Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
Encyclopedia
Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is located at the Rafael Hernandez International Airport (formerly Ramey Air Force Base
), in Aguadilla
, Puerto Rico
. The commanding officer is Captain Robert D Phillips.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen has being in operation since 1971 when the U.S. Coast Guard moved its operations from Air Station San Juan to the former Ramey Air Force Base
in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen's mission is search and rescue operations, support of U.S. Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, and support to other U.S. Department of Homeland Security agencies such as the U.S. Border Patrol Ramey Sector and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
in Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands against drug traffic and illegal entry into United States Territory
.
The complement at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is made of 170 enlisted personnel, 35 officers and 150 civilians. U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is under the direct command of the 7th U.S. Coast Guard District in Miami, Florida.
. In November 1971, the Air Station relocated to its present location at what was then Ramey Air Force Base
, a Strategic Air Command
(SAC) B-52
bomber and KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft base in Aguadilla, and became known as Coast Guard Air Station Puerto Rico. Two years later the Air Force discontinued its operation at Ramey AFB, turning the facilities over to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States Navy
. The Coast Guard assumed the host role in July 1976, when the Navy vacated the station. It was then that the unit was designated Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen. The Air Station originally utilized three HU-16E Albatross
amphibious seaplanes and two HH-52A Sea Guard helicopters to effect its search and rescue missions. In March of 1973, three HH-3F Pelican helicopters replaced these aircraft.
The need for increased range for law enforcement and search and rescue resulted in the addition of four HU-25A Falcon yets to the Air Station's inventory in late 1983 and early 1984. In 1985, four new HH-65A Dolphin
short-range rescue helicopters replaced the three HH-3F Pelicans, giving the Air Station a shipboard deployment capability. The HU-25A Falcons were replaced in 1987 by three HC-130H Hercules aircraft that provided long range search and surveillance capability until their departure in June 1996. Due to the increased tempo of operations in the Caribbean, the Air Station again added four HU-25A Falcons to the inventory from July 1999 until September 2001. The Air Station currently operates with HH-65C Dolphin helicopters while also supporting a variety of forward deployed aircraft.
Ramey Air Force Base
Ramey Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. In addition to a small on-site Air Force detachment, and occasional operations by the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, a portion of the former Air Force Base is operated by the United States Coast Guard as Coast...
), in Aguadilla
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Aguadilla , founded in 1775 by Luis de Córdova, is a city located in the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, north of Aguada, and Moca and west of Isabela. Aguadilla is spread over 15 wards and Aguadilla Pueblo...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The commanding officer is Captain Robert D Phillips.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen has being in operation since 1971 when the U.S. Coast Guard moved its operations from Air Station San Juan to the former Ramey Air Force Base
Ramey Air Force Base
Ramey Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. In addition to a small on-site Air Force detachment, and occasional operations by the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, a portion of the former Air Force Base is operated by the United States Coast Guard as Coast...
in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen's mission is search and rescue operations, support of U.S. Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, and support to other U.S. Department of Homeland Security agencies such as the U.S. Border Patrol Ramey Sector and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
in Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands against drug traffic and illegal entry into United States Territory
United States territory
United States territory is any extent of region under the jurisdiction of the federal government of the United States, including all waters including all U.S. Naval carriers. The United States has traditionally proclaimed the sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing its...
.
The complement at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is made of 170 enlisted personnel, 35 officers and 150 civilians. U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is under the direct command of the 7th U.S. Coast Guard District in Miami, Florida.
Base Facilities
- DoDEA Ramey School
- Coast Guard Exchange Post exchange
- Coast Guard Housing Area
- Hangar for U.S. Coast Guard Aircraft and adjacent facilities
- U.S. Coast Guard Recruiting Office
- MWR Guest Cottages
- Child Development Center
- Community Center - The Pelican Pub and the Enlisted Lounge are at the same building
- Ray Park
- Boys and Girls Club
- Post Library
- Movie Theater
- Base Chapel
- Borinquen Fitness Center
- Tennis Courts and Basketball Court
- Recreation Gear Locker
- Swimming Pool
- Air Station Borinquen Health Clinic
- Dental Clinic
History
United States Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is the direct descendant of the former Coast Guard Air Station San Juan, which was colocated at the former U.S. Naval Air Station Isla GrandeFernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport
-Accidents and incidents:*On April 11, 1952 Pan Am Flight 526A crashed into the sea just after take off due to engine failure, killing 52 out of 69 passengers and crew....
. In November 1971, the Air Station relocated to its present location at what was then Ramey Air Force Base
Ramey Air Force Base
Ramey Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. In addition to a small on-site Air Force detachment, and occasional operations by the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, a portion of the former Air Force Base is operated by the United States Coast Guard as Coast...
, a Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
(SAC) B-52
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
bomber and KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft base in Aguadilla, and became known as Coast Guard Air Station Puerto Rico. Two years later the Air Force discontinued its operation at Ramey AFB, turning the facilities over to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. The Coast Guard assumed the host role in July 1976, when the Navy vacated the station. It was then that the unit was designated Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen. The Air Station originally utilized three HU-16E Albatross
HU-16 Albatross
The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large twin-radial engine amphibious flying boat that was utilized by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, primarily as a search and rescue and combat search and rescue aircraft...
amphibious seaplanes and two HH-52A Sea Guard helicopters to effect its search and rescue missions. In March of 1973, three HH-3F Pelican helicopters replaced these aircraft.
The need for increased range for law enforcement and search and rescue resulted in the addition of four HU-25A Falcon yets to the Air Station's inventory in late 1983 and early 1984. In 1985, four new HH-65A Dolphin
HH-65 Dolphin
The Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin is a twin-engined, single main rotor, MEDEVAC-capable Search and Rescue helicopter operated by the United States Coast Guard...
short-range rescue helicopters replaced the three HH-3F Pelicans, giving the Air Station a shipboard deployment capability. The HU-25A Falcons were replaced in 1987 by three HC-130H Hercules aircraft that provided long range search and surveillance capability until their departure in June 1996. Due to the increased tempo of operations in the Caribbean, the Air Station again added four HU-25A Falcons to the inventory from July 1999 until September 2001. The Air Station currently operates with HH-65C Dolphin helicopters while also supporting a variety of forward deployed aircraft.