This cache is a small black envelope. The coords may be off a bit,
to add to the challenge and allow you to take your time and enjoy
the memorial. Enjoy!
Did you know that during the WWII and the Cold War, Michigan played
a large roll in protecting our country? Air Bases were
strategically placed throughout the state to protect our boarders,
running refueling missions, rapid launch and landings of B-52
bombers re-deploying in a quick minute. At one time Michigan had 5
active duty Air Force installations. With all but one (Selfridge;
Now Nat'l Guard) these bases stand the test of time.
Each base played a specific role and you can feel the history of
these base just by observation. Below is just a bit of each bases
history:
K.I. Sawyer AFB-The initial mission of the Cold War-era base was to
act as a fighter-interceptor defense against an enemy bomber attack
and later as a strategic (nuclear) deterrent with the B-52, both of
which would operate over the shortest route: over the North Pole
and through Canada. K.I. Sawyer AFB was one of numerous B-52 bases
across the U.S., many close to the Canadian border, ranging from
Fairchild AFB near Spokane, Washington in the west, to Loring AFB
in northeastern Maine.
Raco Field- During World War II, the United States Army Air Force
(USAAF) established numerous airfields in Michigan for training
pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers. Most of these
airfields were under the command of First Air Force or the Army Air
Forces Training Command (AAFTC) (A predecessor of the current-day
United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command).
However the other USAAF support commands (Air Technical Service
Command (ATSC); Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier
Command) commanded a significant number of airfields in a support
roles. It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime
airfields. Many were converted into municipal airports, some were
returned to agriculture and several were retained as United States
Air Force installations and were front-line bases during the Cold
War. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive
today, and are being used for other purposes.
Wurtsmith AFB- Wurtsmith got its start in 1923 as Loud-Reames
Aviation Field, a soft-surface landing site for Army Air Corps
aircraft from Selfridge Field. It was renamed Camp Skeel in 1924,
for World War I pilot Captain Burt E. Skeel, and was used as an
aerial gunnery range until the onset of World War II. A 5,000 foot
hard-surface runway was built in 1942 when the camp was renamed
Oscoda Army Air Field. The field was used to train Free French
Forces pilots, and also operated as a transient aircraft stopover
under the auspices of the Continental Air Command. The base was
renamed Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1953 after Michigan native
Major General Paul Wurtsmith, who was killed when his TB-25J-27-NC
Mitchell, 44-30227, crashed near Cold Mountain, North Carolina in
September 1946. The base became a permanent installation in 1951
when the United States Air Force designated it as a
fighter-interceptor training base for the Air Defense Command's
(ADC) 30th Air Division.
Kincheloe AFB- Kincheloe Air Force Base was a U.S. Air Force base
during the Cold War. Built inthe Upper Peninsula of Michigan in
1943 during World War II, the base was in service until 1977. The
base was known by various names, including Kinross Municipal
Airport, Kinross Army Air Field, Kinross Air Field, Kinross Air
Force Auxiliary Field, and Kinross Air Force Base. The present-day
Chippewa County International Airport and the community of
Kincheloe are located on the site of the base. During World War II,
the Soo Locks were considered vital to the war efforts. An airport
was planned in Kinross as early as June 1941 and construction began
in 1943. The base was then designated the Kinross Auxiliary Air
Field, and was to serve as a refueling stop for aircraft headed for
Alaska as well as to defend the locks. However, no tactical units
were assigned to the base during the war. The base was controlled
by the 4250th Army Air Force Base Unit of the U.S. Army, which also
operated the air field in Alpena. After the war, the city of Sault
Ste. Marie, along with Capital Airlines and Trans-Canada Air Lines,
leased the property and used it for commercial air service from
1945 to 1952. With the increasing tensions of the Cold War and the
outbreak of the Korean War, the 4685th Air Base Squadron was
assigned to the reactivated airfield in October 1952. The units
based there changed designations several times in the following
months, with the base ultimately becoming operational as a U.S. Air
Force facility in July 1953. Kinross AFB expanded throughout the
1950s, and was renamed "Kincheloe AFB" in September 1959, after
Captain Iven Carl Kincheloe, Jr., a native of the state who was
born in Detroit and raised in Cassopolis. Kincheloe was a veteran
of the Korean War and a test pilot for the Century Series of
fighter aircraft, and the Bell X-2. He was slated to fly the X-15,
but was killed at the age of 30 in a crash of a F-104 Starfighter
at Edwards AFB in 1958. He is buried at Arlington National
Cemetery.
Selfridge AFB- The United States Army leased the 640 acres of land
from Henry B. Joy where he constructed Joy Aviation Field and on
July 1, 1917, Selfridge Field opened to train pilots as World War I
raged in Europe. The training center suffered an early setback in
March 1918, as the Clinton River flooded the entire site and all
personnel were evacuated to schools and churches in nearby Mount
Clemens. In 1920, the Army purchased the land for $190,000 however
conditions were still primitive as grass was cut by mowers pulled
by horse teams and much of the field was mired in mud. After the
purchase, Congress approved funds for improvements at Selfridge,
turning it into one of the premier airfields in the nation.
Beginning June 27, 1919, Selfridge became the home of the 1st
Pursuit Group, currently the oldest combat group in the Air Force.
The group was organized in France during World War I and like many
others, was demobilized after the war then re-created in 1919. It
remained based at Selfridge for approximately 20 years.[5] Many
notable names are included in the group's roster including George
H. Brett, James "Jimmy" Doolittle, Carl A. Spaatz, Curtis LeMay,
Frank O. Hunter, Emmett "Rosie" O'Donnell, Earle E. Partridge, Paul
Wurtsmith and over 100 men who rose to the rank of Air Force
general ("Home of Generals"). After World War II, Selfridge
expanded to its present size of 3,600 acres (1,500 ha), and in 1947
the Selfridge Army Air Base was renamed Selfridge Air Force
Base.[3] From 1947-1970 the base hosted 3 successive Cold War
aircraft units: the 56th Fighter Wing (July 28, 1947-1952), which
conducted the first west-to-east jet fighter transatlantic crossing
(US to Scotland via Greenland, 1948); the 439th Fighter-Bomber Wing
(1952-7); and the 1st Fighter Wing (Air Defense) from
1956-1970.[13] The units' Selfridge aircraft were F-51 Mustangs
(439th, 1953-4), Lockheed P-80 Shooting Stars (439th 1953-6, 56th),
F-84 Thunderstreaks (439th), North American F-86D Sabres (1st), and
F-102 Delta Daggers (1st). In April 1954, the Selfridge's 13th
Fighter-Intercepter Squadron of the 4708th Air Defense Wing won the
Eastern Air Defense Force rocket gunnery championship;[3] and on
May 10, 1956, a Selfridge F-86D accidentally fired 22 Mighty Mouse
missile while on the ground.[4] In November 1957, Air Defense
Command (ADC) assumed control of Selfridge AFB. On July 1, 1971,
Selfridge Air Force Base was transferred to the Michigan Air
National Guard, becoming the first major active Air Force base to
come under control of the Air National Guard. At Selfridge Air
National Guard Base, the 127th Wing (127 WG) is the host wing to
more than 30 tenant units representing every branch of the military
- active duty (to include the Coast Guard), Reserve and National
Guard. The U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Customs and Border
Protection Northern Air and Marine Wing are also based at
Selfridge. Collectively, these organizations comprise what is known
"Team Selfridge," one community with syngergistic goals and
missions. The 127th Wing (127 WG) of the Michigan Air National
Guard is a combined Air Combat Command (ACC) and Air Mobility
Command (AMC) gained organization that was established at Selfridge
ANG Base on April 1, 1996, by consolidating the former 127th
Fighter Wing and the 191st Airlift Group. The flying units which
previously flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the C-130 Hercules,
converted their flying missions per 2005 Base Realignment and
Closure Commission (BRAC) action. Today, the ACC-gained 107th
Fighter Squadron flies the A-10C Thunderbolt II, also known as the
A-10 "Warthog." The AMC-gained 127th Airlift Group was renamed the
127th Air Refueling Group and its 171st Air Refueling Squadron now
flies the KC-135R Stratotanker.
Below are some caches near the old installations that will get you
a great view of what used to be. I challenge you to get all 5
caches.
KI SAWYER AFB Rock Lobster III
GC1FFBJ
N 46° 20.509 W 087° 23.012 Note: Rock Lobester is not a winter
friendly cache.
RACO FIELD Touch Down, Roll Out
GCP4RH
N 46° 20.754 W 084° 49.038
Kincheloe AFB New Clear
GCWMYR
N 46° 16.563 W 084° 27.938
Wurtsmith AFB WSA
GCYKR4
N 44° 27.654 W 083° 23.324
Selfridge AFB now ANGB AF: 127th of Selfridge Memorial Day
Cache
GC2WK3Z
N 42° 35.811 W 082° 49.521
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