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. Homestead air reserve base homestead arb, previously known as homestead air force. Harmless missiles in oscoda aid in training of military. With the end of the war and the creation of an independent armed force in 1947, the united states air force leapt into the jet age with such icons as the f86 sabre and the remarkable b52 stratofortress, which soldiers on today more than fifty years after going into service in 1955 and with the youngest of the 744 plane production run being. In 1923, the air service published a manual instructing. In february 1953, the air force named wurtsmith air force base in oscoda, mich. This fascinating book uses photographs to portray the history of holloman afb. The former williams air force base played a strategic role in americas aviation history. 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.
Former wurtsmith air force base pfcs in drinking water update october 25, 2016 community meeting oscoda, michigan. Because wurtsmith air force base was an air force base it had to have the ability to go into complete lockdown in times of emergency and still support the mission. Red flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the united states and its allies. The wurtsmith air museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of wurtsmith air force. John pegg was elected as the first chairman and the search to find a location that provided runway access, space for the museum building, a library, and. Oscoda at the height of the cold war, the 445th fighter interceptor squadron stationed at wurtsmith air force base stood ready to protect the northern boarder from a russian attack. Guide to air force historical literature, 1943 1983, 29. Located in mesa, arizona about 30 miles southeast of phoenix, williams opened in december1941 and. Wurtsmith air force base, michigan alumni has 2,676 members. More than 40 years later, the pilots maintenance crew and weapons systems specialists say returning to wurtsmith is like coming home again.
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 air corps as a flying cadet in 1927, wurtsmith was commissioned in 1928. Air force combat wings lineage and honors histories 19471977. Wurtsmith air force base historical topo map in iosco. The air force historical research agency is the repository for air force historical documents. It was renamed camp skeel in 1924, for world war i pilot captain burt e. Wurtsmith air force base oscoda, michigan military. Deployed at sidi slimane ab, morocco, march may 1957. Wurtsmith air force base is a decommissioned united states air force base in northeastern iosco county in the u. The complete history of usaf tactical aircraft tail code markings. Wurtsmith air force base military history of the upper. The air force historical research agency, maxwell afb, alabama, is the. In 1945, he commanded the thirteenth air force in the southern philippines and. Letter health consultation agency for toxic substances.
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. Although we found mention of wurtsmith air force base during our research, we have little information about it. Today, the wurtsmith air museum works to preserve the history of the men and women that. This article is adapted from his book, continental. Welcome to the wafb historical site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of wurtsmith air force base and the units assigned there. Many of the original members were pilots at the recently closed wurtsmith air force base and all the members had an interest an aviation and preserving the history of wurtsmith air force base.
Delivery of the b52 operational bomber named state of michigan marked. Delivery of the b52h to operational units began on may 9, 1961 when the 379th bombardment wing at wurtsmith afb in michigan received its first aircraft. The county airport, sawyer international, now occupies a portion of the base and has scheduled airline flights and some general aviation activity. Wurtsmith air force base is a decommissioned united. 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. Pfas response former wurtsmith air force base, iosco county. Afcec wurtsmith restoration advisory board presentation pdf. The old crow express, the final b52g to leave wurtsmith air force base in 1992. Marjorie gay karbginsky our son and daughter were born there too. Col dik alan daso, usaf ret, curator of modern military aircraft national air and space museum. Air force b1b lancer heavy bomber aircraft departs for a training mission over the nevada test and training range during red flag 122 jan.
Wurtsmith air force base, michigan alumni public group. This meant that wurtsmith air force base was essentially a selfcontained airport with all of the necessities to support a full community on base. 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. Bettis sposc was working the main gate at wurtsmith and checked my. This management area borders federal land the huronmanistee national forest and the former wurtsmith air force base and bombing range. General wurtsmith returned to selfridge field and on sept. 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. United states air force historical research center. Air forces strategic air command during its existence, and was transferred to the newly created air combat command in 1992 the bases origins began in 1947 with an order for construction of an airfield. The land surface is a fivemile wide plain bounded on the west by 80foot high bluffs. Wurtsmiths fighter interceptor squadron reunites 40 years.
Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. The base was signed over to sac in april, 1960 and the 40th air division, which was reactivated in july 1959 and assigned to the strategic air commands eighth air force, was headquartered there. Wurtsmith air force base, mi dod base family housing. An ang colonel said the missiles are completely inert and serve as a training tool for pilots. We have done a cursory search and if its a community, we havent been able to find any. New michigan water worry emerges near former air base. Pfcs february 12, 2014 community meeting oscoda, michigan. I have determined that the concentrations of perfluorobutane sulfonate pfbs.
It received b47s and kc07s in april 1956 and began training for strategic bombardment and air refueling operations. Wurtsmith air force base historical, michigan area map, satellite view, local search, photos, videos, traffic, bike trails, weather and street views where available. The author did a wonderful job of finding old photographs that to the best of my. Groundwater contamination at wurtsmith air force base. Wurtsmith was home for the 379th bombardment wing which controlled the 524th bombardment squadron and the 920th aerial refueling squadron. 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. Kliz was a united states air force installation in northeastern maine, near limestone and caribou in aroostook county. The management area contains approximately 2,500 acres within what the department of defense has defined as the wurtsmith bombing and gunnery range formerly used defense site boundary. History wurtsmith air force base, michigan, served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70year history. Paul bernard wurtsmith 9 august 1906 september 1946 was a united states army air. Map showing grid used for wurtsmith air force base model.
Usaf reference series, office of air force history, united states air force, washington, d. 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. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. Active air force bases within the united states of america on 17 september 1982. Wurtsmith air museum focuses on the history of the decommissioned wurtsmith air force base. Air force named wurtsmith air force base in oscoda, michigan, in his honor. Near the center of michigans upper peninsula, the base operated for nearly forty years and closed in 1995. Wurtsmith air force base served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70year history. Loring air force base project gutenberg selfpublishing.
The wurtsmith air museum is seen on the grounds of the decommissioned wurtsmith air force base in oscoda on wednesday, march 23, 2016. The wing moved to wurtsmith air force base, michigan without equipment in january 1961 in. Driving to wurtsmith air force base from down town oscoda, mi. Air force installation in marquette county, michigan, south of the city of marquette. 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 sable state forest. Wurtsmith got its start in 1923 as loudreames aviation field, a softsurface landing site for army air corps aircraft from selfridge field. This group is a way for anyone who was stationed at wurtsmith air force base, oscoda. Sawyer air force base wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Popular air force history books goodreads share book. He took over command of the 49th pursuit group in december 1941 and between march. A line of b52s and tankers on the runway of the wurtsmith air force base which closed in 1993. The 5,223acre wurtsmith air force base wurtsmith afb is located on.
Wurtsmith air force base how is wurtsmith air force base. Groundwater contamination at wurtsmith air force base, michigan. 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. 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. 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. Groundwater contamination at wurtsmith air force base, michigan, issues 834002 james r. The wurtsmith air force base a very important air force base in michigan during second world war. A jet runway 624 was laid down along with accompanying taxiways, concrete block buildings and other support facilities to replace the temporary wooden world war ii structures that were viewed as substandard for a permanent air force base. The individual contributors, some 35 in number vary from retired military, professional historians, librarians, and more. A number of readers have expressed alarm over the appearance of these missiles at the former wurtsmith air force base in oscoda, placed recently in the area of the threat emitter radar station operated by the michigan air national guard. Wurtsmith air force base, a brief history and life on post. Official home page of the wurtsmith division yankee air force museum located on the former wurtsmith air force base in oscoda, michigan, usa. Wurtsmith air force base is in losco couijity in northeastern lower michigan. Given the context of how wurtsmith air force base was mentioned, we believe that it was a community rather than some type of landmark.
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