This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. "It was a city within a city. Only after, the plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not.[1]. Typical occurrences on Wurtsmith Air Force Base included planes flying in and out on missions. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. The P-47s radial engine proved remarkably resistant to battle damage and, with its heavy armament and well-armored cockpit, the Thunderbolt established a reputation as one of the most effective fighter-bombers of the war. 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. This year, we went out diving, and we could see these points of interest from the surface, Losinski said. There were frequently extremely large and loud airplanes taxiing, taking off, and landing in the base. On the other hand, the rear-mounted engine offered increased maneuverability since the weight of the plane would be near its center of gravity. I have always scheduled an apt with my dr to talk about the possibility of how this may have affected me. We thought that was kind of unbelievable.. After being relieved, the flight crew had until the following Monday morning, off. I was stationed there 1978 -81 lived on base they never told us about the water being contaminated . 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). Wurtsmith Air, Force Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality released a report Thursday, Aug. 30, concluding that Wurtsmith wells were 'likely impacted' by PFAS contamination between 1978 and 1997, when municipal water from Lake Huron was brought to the base. In 1932, Capt. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. The Lackland Air Force Base Education Center is located at 1550 Wurtsmith Street, Suite 5. . A new report compiled by a local group, Need Our Water (NOW) and the National Wildlife Federation . All Rights Reserved. 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. Aircraft rolled 630 feet before nosing over. As previously stated, there is a museum open to the public which has artifacts and information on the bases history. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. By comparing the concentrations of known fluorosurfactants with the total organofluorine, less than 10% of the fluorosurfactants were identified in half of the samples. My symptoms looking back were insidious with weakness and muscle fasciculations. Lt. Ennis also thought it would be a great place for young Army Air corps to test aircraft (WAFB.net). The single enlisted airmen who lived on base were housed in barracks. Although in the past the Wurtsmith Air Force Base was extremely successful there are some prevalent issues with it today. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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 . 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. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. 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. The Au Sable River is an attraction for families all around Michigan. These bases wereresponsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. The single officers who lived on base lived in a dorm type building. During World War II, P-47 fighters were assigned to Oscoda. The Air Force . [1], The northern tier Strategic Air Command Ready Alert Strike Force bases were considered less than desirable duty stations for one main reason. [5] While the 379th, Bomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the Ready, Alert Nuclear Strike Force. 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. There were 10 passengers and six crew members on board. History Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. The Air Force knew about the contamination and spent millions since 1977 to try to cover up the problem by adding phosphates to mask the odor of the chemical in the water. Wurtsmith Air Force Base. A Brief History of Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html. Theseplanes would regularly fly missions from Wurtsmith Air Force Base during thecold war. 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. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. Everyone from the mechanics keeping the planes flyable, to the cooks, preparing food for the airmen stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, to the, commanders who ensured that everything from the flight schedules being correct. These contaminants are harmful to the environment. Pieces include the engine, the tail, part of the door and the 37-millimeter cannon that fired through the propeller hub. The human-made chemicals are in your blood, your clothes, your cosmetics. My first daughter was born there at their hospital.my ex husband now, is very sick. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. If your base is not on the map or list above, this does not mean you were not exposed to PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam. If a banker had not taken Lt. Whitehead on a fishing trip there would not have been an Air Force Base in Oscoda Michigan. Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had manydifferent missions. 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 1977 the 379th Bomb Wing upgraded the B-52H fleet to B-52Gaircraft. This would cause some big problems for the fish and other life that lives beneath the surface. This is a very big issue for the people of Oscoda and the surrounding areas for obvious reasons. 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. Moodys body was not recovered until it washed ashore in Port Huron on June 4, 1944 two days before D-Day and the invasion of Normandy. 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. 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. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. 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. Investigation determined a defective tire caused the accident. 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 . 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 majority of married enlisted and officers preferred to live on base because of the free daycare for children. High blood serum levels of PFOA are associated with infertility, decreased semen quality, and a higher risk of thyroid disease. 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. It was the most horrible thing I have ever witnessed, she said. My ex wife has thyroid disease and auto immune disease. At this time Wurtsmith Air Force Base was still part of the, Strategic Air Commands bomber fleet. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. Lora Cole, 1/8/20 I am the daughter to a vet that was in this I was a baby at the time. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. P-6E, serial number 32-156, 17th Pursuit Squadron from Selfridge Field Michigan. Thisflight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undiscloseddistance from the bunker. More than 40 private businesses and public agencies use the former Air Force facilities and infrastructure, providing more than 1,300 jobs to the area, as well as the conversion of former base housing to 700 privately owned residential homes. Wurtsmith AFB Water Health Issues via water, Organochlorine Pesticides Levels at George AFB Family Housing. [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. Tests in Michigan near the former Wurtsmith Air Force base have found PFOS in groundwater at levels as high as 42,000 ppt. In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. We came across the gauge cluster, which had the radio call tag, David Losinski said. 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 . 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. I still stay in touch with Gary but do not know if he has an e-mail account. Service ceiling 27,200 feet, and range was 260 miles. The Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. 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. The main mission of Oscoda Army Air Field, at the time, was to defend Sault Ste. I lived in base housing, I want to say 8607H Ohio from 82-84. 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. These levels were published by the Enviromental Protection Agency (Mlive.com). Its poor high-altitude performance was a result of a critical decision to remove the turbo-supercharger. Click on a marker for base information. One of these men were named Lt. Ennis Whitehead. Wurtsmith earned recognition during the war as the leader of the group of pilots using P-40 and P-38 fighter . Today, the Wurtsmith Air Force Base has a museum where you can learn about its history. Veteran Compensation Programs (USVCP) (www.veteranprograms.com), and any of their associated websites is for general informational. These planes arrived at dawn on the first day of the Gulf War. A map of the base locations listed above can be viewed below. [5] One crew flew 29mission out of Jeddah, setting the record for most missions flew by a bombercrew in theater. Aircraft was at Camp Skeel, Oscoda Michigan for Aerial Gunnery training. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does not monitor, pre-screen or moderate posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. This judgement flies in the face provided by the federal ATSDR and the National Institute of Health. Weve done quite a bit of documenting and measuring, David Losinski said. I have had many other health issues since and have recently found all of this. [1] This meant that there was always at least three, B-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. Aug 24, 2021. Today the Wurtsmith district is integral to the community's economic potential. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue the, tradition from their World War II counterparts. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. [1], When the Gulf War started in 1990, the 379th Bomber Wing sent B-52s as well as their accompanying KC-135s into the Middle East. Dover Air Force base, Delaware. Me and Dan drive around base and check out the bunkers that held nuclear weapons during the cold war No injuries to the pilot. 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. [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. The presumptive disabilities from contaminated water at Wurtsmith AFB would lead to automatic compensation to potentially thousands of veterans. After being relieved, the flight crew had until the following Monday morningoff. [1] On the first Wednesday thefresh flight crew would relive the current flight crew in the bunkers. Because of this KC-135 squadrons would routinely fly 175 day assignments and return to their home base. The Air Force's decline to commit to Michigan's standards is among a litany of frustrations Oscoda residents say they have . We knew we had some kind of plane.. The aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. The Realignment of Griffiss Air Force Base. That plane actually crashed April 11, 1944, which was 70 years to the date that the picture was taken, Drew Losinski said. I didnt know anything about the Tuskegee Airmen until we got into this.. 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. In addition, the rear fuselage was deepened in order that it could faire cleanly into the bottom of the radiator. [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. Typically, brown-ish water occurs when there is large change in pressure/flow in a distribution system. 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. This could be from hydrant flushing or a water main break. 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. 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. 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. At this time, the camp was renamed and the airfield was under III Fighter Command jurisdiction. Engine not damaged. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. 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. 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. There were four planes, and I was watching them from our front window, as I usually do when theyre engaged in gunnery practice. The M&FRC is located at 1550 Wurtsmith St . I recall we lost a tanker on touch and goes which had to be extinguished with a massive amount of this chemical. to share information regarding health issues, and probable chemical exposure via base water sources. 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. 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. A series of stringers were added to the fuselage sides to round out the cross section. [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. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, trained at Oscoda for several weeks and stayed on the base. 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. 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 .
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