Since the early part of the 20th century, the military base outside of the small town of Oscoda, Michigan, has gone by many names: Loud-Reames Aviation Field, Camp Skeel, Oscoda Army Airfield, Oscoda Air Force Base, and Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Regardless of its name, the base always played an important part in the ever-evolving National defense.

From the early days of bi-planes practicing bombing runs and landing on a frozen lake, training Tuskegee airmen, Air Defense Command fighter jets on alert, B-52s with Hound dog missiles, and in the end, KC-135 and B-52s with air-launched cruise missiles on alert.

Today, the Wurtsmith Air Museum works to preserve the history of the men and women who served, so their stories and the history of aviation in northeastern Michigan can be shared with future generations.