We moved to the wurtsmith facility near the base perimeter halfway through my 19591960 eighth grade year and i believe that they built wagner high in the school area that i first attended. The museum offers visitors three hangars full of military all branches and aviation history, static aircraft displays, artifacts, equipment and lots of wafb. The wurtsmith air museum is an allvolunteer, 501c3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to preserving the history of wurtsmith air force base and aviation in northeastern michigan. Active air force bases within the united states of america on 17 september 1982. Wurtsmith air force base sighting from the book titled clear intent by lawrence fawcett and barry greenwood wurtsmith is a strategic air command base located three miles northwest of oscoda, michigan. Oct 11, 2015 the wurtsmith air force base a very important air force base in michigan during second world war. A line of b52s and tankers on the runway of the wurtsmith air force base which closed in 1993. Veterans who drank poison in oscoda are getting a second look. Wurtsmith air force base oscoda, michigan military base. At first, it appeared to the witnesses that the object was a helicopter. Wurtsmith air force base military history of the upper. I highly recommend it to researchers and historians.
The agencys collection, begun in washington, dc, during world war ii, moved in 1949 to maxwell air force base, the site of air university, to provide research facilities for professional military education students, the faculty, visiting scholars, and the general public. The wurtsmith air museum is seen on the grounds of the decommissioned wurtsmith air force base in oscoda on wednesday, march 23, 2016. The air force historical research agency is the repository for air force historical documents. Today, the wurtsmith air museum works to preserve the history of the men and women that. Wurtsmith air force base oscoda, mi civilian exposure. Arvo had served all of his four years in the air force outside of basic training, from 1974 to 1977, at wurtsmith air force base. Paul bernard wurtsmith 9 august 1906 september 1946 was a united states army air forces general during world war ii enlisting in the united states army. 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. Wurtsmith air museum oscoda 2020 all you need to know. Air force bases within the united states department of defense. The wurtsmith air force base a very important air force base in michigan during second world war. Fear and fury in michigan town where air force contaminated water.
Aug 18, 2016 wafb began operations in 1923, under the name of camp skeel, and was officially named the wurtsmith air force base in 1953. I am a member of the wurtsmith air museum but traveled from virginia this summer to spend time in the museum. Wurtsmith air force base 174 executive summary wurtsmith air force base is located in northeastern iosco county and covers a 5,223acre area located on the northeastern part of michigans lower peninsula, approximately 2 miles west of lake huron. The oscoda wurtsmith airport has been identified as a top candidate for a project that would bring horizontal space launch sites to michigan. The 5,223acre wurtsmith air force base wurtsmith afb is located on the northeastern part of michigans lower peninsula. Wurtsmith existed as a military aviation site in various forms since 1923. The arrow street purge system, installed in 1982 to remove contaminants from the building 43. No defense explores pfas pollution on the former wurtsmith air.
No defense explores pfas pollution on the former wurtsmith. Katherine mary burgett added a new photo at wurtsmith air force base. The site of wurtsmith air force base is located 2 miles northwest of oscoda, michigan, about 150 miles north of detroit. Feb 17, 2012 old crow express the last b52g flies out of oscodas wurtsmith air force base duration. Skeel, and was used as an aerial gunnery range and for winter maneuvers 1924 through 1944 by the 1st pursuit group at selfridge army air base near detroit. There were 10 passengers and six crew members on board. A new documentary will look at the air forces involvement in pfas pollution. Since its establishment in 1923, wurtsmith played an important role in world war ii, vietnam and the persian gulf war, hosting the 4th army air force base fighter unit and 379th bombardment wing. The base is located in oscoda, iosco county, michigan.
Camp skeel, november 1931 oscoda army air field, august 1942 oscoda air force base, 24 june 1948. Asn aircraft accident boeing kc5a stratotanker 600317. It serves as the home base for the 40th air division and the 379th bomb wing. The base was renamed wurtsmith air force base in 1953 after michigan native major general paul wurtsmith, who was killed when his tb25j27nc mitchell, 4430227, crashed near cold mountain, north carolina in september 1946. Wurtsmith air force base has been an integral part of the united states air force from the 1920s to june 3rd 1993. Michigan officials target oscodawurtsmith airport as. Much of this wouldnt have been possible without the detailed annotated pictorial history of clark air base 18991986 by david l. The air force has maintained it is following epa guidelines for cleanup of contaminated sites. Kennedy in 1963, contributed greatly to the advancement of the united states space program.
Usaf reference series, office of air force history, united states air force, washington, d. Marjorie gay karbginsky our son and daughter were born there too. 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. Mdhhs former wurtsmith air force base, iosco county. Wafb began operations in 1923, under the name of camp skeel, and was officially named the wurtsmith air force base in 1953. He served four years in the united states air force, most of that time assigned to the 10th tactical reconnaissance wing, raf, alconbury, the united kingdom, as an intelligence officer. Whitehead on a fishing trip there would not have been an air force base in oscoda michigan. Wurtsmith air force base, michigan alumni public group. Assessment of groundwater contamination at wurtsmith air. General wurtsmith returned to selfridge field and on sept. They had to fight cold winter days and battle the cold temperatures to get the engines started. The wurtsmith air museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of wurtsmith air force. Apr 12, 2018 wurtsmith existed as a military aviation site in various forms since 1923.
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. It operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. Clark air base is a former united states air force base on luzon island in the philippines, located 3 miles west of angeles city, about 40 miles northwest of metro manila. Welcome to the wafb historical site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of wurtsmith air force base and the units assigned there. Renamed oscoda army air field and containing 3 hardsurface concrete runways, during world war ii this base was an airfield for training black aviators and free french air force pilots. Wurtsmith was housed in several locations during my brief stay there. The book provides a ready reference for basic information on active usaf bases. Wurtsmith air force base, michigan alumni public group facebook. It was builtin 1923 as a soft landing site for airplanes flying from selfridge army air base near detroit. Wurtsmith air force base oscoda, michigan military. Seeing the jet behemoths aloft in northern michigan skies was a part of his childhood. A boeing kc5a stratotanker plane, serial 600317, was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at oscodawurtsmith afb, mi osc, united states of america. From humble beginnings in the 1920s 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 countrys military history. History wurtsmith air force base, michigan, served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70year history.
We dont yet know full extent of wurtsmith air base. Wurtsmith air force base, michigan alumni has 2,709 members. I was actually doing research for a book about drinking water in. Since its establishment in 1923, wurtsmith played an important role in world war ii, vietnam and the persian gulf war, hosting the 4th army air force base fighter unit and 379th bombardment wing respectively. Wurtsmith, killed when his plane, a b25, crashed into a north carolina mountain. The loring air force base ufo encounter a case study. 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. On august 1st 1958 the 4026th strategic wing was formed at wurtsmith air force base. The land surface is a fivemile wide plain bounded on the west by 80foot high bluffs.
Later renamed brooks citybase in 2002, the base was recommended for closure by the defense base realignment and closure commission in 2005. This group is a way for anyone who was stationed at wurtsmith air force base, oscoda. During the gulf war b52s from wurtsmith air force base were flown out of prince abdullah ab in jeddah, saudi arabia. Wurtsmith air force base, a brief history and life on post. Old crow express the last b52g flies out of oscodas wurtsmith air force base duration. Later renamed brooks city base in 2002, the base was recommended for closure by the defense base realignment and closure commission in 2005. Before this airfield became known as wurtsmith air force base it was called loudreames aviation field. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. Air force historical research center, maxwell air force base, ala. Wurtsmith is a strategic air command base located three miles northwest of oscoda, michigan. Honorable mention for displaying maximum effort a utilizing every possible resource to provide quality service despite its limited size and budget. Wurtsmith air force base is a decommissioned united states air force base in iosco county, michigan.
Clark air base was an american military facility from 1903 to 1991. Oscoda, mi the federal government is reopening a 16yearold health report on the former wurtsmith air force base in oscoda at the. Whitehead, commander of the fifth and far eastern air forces during and after world war ii. The air force school of aerospace medicine, dedicated by president john f. History of the history of wurtsmith air force base an integral part of the us. After the air force strategic air command took over operations in 1953, one of the bases main function was to host a fleet of loaded b52 bombers and other aircraft ready to take immediate flight in response to a nuclear attack. After the war wurtsmith served with the strategic air command. No defense explores pfas pollution on the former wurtsmith air force base. It is about the historical contamination and bases like wurtsmith all across the. Maybe you want to talk about the scope of this story. Wurtsmith air force base historical topo map in iosco. The air force historical research agency, maxwell afb, alabama, is the. In 1977 the 379th bomb wing replaced the b52h fleet to b52g aircraft. Air force combat wings lineage and honors histories 19471977.
Wurtsmith air museum oscoda all you need to know before. Wurtsmith air force base, mi dod base family housing. Wurtsmith air force base is a decommissioned united. In 1953 the name wurtsmith was officially recognized, the name honoring the life of a michigan native, general paul b. Wurtsmith got its start in 1923 as loudreames aviation field, a softsurface landing site for army air corps aircraft from selfridge field. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you. Wurtsmith air force base sighting official nicap web site. Pfas response former wurtsmith air force base, iosco county.
Continued study of groundwater 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. Air force a wurtsmith afbbased b52 taxis on a middle east airfield during operation desert storm in 1991. Wurtsmith air force base, 15 february 1953 30 june 1993 general headquarters air force, 26 june 1936 third. Wurtsmith air force base served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70year history.
Credit also goes out to lauren sobkoviak, mike ward, beau e gros, and numerous sources in print and on the internet, which unfortunately are too many and sometimes too obscure to list here. At just after 10 pm on the 30 th october, onduty personnel at wurtsmith air force base would report seeing a strange object hovering over the base. Wurtsmith air force base military history of the upper great lakes. Clark air base philippines wurtsmith high school yearbook. After the air force strategic air command took over operations in 1953, one of the base s main function was to host a fleet of loaded b52 bombers and other aircraft ready to take immediate flight in response to a nuclear attack. In 2012, the michigan department of health and human services mdhhs issued a do not eat fish advisory for all fish caught from clarks marsh and for resident fish in the lower au sable river, south of the former wurtsmith air force base. However, the b52h aircraft maintained nuclear alert at wurtsmith air force base. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is east ta which is approximately miles away and has an elevation of 586 feet 34 feet lower than wurtsmith air force base historical. Wurtsmith air force base is a decommissioned united states air force base in iosco county. In february 1953, the air force named wurtsmith air force base in oscoda, mich. Michigan b52 bombers take flight again in ric mixters. Wurtsmith was killed when his north american b25 mitchell medium bomber crashed near the summit of cold mountain near asheville, north carolina, on september, 1946.
At first, it was in a facility near the golf course. Wurtsmith air force base project gutenberg selfpublishing. 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. The wurtsmith air museum is an allvolunteer, 501c3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to preserving the history of wurtsmith air force base and aviation in. It was renamed camp skeel in 1924, for world war i pilot captain burt e. Feb 10, 2020 oscoda residents say the air force has not done enough to clean up existing pollution and some veterans of the base allege that they have seen health impacts because of their exposure to pfas chemicals. In february 1953, the united states air force named wurtsmith air force base in oscoda township, michigan, in his.
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