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. Typical occurrences on Wurtsmith Air Force Base included planes flying in and out on missions. My first daughter was born there at their hospital.my ex husband now, is very sick. /. 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. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategicwing as it was disbanded. U.S. I am not a doctor or attorney, and cannot give medical advice or legal advice. A total of 15,683 Thunderbolts were produced by wars end, more than any other U.S. fighter. 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. This is an evolving issue with many moving parts. One of the unfortunate risks in flying is a crash. There were frequently extremely large and loud airplanes taxiing, taking off, and landing in the base. The letter never said what I was objecting to, but that I was refusing to for a lawful order. 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. The base became a permanent installation on January 1, 1951, when the U. S. Air Force designated it as a fighter training base for the Air Defense command. Aug 24, 2021. [5] The B-52s did not get to travel nearly as much as the KC-135s. [1] On the first Wednesday the, fresh flight crew would relive the current flight crew in the bunkers. History. This bunker compound housed, the flight crews on ready alert, the three B-52 bombers ready to take off at a, moments notice, and the accompanying KC-135s ready to top off the B-52s after takeoff. Dallas Naval base, Texas. In a fly off against the contemporary Boeing P-12B, the P-6E was faster, but the P-12B was more maneuverable. 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. The Air Force says, Any aircraft before 1961, weve abandoned it.. Following cleanup, operation and maintenance activities are ongoing. The single officers who lived on base lived in a dorm type building. 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 aquifer overlies a thick clay layer at an average depth of 65 feet. [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. March 7, 1942: The first class of Tuskegee Airmen graduate from U.S. Army Air Force Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama. 2 talking about this. [5] In recent years groundwater contamination has be linked to jet fuel, cleaning agents, and fire suppression agents used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. At least thirty French piloted P-47 aircraft accidents were reported at Oscoda AAF during the time period 1944-1945 and resulted in at least four pilots killed. 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. [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. The average person has around 3 or 4 parts per billion of these chemicals present in their blood. This is a very big issue for the people of Oscoda and the surrounding areas for obvious reasons. We came across the gauge cluster, which had the radio call tag, David Losinski said. There is no amount of PFOA that is officially recognized as harmful. However, many studies have shown otherwise. Learn how your comment data is processed. [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. Today the Wurtsmith district is integral to the community's economic potential. 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). It is perhaps the best-known of all the between wars Army pursuits. At the time, George was a hub of F-4 Phantom fighter jets and OV-10 Bronco reconnaissance planes. 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. Investigation determined a defective tire caused the accident. This is heinous, and my heart goes out to so many. [5] Assuming the equipment, personnel and aircraft of the 4026th Strategic, wing as it was disbanded. 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. August 8, 2018. [1], The northern tier Strategic Air Command Ready Alert Strike Force bases were considered less than desirable duty stations for one main reason. Survived stage 3 oral cancer and per medical review, origin unknown since I have never smoked. P-6E, serial number 32-156, 17th Pursuit Squadron from Selfridge Field Michigan. It was also possible for these missions to originate in the United States. We offer visitors three hangars full of military (all branches) and aviation history, static aircraft displays, artifacts, equipment and lots of WAFB memorabilia. . The married officers lived in a standalone house with their family. It is one of the most famous bases located in our state. Just run the water until it clears up. The museum's exhibits are extensive and incredibly high-quality -- including several aircraft that can be examined up . 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. 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. Drinking Water At Wurtsmith AFB Contaminted. Michigan Radio. 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. [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. This building was like the barracks, but each officer had his own room. 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. [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. Mr. Norton experienced this first hand while being station at Wurtsmith Air Force Base when he had his Squadron Commander help him hang drywall in his house. She has all kinds of problems, my ex died of cancer and I have all kinds of problems. As an officer Mr. Norton had to sit in on Court-Martials. ROME, N.Y. -- There was nothing small-scale about Griffiss Air Force Base in the 1990s. I remember getting a letter of counseling when I wanted to object as a warning what could happen. They raised $600 to clear the land, which at the time was plenty for this job. Military History of the Upper Great Lakes, Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had many, different missions. [5] Wurtsmith AFB, Mich SAC 379th Bomb Wing B-52, www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Wurtsmith_AFB.htm. Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of fivenorthern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. Wurtsmith Air, Force Base was constructed with a runway layout specifically for this. Wurtsmith Air Force base (Oscoda), Michigan; PFAS Water Contamination Map . Lester Graham. 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. At the time, it was considered a vital Air Defense Command base and was equipped and manned with interceptor aircraft capable of flying over the North Pole into the Soviet Union. Mr. Norton remarked that they were flying the wings off of the planes. My daughter was born at the base hospital. Fast forward to 1992, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the US Air Force inactivated Strategic Air Command. A new report compiled by a local group, Need Our Water (NOW) and the National Wildlife Federation . Stay tuned for further developments. "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. [1] On May 9th 1961 the first B-52 landed in Wurtsmith Air Force Basesignifying the re-designation to a Strategic Air Command Base. The airplane operated on a flight from Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport, MI to Oscoda-Wurtsmith AFB, MI (OSC). [1] This meant that there was always at least threeB-52s armed with nuclear bombs, ready to take off at a moments notice. 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 . Some areas of the site are still under investigation. [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. All four of the the guys that were in that flight were from Tuskegee, Losinksi said. 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. During those efforts, they noted several areas they wanted to investigate, including one about four miles north of the Blue Water Bridge. [5] The 379th flew with a Triangle K tail flash to continue thetradition from their World War II counterparts. 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 . Theseplanes would regularly fly missions from Wurtsmith Air Force Base during thecold war. After a trip to the Boneyard in September 2019, hundreds of current and vintage photos are being sorted, scanned and uploaded. Many tests have been done to see the extent to which the contamination is harming the citizens residing in the area. 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. If a banker had not taken Lt. Whitehead on a fishing trip there would not have been an Air Force Base in Oscoda Michigan. This gave the Army operations the opportunity to begin creating the base we know today. Photos of P-47s flown by French Pilots at Oscoda. There is an ongoing project to decontaminate the area. This unfortunately happened on October 11th, 1988 when KC-135 crashed with 6 crew members and 10 passengers on board. [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. The P-6E was quite a good-looking airplane, and became the most famous of the Hawk line of biplane fighters. At this time Wurtsmith Air Force Base was still part of the, Strategic Air Commands bomber fleet. In 1942, three 5000x150 concrete runways were built. There is a lot of open runways still today that can be rented out for a multitude of events. Located in Oscoda, Michigan this base is positioned no more than two miles off the shore of Lake Huron. Timothy Marcum, 1/15/2071-73 camp lejeune nc bad water va in redding pretends they know nothing about having problems. [1] This includes on base housing, a daycare center for children, a doctor's office, a . . The 4026th was a SAC Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing that had been organized on 1 August 1958. Once we brought that up and cleaned the tag, we knew it was the 221226 serial number.. 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. This air field was in dire need of a gunnery range because they being forced out of their gunnery range on Lake St. Clair. Only afterthe plains were airborne would the crew be notified if it was a drill or not. Over the 50 years of operation Wurtsmith Air Force Base had manydifferent missions. The EPA Superfund Contaminants of Concern Update of June 3, 2016 lists all the same contaminants listed in 38-3307(7)(i) as it relates to USMC Camp Lejeune water contaminants. Click on a marker for base information. 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. [5] While the 379th, Bomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the Ready, Alert Nuclear Strike Force. I didnt know anything about the Tuskegee Airmen until we got into this.. [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]. In 1953 it was renamed Wurtsmith Air Force Base after Michigan native, Major General Paul Wurtsmith. City Picto Map, Clark Air Base / Angeles City. For example a KC-135 could take off from Wurtsmith Air Force Base, fly across the Pacific Ocean, land in Spain, have the flight crew be relieved by a fresh crew, fly into theater, complete the mission and return to Spain, where the original crew would be rested and ready to fly the KC-135 back to Wurtsmith Air Force Base. In 1932, Capt. Me and Dan drive around base and check out the bunkers that held nuclear weapons during the cold war The Arrow Street purge system, installed in 1982 to remove contaminants from the Building 43 plume, has lowered concentrations o The Losinskis found an account of the crash in the Times Herald. Traci Kroushour, an Oscoda resident until the age of 12, had her uterus removed at the age of 28 and can never have children. Theyve seen lots of things underwater, but the story of the P-39 fighter lost just off the Port Huron beachfront touched them. These Air Force bases were remote. 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. One example of this is autocross racing. 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 water table is about 10 feet below land surface in the western part of the Base and about 25 feet below land surface in the eastern part. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. 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. This cycle was from Wednesday to Wednesday. 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. If you are interested in any particular aircraft of time period please let me know. Neither Michigan nor any U.S. officials have conducted a comprehensive study on the contaminants and pollutants under the base. 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. The Wurtsmith Air Force Base, created in 1923, played a large role in WWII. I do hope there is information on Wurtsmith AFB soon. Any one else from 84-89 have issues? I lived in base housing, I want to say 8607H Ohio from 82-84. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Aircraft upper wing, left lower wing, rudder and propeller damaged. That plane actually crashed April 11, 1944, which was 70 years to the date that the picture was taken, Drew Losinski said. Since, 2010 sampling by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the U.S. Air Force has identified elevated levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in drinking water wells and some locally caught fish and deer. Many of drums ruptured. out of Prince Abdullah AB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 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 . In 1960 it became part of the Strategic Air Command . All Rights Reserved. [5] While the 379thBomb Wing was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base they were part of the ReadyAlert Nuclear Strike Force. A sand and gravel aquifer of glacial origin underlies Wurtsmith Air Force Base in northeastern lower Michigan. 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. Mr. Norton would occasionally return to fresh fish left by his neighbor on his porch. He was stationed at the base. What they had was a one-seat warplane piloted by 2nd Lt. Frank H. Moody, of Los Angeles. These chemicals have been shown to cause problems with thyroid, liver, kidney, reproduction, and other health problems. [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. [1], While these crews were on ready alert they did not have a whole, lot to do. 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. Tests in Michigan near the former Wurtsmith Air Force base have found PFOS in groundwater at levels as high as 42,000 ppt. They took a photo on April 11, from the surface of Lake Huron, of the wing of a Wold War II-era fighter plane that crashed during a training exercise, killing its pilot. 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. Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich., served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. This article is from 2018.. Since its establishment in 1923, Wurtsmith played an important role in World War II, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War, hosting the 134th Army Air Force Base Fighter Unit and 379th Bombardment Wing respectively. During World War II, P-47 fighters were assigned to Oscoda. The good speed of the P-6E was counterbalanced by some unsatisfacory handling characteristics which made it sluggish in response to controls. He flew from Dayton, Ohio to Washington, D.C. at a speed of approximately 266 mph, at an altitude of 25,000 ft. What us the compensation for this? This is extremely important because harsh chemicals can negatively impact the future of children and infants as well as the elderly. My ex wife has thyroid disease and auto immune disease. [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. The Losinskis havent abandoned their quest to bring this long-forgotten chapter in the history of World War II to light. A total 9589 Airacobras were built before production finally ended on July 25, 1944. 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). Everyone from the mechanics keeping the planes flyable, to the cooks, preparing food for the airmen stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, to the, commanders who ensured that everything from the flight schedules being correct. 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. These levels were published by the Enviromental Protection Agency (Mlive.com). The KC-135s would finish one mission and there would be another one waiting for them as soon as they were available. In addition, the rear fuselage was deepened in order that it could faire cleanly into the bottom of the radiator. [1] This would result in a large amount of paperwork and extra expenses for the Air Force. Wurtsmith AFB Water Health Issues via water, Organochlorine Pesticides Levels at George AFB Family Housing. On May 9, 1961, the base took delivery of its first new Boeing B-52 H Stratofortress, The State of Michigan. I have had many other health issues since and have recently found all of this. No injuries to the pilot. History Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, served primarily as a combat crew and bomber training base throughout its 70-year history. It was criticized for its low service ceiling, its slow rate of climb, and its generally poor high-altitude performance. [1] This was further broken down by marital status. Beginning in July 1944, the P-47 Thunderbolt was used extensively to train Free French Air Force pilots at Oscoda Army Air Field (AAF). Wurtsmith earned recognition during the war as the leader of the group of pilots using P-40 and P-38 fighter . Two years after release I started to experience very visible loss of musculature and strength. It has found from testing this area that some places to have over 1000 parts-per-trillion for PFOS and PFOA. It is primarily a large jet airplane salvage, jet engine maintenance and light general aviation . 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. 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. [1] This tight knit community was not confined to just the Air Force Base, but extended into the community as well. I kept up with all this for a while then gave up. 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. [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. Theyre looking for other divers who can assist with the effort. One specific and important waterway being affected by these pollutants is the Au Sable River. 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. [6] The 379th Bomb Wing wasdisbanded on June 30th 1993. [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. Military bases are known for significant staffing turnover. While the vast majority of personnel on Wurtsmith AirForce Base were not part of a flight crew rotating through ready alert, theirrespective jobs all served to ensure those planes could take off at a momentsnotice. "Keeping Wurtsmith AFB and Aviation History of NE MI Alive" Opens on Armed Forces Day in May, hosts a Welcome Home. TCE in another well on Jet Street near the present day Wurtsmith AFB museum was 1,739-ppb. During the Gulf War these planes were run practically 24/7, landing only to swap flight crews to meet the flight crew rest requirements. The runways were aligned NE/SW, E/W, and NW/SE. The history of Oscoda Military Aviation is the same as the History of the Air Force. [1] The KC-135s had many more opportunities to travel because they would fly in support of any craft capable of refueling in flight. [2] Another unfortunate occurrence that Happened more than it should have were Court-Martials. More individuals impacted by these chemicals are Cindi and Lawrence Ashbeck. As previously stated, there is a museum open to the public which has artifacts and information on the bases history. 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. 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. 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 typical activities while not on ready alert varied greatlyfrom person to person. A single-seat low-wing fighter developed for the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) by Republic Aviation, it was the largest single-engined piston fighter ever produced. Airport History. Wurtsmith Air Force base was one of five, northern tier bases in the Strategic Air Commands arsenal. The Airacobra reached its peak usage in the USAAF in early 1944, with over 2100 in service. He saw the surrounding land and figured it would make a great place for a gunnery range. Testing by the Air Force has found high levels of the toxic chemical PFOS in the foam near a plume coming from the former nuclear bomber base. The Lackland Air Force Base Education Center is located at 1550 Wurtsmith Street, Suite 5. . [THE FLINT JOURNAL VIA AP] 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. On the other hand, the rear-mounted engine offered increased maneuverability since the weight of the plane would be near its center of gravity. The M&FRC is located at 1550 Wurtsmith St . The ready alert flight crews were rotated on a three week cycle. 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).