Why are you focusing only on chlordane and other organochlorine pesticide (OCP) contamination at the Family Housing? These mission were into Iraq. Everyone from the mechanics keeping the planes flyable, to the cookspreparing food for the airmen stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, to thecommanders who ensured that everything from the flight schedules being correctto the proper paperwork being completed to allow the missions to continue. Wurtsmith Air Force Base History - Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Authority The main mission of Oscoda Army Air Field, at the time, was to defend Sault Ste. Wurtsmith Air Force Base, a brief history and life on post Stationed there for 84-88 and am suffering with a motor neuron disease process. I am not a doctor or attorney, and cannot give medical advice or legal advice. Off Base Housing. Peters: Air Force Must Immediately Prior | Senator Gary Peters Eielson Air Force base, Alaska. [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. I have also read about the PFAS via fire retardant foam. Dallas Naval base, Texas. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Feds: Wurtsmith veterans could get cancer, other health problems from Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. 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. The last was delivered in December 1930. Wurtsmith AFB and its Contamination - Military History of the Upper Wafb.net The Wurtsmith Air Force Incident. There are many historical planes you can visit as well as other interesting pieces of history that the public may view. The aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. The Tuskegee Airmen were African-American members of the 332nd Fighter Group and 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Force who fought in Europe during World War II. ASN Aircraft accident Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker 60-0317 Oscoda Mapping PFAS Chemical Contamination at 206 U.S. Military Sites Now I see this years later. 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. My first assignment as a Nuclear Weapons specialist was at wurtsmith where we deployed the AGM 69A SRAM missile system. The Arrow Street purge system, installed in 1982 to remove contaminants from the Building 43 plume, has lowered concentrations o A ground-water divide cuts diagonally across the Base from northwest to sou USVCP Not A U.S. Government Publication. .. did this bill die in the committee s? Wurtsmith Air Force base (Oscoda), Michigan; PFAS Water Contamination Map . 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. This unfortunately happened on October 11th, 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. This meant that Wurtsmith Air Force Base was essentially a self-contained airport with all of the necessities to support a full community on Base. High blood serum levels of PFOA are associated with infertility, decreased semen quality, and a higher risk of thyroid disease. The Loring Air Force Base UFO Encounter - UFO Insight Veteran Compensation Programs. Wurtsmith Air, Force Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for 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. [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. 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. They were stationed at the air base from 1986 to 1993. 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. During the Cold War, the base became part of Strategic Air Command. 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. View All Homes - Homes for Rent During the Pacific conflicts personnel and the KC-135Stratotankers were deployed to forward bases in the Pacific to support landoperations. This weapon system used some hazardous and a lot of special chemicals to support it. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. 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. Some areas of the site are still under investigation. Wurtsmith AFB Water Health Issues via water, Organochlorine Pesticides Levels at George AFB Family Housing. City officials in Dayton, Ohio, have also found the response from the Air Force to cleanup contamination at Wright Patterson Air Force Base to be inadequate. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. This is desirable from a strategic standpoint, but for the airmen that served on the bases themselves this meant that they were removed from the vast majority of society. It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. The married officers lived in a standalone house with their family. [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. I didnt know anything about the Tuskegee Airmen until we got into this.. [5] However, the B-52H aircraft maintained nuclear alert at WurtsmithAir Force Base. Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA. [1] This was further broken down by marital status. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. 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). . [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. [5], Dave Norton resigned his commotion as a United States Air ForceCaptain on May 30th, 1993 exactly 9 years after receiving his commissionas a 2nd Lt. form the United States Air Force Academy. 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. Lackland AFB, TX | Educational Services [5] While the 379thBomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the ReadyAlert Nuclear Strike Force. With that being said, these chemicals are going to be reaching a lot more people than just the Oscoda residents. 379th Air Expeditionary Wing | Military Wiki | Fandom These mission were into Iraq. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. The single officers who lived on base lived in a dorm type building. 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. [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. One of these men were named Lt. Ennis Whitehead. 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 . These levels were published by the Enviromental Protection Agency (Mlive.com). wurtsmith air force base - PICRYL 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. One example of this is autocross racing. We knew we had some kind of plane.. Ruben C. Moffat flew a P-6 converted with a supercharged Conqueror engine on a record-breaking flight. [6] The 379th Bomb Wing was, Dave Norton resigned his commotion as a United States Air Force, , 1993 exactly 9 years after receiving his commission, Lt. form the United States Air Force Academy. 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. Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda Township, Mich. U.S. Department of Defense In Oscoda, authorities tracked the contamination of Van Etten Lake to Wurtsmith Air Force Base , which closed in 1993. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. 'We've been betrayed:' Veterans blame Air Force base water for - mlive 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. A new report compiled by a local group, Need Our Water (NOW) and the National Wildlife Federation . The presumptive disabilities from contaminated water at Wurtsmith AFB would lead to automatic compensation to potentially thousands of veterans. The Au Sable River is an attraction for families all around Michigan. The "Red Tail" P-51 Mustangs flown by the Tuskeegee Airmen []. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. 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. Im slowly working my way up from 1924 to the present. 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. 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. In fact the only time B-52s would travel was for training missions, or actually delivering ordinance to its target. It is primarily a large jet airplane salvage, jet engine maintenance and light general aviation . There are many good photos of P-39s at Selfridge Field (Posted below), but none of P-39s at Oscoda. We didnt know really what we had.. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. Aircraft rolled 630 feet before nosing over. Because of this KC-135 squadrons would routinely fly 175 day assignments and return to their home base. There is an ongoing project to decontaminate the area. 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. Wurtsmith Air Force Base. A Brief History of Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, www.wurtsmithairmuseum.org/Wurtsmith_AFB/wurtsmith_afb.html. 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 The average person has around 3 or 4 parts per billion of these chemicals present in their blood. 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. Press | No Defense Spouse Connections Five & Thrive targets spouses' top five challenges 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. 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. out of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Someone who works in a place that uses these chemicals and is exposed to them can have up to 100 parts per million, or 0.01%, in their blood. 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. While many of the airmen preferred to live on base it was possible for them to buy or rent a house or apartment off post. The Airacobra reached its peak usage in the USAAF in early 1944, with over 2100 in service. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Investigation determined a defective tire caused the accident. Lt. Ennis also thought it would be a great place for young Army Air corps to test aircraft (WAFB.net). All four of the the guys that were in that flight were from Tuskegee, Losinksi said. Ellsworth Air Force base, South Dakota. In 1979, the state of Michigan sued the Air Force for the contamination. As long as these assignments were under 180 days they were considered Temporary Duty Assignments. After being relieved, the flight crew had until the following Monday morningoff. 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. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. Mr. Norton would occasionally return to fresh fish left by his neighbor on his porch. PFAS Military Base Lawsuits | Contaminated Water | ClassAction.org What's next? 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. They resumed the investigation last spring. Home Buyers Guide; Find a Real Estate Agent; Price: $299,000. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. Typical occurrences on Wurtsmith Air Force Base included planes flying in and out on missions. 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. purposes only, and is not legal advice. Anyone know the status on this? The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. While the vast majority of personnel on Wurtsmith Air, Force Base were not part of a flight crew rotating through ready alert, their, respective jobs all served to ensure those planes could take off at a moments, notice. What they had was a one-seat warplane piloted by 2nd Lt. Frank H. Moody, of Los Angeles. [1] As soon as the wheels touched down the clock would be reset and they could be sent out on another assignment. At one point, they had to use these toxic foam chemicals to put out a fire at the Oscoda High School in 1995. The Losinskis said they want to preserve the site for people to dive on. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport - Ready to launch | Business View Magazine [1] While this was a relatively boring week, it was extremely stressful, because no one knew when the alarm would sound, but more importantly no one, knew if it would be a drill or not. The aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. It was eerie, David Losinski said. The B-52 is being serviced under the Strategic Air Command Recovery Oriented Aircraft Maintenance (ROAM) system. "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. I recall we lost a tanker on touch and goes which had to be extinguished with a massive amount of this chemical. 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. [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]. Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport became a public airport in 1993. At the time, George was a hub of F-4 Phantom fighter jets and OV-10 Bronco reconnaissance planes. Air Force Base was essentially a self-contained airport with all of the necessities to support a full community on Base. [1] The tire bead failed, allowing the casing to slip over the rim on one side and bind on edge of the wheel fairing on takeoff. TCE in another well on Jet Street near the present day Wurtsmith AFB museum was 1,739-ppb. I lived in base housing, I want to say 8607H Ohio from 82-84. 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 . 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. 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. It has found from testing this area that some places to have over 1000 parts-per-trillion for PFOS and PFOA. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. [6] The 379th Bomb Wing wasdisbanded on June 30th 1993. [1], The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. [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. It had a commissary, a gas station, a hospital, housing, a bowling alley," said veteran Michael Grogan. U.S. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategicwing as it was disbanded. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. After a trip to the Boneyard in September 2019, hundreds of current and vintage photos are being sorted, scanned and uploaded. The 4026th was a SAC Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing that had been organized on 1 August 1958. [1] As tensions increased around the world and the likelihood of an actual mission being flown while on ready alert increased, the week, The typical activities while not on ready alert varied greatly, from person to person. More individuals impacted by these chemicals are Cindi and Lawrence Ashbeck. [1] Mr. Nortonarrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air ForceBase in the fall of 1985. No injuries to the pilot. My symptoms looking back were insidious with weakness and muscle fasciculations. In a fly off against the contemporary Boeing P-12B, the P-6E was faster, but the P-12B was more maneuverable. They also were known as the Red Tails because they painted the tails of their aircraft red. According to the Air Force's account, in October 1977, a Wurtsmith base housing resident complained about a peculiar odor and taste in the drinking water. [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. Dover Air Force base, Delaware. This resulted in KC-135 squadrons spending a greater amount of time on temporary duty assignments than other squadrons from Wurtsmith Air Force Base. This air field was in dire need of a gunnery range because they being forced out of their gunnery range on Lake St. Clair. 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. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons first, permanent duty station in the United States Air Force. The M&FRC is located at 1550 Wurtsmith St . The Losinskis havent abandoned their quest to bring this long-forgotten chapter in the history of World War II to light. The site of Wurtsmith Air Force Base is located 2 miles Northwest of Oscoda, Michigan, about 150 miles North of Detroit. They raised $600 to clear the land, which at the time was plenty for this job. He saw the surrounding land and figured it would make a great place for a gunnery range. Wurtsmith AirForce Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. They want the site to remain a memorial divers can visit. Kelly mentioned she'd been thinking about getting . [1] Mr. Norton, arrived fresh from navigation school as a 2nd Lieutenant at Wurtsmith Air Force, Base in the fall of 1985. [ 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 . Contaminated water still plagues lakeside community in Michigan The P-6 could climb to 10,000 feet in 6.6 min. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/04/wurtsmith_pfas_pfc_april_45_me.html. ROME, N.Y. -- There was nothing small-scale about Griffiss Air Force Base in the 1990s. Because of the economic impact of Wurtsmith Air Force Base the community was generally supportive of the airmen, and the base itself. Bert E. Skeel in 1924. 1st Combat Evaluation Group The intent is to create a self-help registry for those who were harmed by the extremely toxic organochlorine pesticide contamination detected at Military Family Housing. distance from the bunker. Thanks for sending to you and Pat. I served at Wurtsmith from 1974-1977 my whole family has suffered from various ongoing ailments. [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. From: Members of the ground crew move a maintenance cart into position next to a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft parked on the flight line. I have had many other health issues since and have recently found all of this. The P-6 was generally similar to the P-1 in construction and appearance. My daughter was born there on base in 1987 she has gastric issues, and was born w heart issues. 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. 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. This, flight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undisclosed. 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.