If there's a main break, sections of the base will . One of these men were named Lt. Ennis Whitehead. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. 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 . This, flight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undisclosed. Heavily armed with eight wing-mounted 0.50-inch (12.7-mm) machine guns, it could carry a bomb load of as much as 2,500 pounds (1,100 kg) and could carry ten 5-inch (127-mm) rockets beneath the wings. The presumptive disabilities from contaminated water at Wurtsmith AFB would lead to automatic compensation to potentially thousands of veterans. Former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (BRAC 1991) - AF Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport became a public airport in 1993. They raised $600 to clear the land, which at the time was plenty for this job. 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. A Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker plane, serial 60-0317, was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Oscoda-Wurtsmith AFB, MI (OSC), United States of America. At the time, George was a hub of F-4 Phantom fighter jets and OV-10 Bronco reconnaissance planes. This bunker compound housedthe flight crews on ready alert, the three B-52 bombers ready to take off at amoments notice, and the accompanying KC-135s ready to top off the B-52s after takeoff. The base was put into a standby status to be there just in case something happened in those areas. [1], These KC-135s were necessary because the B-52 could not take off with both a, full load of ordnance and a full tank of gas.[1]. The former base includes 4,626 acres (1,872ha) located approximately two miles west of Lake Huron in the Charter Township of Oscoda, bordered by Van Ettan Lake, the I have had sever kidney problems since 1983 that carried on into my mid teens. https://www.oscairport.com/index.php/available-properties/, https://www.oscairport.com/index.php/development-site/, https://www.afhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/APH-Winter2016.pdf, http://www.armytimes.com/story/news/2014/07/30/divers-find-wreckage-of-world-war-ii-era-plane/13354373/, https://wurtsmithairmuseum.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Air-Refueling-Squadron-_-Real-People-_-George-Schlatter720p.mp4. [6], During the Gulf War B-52s from Wurtsmith Air Force Base were flownout of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Leaking chemical storage tanks and waste disposal operations contaminated soil and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. 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. Hill Housing area-- Wurtsmith Elementary School, Grissom Elementary School, Wagner Middle School, . 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. USVCP Staff Writers . [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. As Michigan makes PFAS strides, Oscoda residents say Air Force is I still stay in touch with Gary but do not know if he has an e-mail account. After being relieved, the flight crew had until the following Monday morning, off. This would cause some big problems for the fish and other life that lives beneath the surface. 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. Kelly mentioned she'd been thinking about getting . The Arrow Street purge system, installed in 1982 to remove contaminants from the Building 43 plume, has lowered concentrations o Dallas Naval base, Texas. 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. to the proper paperwork being completed to allow the missions to continue. It remained named Camp Skeel until 1942 when it was renamed Oscoda Army Air Field (WAFB.net). Wurtsmith Air Force Base, MI - DOD Base Family Housing [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctor's office, a . People who are exposed every day for an extended period of time are the ones who start to see real problems, some of which I mentioned above. Wurtsmith Air Museum (Oscoda) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go [ July 4, 2018 ] Grissom Air Force Base, ID Air Force [ May 28, 2018 ] March Air Force Base, CA Air Force [ February 17, 2018 ] Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Navy [ November 5, 2017 ] Fort William D. Davis , Panama Army [ August 28, 2017 ] Naval Air Station Alameda, CA Navy [ March 19, 2016 ] Wurtsmith Air Force Base, MI Air Force [ June 2 . distance from the bunker. What are PFAS, how toxic are they and how do you become exposed? They also were known as the Red Tails because they painted the tails of their aircraft red. Ellsworth Air Force base, South Dakota. Cindi developed hypertension and Lawrence diagnosed with lung disease. Prior to our IOC inspection for the SRAM we were ordered to clean out igloos full of barrels 5gal to 55gal drums,1,000s of gallons which had been ordered by mistake to start the system. Aircraft was at Camp Skeel, Oscoda Michigan for Aerial Gunnery training. Although in the past the Wurtsmith Air Force Base was extremely successful there are some prevalent issues with it today. 2 talking about this. Typical occurrences on Wurtsmith Air Force Base included planes flying in and out on missions. 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. Military's Filthy 50 sites contaminated with 'forever chemicals' haven The P-6E was quite a good-looking airplane, and became the most famous of the Hawk line of biplane fighters. Lt. Ennis Whitehead was part of a unit at Selfridge Army Air Field. [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. Veterans 'likely' drank PFAS at Wurtsmith air base Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. Air Force Base was essentially a self-contained airport with all of the necessities to support a full community on Base. A total 9589 Airacobras were built before production finally ended on July 25, 1944. She also has many other irregular health problems including bone death, fibromyalgia, irregular heartbeat, gastrointestinal problems, and underdeveloped reproductive organs. All Rights Reserved. The Air Force . [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons first, permanent duty station in the United States Air Force. One specific and important waterway being affected by these pollutants is the Au Sable River. After all of that great history, the Wurtsmith Air Force Base is still standing as a place that is visited by a plethora of people. "Keeping Wurtsmith AFB and Aviation History of NE MI Alive" Opens on Armed Forces Day in May, hosts a Welcome Home. to share information regarding health issues, and probable chemical exposure via base water sources. 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. The cockpit was fairly easy to enter and exit, but the doors had a tendency to fly open in midair at high speed if improperly secured. Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of fivenorthern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. U.S. Air Force should abide by state of Michigan's PFAS Standards, state must hold Air Force accountable. Here is a list of military bases that are known to have had their drinking water contaminated with PFAS chemicals: Alameda Naval base, California. Welcome to The WAFB Historical Site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and the units assigned there. 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. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. These Air Force bases were remote. 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. [1]After one week in the bunker on ready alert the flight crew would be relieved. The KC-135s would finish one mission and there would be another one waiting for them as soon as they were available. The state says, We dont have jurisdiction over that; its the Air Force, Losinski said. PFAS & Military Bases: Here's What We Know!