra reached its peak usage in the USAAF in early 1944, with over 2100 in service. This remoteness of Wurtsmith Air Force Base, as well as common brotherhood of being in the United States Air Force resulted in a tight knit community formed by the airmen and their families. 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. Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich., served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. WAFB began operations in 1923, under the name of Camp Skeel, and was officially named the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1953. 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. Paul B. Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed in 1993, dealing a sharp blow to the economy of rural Iosco County. [1] 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. Its poor high-altitude performance was a result of a critical decision to remove the turbo-supercharger. 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 . To all who are interested in the Camp Skeel/Oscoda AAF/Wurtsmith AFB History. Call 205.328.9200 Claim Application. 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. 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. [1] As soon as the wheels touched down the clock would be reset and they could be sent out on another assignment. Hill Housing area-- Wurtsmith Elementary School, Grissom Elementary School, Wagner Middle School, . [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. [1] On the first Wednesday thefresh flight crew would relive the current flight crew in the bunkers. My wife has breast cancer, and Hashimoto's Disease (auto immune), I had a double mastectomy to remove growths, hormone issues, kidney scaring liver lesions, lumps in both lungs, sleep APNEA, sudden onset Headaches, unexplained stress attacks, to name a few. The brown tint is (mostly) caused by scale build up in the pipes being knocked loose. A total 9589 Airacobras were built before production finally ended on July 25, 1944. 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. Photos of P-47s flown by French Pilots at Oscoda. They have been detected in air, water, soils, sediments, and in rain at levels that would be considered unsafe in drinking . 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. 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. 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. On June 30th, 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. One of these men were named Lt. Ennis Whitehead. Fast forward to 1992, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the US Air Force inactivated Strategic Air Command. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. These are simply the specific . They included chemicals like MEK, PD 680, TRI CHLOROFLOIANS, ACIDS, ALODIANS, ALL KINDS OF PAINTS, SPECIAL MISSILE SKIN REPAIR KITS. [1] This would result in a large amount of paperwork and extra expenses for the Air Force. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. [5] The 379th Bomb Wing immediately continued the 4026thStrategic Wing operations and training. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/06/wurtsmith_veterans_health.html, http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/11/13/deq-we-dont-yet-know-full-extent-wurtsmith-air-base-contamination/93242484/, https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/08/18/21105/military-bases-contamination-will-affect-water-generations, http://www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html, Military History of the Upper Great Lakes. My family lived on this base in 1983 to 1987, are we at risk? Representatives Dan Kildee (MI-05) and Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) today urged the U.S. Air Force to take more significant steps to address PFAS contamination around the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base near Oscoda. I didnt know anything about the Tuskegee Airmen until we got into this.. The P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and fighter-bomber was used by the Allied air forces during World War II. A short time later in July 1944 it was being used to train Free French Air Force pilots, which eventually led to more and more training and more and more storage of aircraft like the B-52G (oscairport.com). [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 P-39 had a unique configuration with the engine placed behind the pilot and the drive shaft running under the cockpit to the propeller. [1], The northern tier Strategic Air Command Ready Alert Strike Force bases were considered less than desirable duty stations for one main reason. Now that the contamination has reached the Au Sable river, it could potentially carry this contamination into Lake Huron. The Realignment of Griffiss Air Force Base. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. Heart condition, prostate cancer, diabetic, sometimes confused in making decisions. The former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), located in Oscoda, Iosco County, MI operated from 1924 to 1993. In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. 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. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategicwing as it was disbanded. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. At one point, they had to use these toxic foam chemicals to put out a fire at the Oscoda High School in 1995. 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. [1] Mr. Nortonarrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air ForceBase in the fall of 1985. Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does not monitor, pre-screen or moderate posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. He was training with fellow pilots out of what was then Selfridge Field when his plane crashed. This is an evolving issue with many moving parts. I worked on the flight line. The Bell P-39 Airacobra was not the best fighter aircraft of WWII, but it was the only fighter available in quantity during the first six months of the war. This could be from hydrant flushing or a water main break. There were frequently extremely large and loud airplanes taxiing, taking off, and landing in the base. (Superstorm) Sandy came along (in October) and moved things around, David Losinski said. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. 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. 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. Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. Wurtsmith Air, Force Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. 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. During World War II, P-47 fighters were assigned to Oscoda. Theyre looking for other divers who can assist with the effort. The 1st Combat Evaluation Group (initially "1CEG", later "1CEVG") was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) unit. It remained named Camp Skeel until 1942 when it was renamed Oscoda Army Air Field (WAFB.net). 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. The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. The B-52 is being serviced under the Strategic Air Command Recovery Oriented Aircraft Maintenance (ROAM) system. 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. [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. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. City Picto Map, Clark Air Base / Angeles City. Once we brought that up and cleaned the tag, we knew it was the 221226 serial number.. PORT HURON, Mich. David and Drew Losinski are struck by the coincidence. There are many different ways that PFOA and PFOS can affect the human body. This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. We have a lot of sick civilians and = veterans from contaminated drinking water. During those efforts, they noted several areas they wanted to investigate, including one about four miles north of the Blue Water Bridge. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. Because of the economic impact of Wurtsmith Air Force Base the community was generally supportive of the airmen, and the base itself. After being relieved, the flight crew had until the following Monday morning, off. It is one of the most famous bases located in our state. 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. The married enlisted airmen who lived on base lived in a condo type set up with their family. Deliveries of the first P-6s were late, the first example not appearing until October 1929. Leaking chemical storage tanks and waste disposal operations contaminated soil and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. We knew we had some kind of plane.. 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 Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. High blood serum levels of PFOA are associated with infertility, decreased semen quality, and a higher risk of thyroid disease. The Air Force . She gave Kelly the rundown of the base. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. to share information regarding health issues, and probable chemical exposure via base water sources. Just run the water until it clears up. [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 one of five, northern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. These bases were, responsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. 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. 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.