USVCP Staff Writers . They have been detected in air, water, soils, sediments, and in rain at levels that would be considered unsafe in drinking . The last was delivered in December 1930. The 5,223-acre Wurtsmith Air Force Base (Wurtsmith AFB) is located on the northeastern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. Our biodegradation . After being relieved, the flight crew had until the following Monday morningoff. Smoke started coming from the tail of the second plane, and I could see it was in trouble. On May 9, 1961, the base took delivery of its first new Boeing B-52 H Stratofortress, The State of Michigan. Eielson Air Force base, Alaska. Airplane nosed over when landing gear tire casing failed, locking the right wheel. 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. 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). In 1953 it was renamed Wurtsmith Air Force Base after Michigan native, Major General Paul Wurtsmith. The cockpit canopy offered exceptional all-round visibility for the pilot. From: Members of the ground crew move a maintenance cart into position next to a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft parked on the flight line. A map of the base locations listed above can be viewed below. At this time Wurtsmith Air Force Base was still part of theStrategic Air Commands bomber fleet. City Picto Map, Clark Air Base / Angeles City. [2] The flight crashed at 2:20PM while returning from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula. My ex wife has thyroid disease and auto immune disease. . Veteran Compensation Programs (www.veteranprograms.com) does not monitor, pre-screen or moderate posts, surveys, topics, comments, blogs or responses. The P-6 was generally similar to the P-1 in construction and appearance. [6] The 379th Bomb Wing wasdisbanded on June 30th 1993. These bases were, responsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. [5] The 379th Bomb Wing immediately continued the 4026th, During the Pacific conflicts personnel and the KC-135, Stratotankers were deployed to forward bases in the Pacific to support land, operations. 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. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. [5] The 379th Bomb Wing immediately continued the 4026thStrategic Wing operations and training. The base is influential in Michigan, as well as the United States military history. Paul B. Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed in 1993, dealing a sharp blow to the economy of rural Iosco County. Most individuals are not educated on what the base did before and after World War II, what is currently happening at this location, or how the historical space is impacting the land and local citizens today. 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 . At the start of 1985, Wurtsmith maintained an $80 million annual payroll with 3,600 military and civilian personnel. The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. The P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and fighter-bomber was used by the Allied air forces during World War II. Two years after release I started to experience very visible loss of musculature and strength. Wurtsmith Air Force Base has been an integral part of the United States Air Force from the 1920's to June 3rd 1993. . Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA. Theseplanes would regularly fly missions from Wurtsmith Air Force Base during thecold war. Aircraft was at Camp Skeel, Oscoda Michigan for Aerial Gunnery training. There are many people who were exposed to the Wurtsmith water that are now coming out and blaming the chemical filled drinking water for their health problems. PFOA exposure is also shown to be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children between ages 12-15. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategicwing as it was disbanded. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. Ellsworth Air Force base, South Dakota. The Wurtsmith base closed in 1991, sending the Harrises to Plattsburgh, N.Y., where friends and neighbors remembered the boys as Scouts and Little Leaguers, and their parents as being involved in . In 1979, the state of Michigan sued the Air Force for the contamination. 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. Student projects from Michigan Tech's SS3505 Military History of the United States, on the people, places, and objects involving our military history in the upper Great Lakes region, Wurtsmith Air Force Base has been an integral part of the United States Air Force from the 1920s to June 3rd 1993. It had everything in it. I served at Wurtsmith from 1974-1977 my whole family has suffered from various ongoing ailments. 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. [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. I recall we lost a tanker on touch and goes which had to be extinguished with a massive amount of this chemical. The P-6 Hawk (1932-1937) Aircraft was @ Oscoda. The 1st Combat Evaluation Group (initially "1CEG", later "1CEVG") was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) unit. 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. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. Comprehensive Base Plan, Department of the Air Force, Directorate of Engineering and Services DCS/PRE - Washington DC 1 April 1970 (revised 12 July 1978) . The M&FRC is located at 1550 Wurtsmith St . This gave the Army operations the opportunity to begin creating the base we know today. 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 . By comparing the concentrations of known fluorosurfactants with the total organofluorine, less than 10% of the fluorosurfactants were identified in half of the samples. Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in Iosco County, Michigan.It operated from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls. Their water table has been contaminated with high levels of PFOA because of the leakage of chemicals from Wurtsmith Air Force Base. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. .. did this bill die in the committee s? Fast forward to 1992, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the US Air Force inactivated Strategic Air Command. We offer visitors three hangars full of military (all branches) and aviation history, static aircraft displays, artifacts, equipment and lots of WAFB memorabilia. Weve done quite a bit of documenting and measuring, David Losinski said. Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of fivenorthern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. Before we move on to that, however, it is very much worth examining a very similar incident that occurred over Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan on 30 th October. Its poor high-altitude performance was a result of a critical decision to remove the turbo-supercharger. 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. 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. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue thetradition from their World War II counterparts. I still stay in touch with Gary but do not know if he has an e-mail account. We knew we had some kind of plane.. 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. 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). Welcome to The WAFB Historical Site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and the units assigned there. Dallas Naval base, Texas. Aircraft rolled 630 feet before nosing over. Military History of the Upper Great Lakes, Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had many, different missions. [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. [1] Mr. Norton also landed. Chanute Air Force base, Illinois. With this long list of negative effects it is clearly a big health issue for local residents. 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. In 1932, Capt. 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. A new report compiled by a local group, Need Our Water (NOW) and the National Wildlife Federation . I remember getting a letter of counseling when I wanted to object as a warning what could happen. Beginning in July 1944, the P-47 Thunderbolt was used extensively to train Free French Air Force pilots at Oscoda Army Air Field (AAF). The single officers who lived on base lived in a dorm type building. [5] One crew flew 29, mission out of Jeddah, setting the record for most missions flew by a bomber, crew in theater. [1] As tensions increased around the world and the likelihood of an actual mission being flown while on ready alert increased, the weekbecame more stressful. 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. 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. 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. Off Base Housing. 1942 -- Camp Skeel is renamed Oscoda Army Air Field and becomes a P-47 fighter base. Maximum speed was 178 mph at sea level, 171 mph at 10,000 feet. U.S. [1], While Wurtsmith Air Force Base was its own little town, it was segregated by officers and enlisted. 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. After one week in the bunker on ready alert the flight crew would be relieved. I have had sever kidney problems since 1983 that carried on into my mid teens. The ROAM system ensures that aircraft are serviced . [1], While these crews were on ready alert they did not have a whole, lot to do. Mr. Norton would occasionally return to fresh fish left by his neighbor on his porch. The Airacobra reached its peak usage in the USAAF in early 1944, with over 2100 in service. Published August 24, 2021 at 4:15 PM EDT. In 1977 the 379th Bomb Wing upgraded the B-52H fleet to B-52Gaircraft. Call 205.328.9200 Claim Application. 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. Only afterthe plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not. 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. So now what? I do hope there is information on Wurtsmith AFB soon. We thought that was kind of unbelievable.. [1] Wurtsmith Air Force Base was 2nd Lt. Nortons first, permanent duty station in the United States Air Force. [5] One crew flew 29mission out of Jeddah, setting the record for most missions flew by a bombercrew in theater. 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. It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. 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. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue the, tradition from their World War II counterparts. It has recently been discovered that that the base has been leaking chemicals into the surrounding waterways. This could be from hydrant flushing or a water main break. 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. Then everything happened so fast it seems unbelievable. Although in the past the Wurtsmith Air Force Base was extremely successful there are some prevalent issues with it today. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. They also were known as the Red Tails because they painted the tails of their aircraft red. The base is located in Oscoda, Iosco County, Michigan. "Keeping Wurtsmith AFB and Aviation History of NE MI Alive" Opens on Armed Forces Day in May, hosts a Welcome Home. The married enlisted airmen who lived on base lived in a condo type set up with their family. [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. 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. In their letter, the members expressed their concerns that the Air Force's proposed remediation plan . I didnt know anything about the Tuskegee Airmen until we got into this.. He flew from Dayton, Ohio to Washington, D.C. at a speed of approximately 266 mph, at an altitude of 25,000 ft. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. [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. The Wurtsmith Air Museum is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to preserving the history of Wurtsmith Air Force Base and aviation in Northeastern Michigan. It had a commissary, a gas station, a hospital, housing, a bowling alley," said veteran Michael Grogan. Traci Kroushour, an Oscoda resident until the age of 12, had her uterus removed at the age of 28 and can never have children. Powerplant: 1 Allison V-1710-85 liquid-cooled V-12, 1,200 hp (895 kW), Maximum speed: 376 mph (605 km/h) (Redline dive speed was 525 mph), Range: 525 miles on internal fuel (840 km). I like combining historical photographs with the stories behind them. [1] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Basesignifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. It was the most horrible thing I have ever witnessed, she said. 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. DISCLAIMER: Information displayed on U.S. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/04/wurtsmith_pfas_pfc_april_45_me.html. [1], As new technologies and mission goals evolved with time the need for the Strategic Air Commands need for the northern tier became obsolete. 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 . This year, we went out diving, and we could see these points of interest from the surface, Losinski said. 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. [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 served at Wursmith AFB from 1982 to 1989, living in base housing the entire time and drinking the water. Nothing contained herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of a competent Veteran Service Officer (VSO)in good standing and licensed to practice in your jurisdiction. [1] This tight knit community was not confined to just the Air Force Base, but extended into the community as well. This article is from 2018.. Any one else from 84-89 have issues? Aug 24, 2021. 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. 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. 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. Lora Cole, 1/8/20 I am the daughter to a vet that was in this I was a baby at the time. 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 Air Force's decline to commit to Michigan's standards is among a litany of frustrations Oscoda residents say they have . Because of this KC-135 squadrons would routinely fly 175 day assignments and return to their home base. Learn how your comment data is processed. Thisflight crew would spend one week in the bunker and be confined to an undiscloseddistance from the bunker. By Steve Elliott 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs. [4] Its mission was tomaintain half of the fleet on a 15 minute alert, meaning the plane could be inthe air in 15 minutes, to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet preemptive missilestrike. There is an ongoing project to decontaminate the area. The P-47D, in general service by the spring of 1944, had a maximum speed of 440 miles (700 km) per hour and a ceiling of 40,000 feet (12,200 meters). As soon as an assignment went over 180 days it was considered a permanent change in duty station. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. 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. March 7, 1942: The first class of Tuskegee Airmen graduate from U.S. Army Air Force Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama. 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. 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. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. 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. This resulted in KC-135 squadrons spending a greater amount of time on temporary duty assignments than other squadrons from Wurtsmith Air Force Base. [1] Mr. Norton also landedthe first KC-135 in operation Southern Watch. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. 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. Stationed there for 84-88 and am suffering with a motor neuron disease process. The 379th was reassigned to Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan without personnel or equipment in January 1961, assuming the aircraft, personnel and equipment of the discontinued 4026th Strategic Wing. Tests in Michigan near the former Wurtsmith Air Force base have found PFOS in groundwater at levels as high as 42,000 ppt. Because of the economic impact of Wurtsmith Air Force Base the community was generally supportive of the airmen, and the base itself. [1], The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. In a fly off against the contemporary Boeing P-12B, the P-6E was faster, but the P-12B was more maneuverable. [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. After a trip to the Boneyard in September 2019, hundreds of current and vintage photos are being sorted, scanned and uploaded. History Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. On June 30, , 1993 the 379th Bomb Wing was disbanded and Wurtsmith Air Force Base was closed. David Losinski said he and his son were assisting the state Department of Environmental Quality with a barge that sank in Lake Huron in July 2012. 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. 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. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, trained at Oscoda for several weeks and stayed on the base. At this time Wurtsmith Air Force Base was still part of the, Strategic Air Commands bomber fleet. During the Cold War, the base became part of Strategic Air Command. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. In March of 1943, the Third Air Force reactivated the field for training of black aviators. [4] On August 1st 1958 the 4026th Strategic Wing was formed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Cindi developed hypertension and Lawrence diagnosed with lung disease. 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. Thanks for sending to you and Pat. As seen, in the picture of the runways, there is a Christmas tree coming off of the, beginning of the runway with a building next to it. Michigan Radio. /. The documentary by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim focuses on PFAS contamination at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. These bases wereresponsible for a housing a Ready Alert Nuclear Strike Force. 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. [1]These KC-135s were necessary because the B-52 could not take off with both afull load of ordnance and a full tank of gas. The Losinskis said they want to preserve the site for people to dive on. I am not a doctor or attorney, and cannot give medical advice or legal advice. 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. The result was an airplane which had a much deeper and broader fuselage than did the P-1. [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctor's office, a . I kept up with all this for a while then gave up. My husband and our two children lived there from 1985-1993 I have a nerve problem my daughter has autoimmune (MS) youngest daughter has kidney problems. The main mission of Oscoda Army Air Field, at the time, was to defend Sault Ste. Deliveries of the first P-6s were late, the first example not appearing until October 1929. 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. 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. PORT HURON, Mich. David and Drew Losinski are struck by the coincidence. 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. [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. JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas - Announced in late 2021 by the spouse of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Sharene Brown, it increases focus and attention on the top five quality of life challenges military families face. Some areas of the site are still under investigation. [1] This would result in a large amount of paperwork and extra expenses for the Air Force. [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. No injuries to the pilot. This happened a couple weeks before the IOC which is in the wing,ahistorical records on microfilm. A series of stringers were added to the fuselage sides to round out the cross section. The pilot apparently noticed it and tried to lift his ship. One of these men were named Lt. Ennis Whitehead. However, the drawdown was fairly rapid after that and they were quickly replaced by P-38s, P-47s and P-51s. Aircraft upper wing, left lower wing, rudder and propeller damaged. 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. U.S. At just after 10 pm on the 30 th October, on-duty personnel at Wurtsmith Air Force Base would report seeing a strange object hovering over the . The aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. Veteran Compensation Programs (USVCP) (www.veteranprograms.com), and any of their associated websites is for general informational.