Current Status
The Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport became a public airport in 1993. It now occupies a portion of the base and is primarily used for cargo and light general aviation activities; there is no scheduled airline service. The Airport offers 24-hour near all weather daily access. The former USAF air traffic control tower is not operational and the airport's UNICOM frequency is 123.0 MHz, which doubles as a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). Automated weather is available by monitoring the ASP VOR on 116.1 MHz or by telephone at (989)739-1310. Services are available through Oscoda Aviation Services at (989)739-8486.
The Wurtsmith Base Conversion Authority terminated in 1994, when the Charter Township of Oscoda took over as the Redevelopment Authority. The Authority was organized under Michigan Public Act 206 of 1957. It has five municipal constituents: Oscoda Township, AuSable Township, Greenbush Township, Iosco County and Alcona County. The purpose of the Authority is generally to operate and maintain a public airport. The Michigan Legislature created the Wurtsmith Renaissance Zone in 1997, which exempted businesses and residents of the 5,000 acre (20 km²) zone from all state and most local taxes.
Most of the former Air Force facilities remain. Sections of the 1942 World War II airfield remain as well as the wartime aircraft parking apron. Those facilities were used by Air Defense Command interceptors, with the ADC alert sheds remaining and a section of the Wartime NW/SE runway being converted into a taxiway for the interceptors to use for alert launches. ADC control and maintenance buildings remain intact, albeit unused. The "Wurtsmith Division - Yankee Air Force Museum" is housed in the old ADC alert facility. The SAC B-52 alert facility and alert pads remain and are unused. The large parking ramp built by SAC for B-52s and KC-135s now is utilized by the Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport as aircraft parking space, and some of the old SAC hangars also appear to be in use.
Most of the ground station appears to be unused. About a third of the buildings appear to have been torn down, their foundations remaining. Another third have found new uses. The base athletic facilities remain in use; Kalitta Air has a large operation at the airport. Other tenants at the former base include the Aune Medical Center, Alcona Health Center Dental Clinic, Alpena Community College, and numerous private businesses; the remainder being unused, such as the former base commissary and exchange.
The former military housing units have been refurbished by the Villages of Oscoda, and now serve as a major population base in the Oscoda area.
Oscoda township's Robert J. Parks Public Library is located on the former base and is part of an eight-library cooperative of public libraries in both Iosco and Arenac counties. Right next door is the Shoreline Players Theater, a stage theater that provides plays, musicals, and other performing arts. It is housed in a former movie theater for soldiers.
Read more about this topic: Wurtsmith Air Force Base
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