Ramey Air Force Base
Encyclopedia
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 Guard Air Station Borinquen
. There is also civilian general aviation use of the airfield, now known as Rafael Hernandez International Airport. It was named for Gen. Howard Knox Ramey.
was recognized and advocated by United States Army Air Corps
officials as a logical extension of the air defenses of the Panama Canal
and of Puerto Rico itself. The Commandant of the Air Corps Tactical School
forwarded to the Chief of the Air Corps
a report describing Puerto Rico as a "most valuable asset" for national defense and recommending establishment of an Army Air Base on the island.
In 1939, the Army sent Major George C. Kenney to Puerto Rico to conduct a preliminary survey of possible air base sites. He examined a total of 42 sites and declared that Punta Borinquen the best site for a major air base. Planted sugar cane farms covered some 3796 acres that the government purchased for military use on the first week of September 1939 at a cost of $1,215,000. Later that year, Major Karl S. Axtater assumed command of what was to become Borinquen Army Air Field. In a less than auspicious arrival, Axtater landed the first aircraft ever at the still crude, unprepared runway of Borinquen and blew the tire on the tail wheel of the plane, but no serious damage or injury resulted. The 27th Bombardment Squadron
arrived from Langley Field, Virginia
, in late 1939 with nine B-18A Bolo medium bombers as the first squadron based at Borinquen Field. 417th Bombardment Squadron
arrived on 21 November 1939.
In 1940, the air echelon of the 25th Bombardment Group (14 B-18A aircraft and two A-17
aircraft) arrived at the base from Langley Field. After 1 November 1940, the base served as headquarters of 25th Bombardment Group
.
On 13 December 1940, the "tempest-in-a-teapot" "Battle of Borinquen Field" took place. Strictly a misnomer, the "battle" consisted solely of an "alert" and nervous guards firing machine guns against a "non-existent enemy invasion force", in reality a friendly merchant vessel traveling inshore for protection. The "battle" lasted 15 minutes, and in the confusion, one woman was wounded.
Following World War II
, the Air Force significantly expanded Ramey Air Force Base for its new role as a Strategic Air Command
(SAC) bomber base. From 1952-1959, the 72d Bombardment Wing, Heavy was equipped with the huge B-36 Peacemaker. In 1959, the 72d Bombardment Wing transitioned to the B-52 Stratofortress
and Ramey served as a B-52 and KC-135 Stratotanker
base until mid-1971.
relocated its aviation units from San Juan
, and established the "Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen". U.S. Coast Guard fact sheets and historical documents state that the Coast Guard took possession of, "...an outstanding hangar with adjacent support facilities," from the Air Force. Within the boundaries of the base are a housing area, a clinic and dispensary, a station library, a community center, a swimming pool, a Coast Guard Exchange Base exchange
, a mini-mart, a package store, a gymnasium and other fitness facilities, a chapel, and a movie theater.
In 1973, Ramey AFB was closed by the Air Force as an active Air Force Base, part of a post-Vietnam War reduction-in-force (RIF) that closed-down numerous Air Force Bases.
As it was before the Air Force's departure, the primary mission of Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen remains search & rescue. Secondary missions include law enforcement, aerial support for ATON
, and logistic support. To accomplish these missions, the Air Station has now four HH-65A Dolphin helicopters as well as periodically hosting Coast Guard HC-130
H/J Hercules and HU-25 Falcon aircraft normally based at other Coast Guard Air Stations.
CGAS Borinquen consists of two runways (the primary runway, 11700 feet (3,566.2 m) long, is still maintained), a very large former B-52 heavy bomber dispersal parking area, and numerous ramps & hangars - many of which are currently in a state of disrepair.
The Members of the U.S Coast Guard stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen are the only Active Duty military personnel at the former Ramey Air Force Base.
In addition to the Coast Guard facility, the former Ramey AFB flight-line is now operated as a general aviation airport, named Rafael Hernandez International Airport, and it supports numerous military Reserve Component units and Department of Homeland Security agencies such as:
The US Army and the US Air Force also have active duty and reserve units stationed on the base grounds. The former Air Force Base is also the home of the Ramey Sector of the US Border Patrol, which covers all of Puerto Rico, and also an Immigration Detention Center run by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
base in Aguadilla, 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...
. In addition to a small on-site Air Force detachment, and occasional operations by the Puerto Rico Air National Guard
Puerto Rico Air National Guard
The Puerto Rico Air National Guard is the air force militia of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. It is, along with the Puerto Rico Army National Guard, an element of the Puerto Rico National Guard.History=...
, a portion of the former Air Force Base is operated by the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
as Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is located at the Rafael Hernandez International Airport , in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The commanding officer is Captain Robert D Phillips....
. There is also civilian general aviation use of the airfield, now known as Rafael Hernandez International Airport. It was named for Gen. Howard Knox Ramey.
Origins
Origins of this air force base go back to 1936, when the necessity for an air base in Puerto RicoPuerto 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...
was recognized and advocated by United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
officials as a logical extension of the air defenses of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
and of Puerto Rico itself. The Commandant of the Air Corps Tactical School
Air Corps Tactical School
The Air Corps Tactical School, also known as ACTS and "the Tactical School", was a military professional development school for officers of the United States Army Air Service and United States Army Air Corps, the first such school in the world. Created in 1920 at Langley Field, Virginia, it...
forwarded to the Chief of the Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
a report describing Puerto Rico as a "most valuable asset" for national defense and recommending establishment of an Army Air Base on the island.
In 1939, the Army sent Major George C. Kenney to Puerto Rico to conduct a preliminary survey of possible air base sites. He examined a total of 42 sites and declared that Punta Borinquen the best site for a major air base. Planted sugar cane farms covered some 3796 acres that the government purchased for military use on the first week of September 1939 at a cost of $1,215,000. Later that year, Major Karl S. Axtater assumed command of what was to become Borinquen Army Air Field. In a less than auspicious arrival, Axtater landed the first aircraft ever at the still crude, unprepared runway of Borinquen and blew the tire on the tail wheel of the plane, but no serious damage or injury resulted. The 27th Bombardment Squadron
27th Bombardment Squadron
The 27th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 30th Bombardment Group, based at Kahuku Army Airfield, Hawaii Territory...
arrived from Langley Field, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, in late 1939 with nine B-18A Bolo medium bombers as the first squadron based at Borinquen Field. 417th Bombardment Squadron
417th Bombardment Squadron
The 417th Bombardment Squadron a United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 25th Bombardment Group, based at Alamogordo Army Airfield, Alamogordo, New Mexico...
arrived on 21 November 1939.
In 1940, the air echelon of the 25th Bombardment Group (14 B-18A aircraft and two A-17
Northrop A-17
The Northrop A-17, a development of the Northrop Gamma 2F was a two seat, single engine, monoplane, attack bomber built in 1935 by the Northrop Corporation for the US Army Air Corps.-Development and design:...
aircraft) arrived at the base from Langley Field. After 1 November 1940, the base served as headquarters of 25th Bombardment Group
25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
The 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing is an inactive United States Air Force wing. Its last duty assignment was at Chambley-Bussieres Air Base, France.-History:...
.
On 13 December 1940, the "tempest-in-a-teapot" "Battle of Borinquen Field" took place. Strictly a misnomer, the "battle" consisted solely of an "alert" and nervous guards firing machine guns against a "non-existent enemy invasion force", in reality a friendly merchant vessel traveling inshore for protection. The "battle" lasted 15 minutes, and in the confusion, one woman was wounded.
World War II era
During World War II, the following squadrons were assigned to the airfield:- Headquarters, 25th Bombardment Group25th Tactical Reconnaissance WingThe 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing is an inactive United States Air Force wing. Its last duty assignment was at Chambley-Bussieres Air Base, France.-History:...
, 1 November 1940-1 November 1942; 5 October 1943-24 March 1944
- 417th Bombardment Squadron, 21 November 1939-13 April 1942 (B-18 Bolo)
- 10th Bombardment Squadron10th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 10th Missile Squadron is a unit located at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana.-Heraldry:On an Air Force Blue disc, an Air Force Golden Yellow demi lion rampant, shaded Golden Brown, his tongue Red, emerging from a hole, Dark Brown, rimmed Red; fimbriated White five Red...
, 1 November 1940-1 November 1942 (B-18 Bolo) - 12th Bombardment Squadron12th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 12th Missile Squadron is a missile unit located at Malmstrom AFB, Montana.-Mission:The mission of the 341st Missile Wing is to keep America free and strong by providing combat-ready people and aerospace forces.-Heraldry:...
, 1 November 1940-8 November 1941 (B-18 Bolo) - 35th Bombardment Squadron35th Bombardment SquadronThe 35th Bombardment Squadron a United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 322d Bombardment Group, based at Phillips Field, Beltsville, Maryland...
, 31 October-11 November 1941 (B-18 Bolo)
- 44th Bombardment Squadron44th Bombardment SquadronThe 44th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 40th Bombardment Wing, based at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas. It was inactivated on 1 September 1964.-Heraldry:...
(40th Bombardment Group) 1 April 1941-16 June 1942 (B-18 Bolo) - 20th Troop Carrier Squadron (Panama Air Depot) June 1942-July 1943 (C-47 Skytrain)
- 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron4th Tactical Reconnaissance SquadronThe 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 5600th Composite Wing, based at Howard Field, Canal Zone. It was inactivated on 14 March 1949.-History:...
(72d Reconnaissance Group) 27 October 1943-21 May 1945; 5 October 1945-20 August 1946
Cold War era
- Antilles Air CommandAntilles Air CommandThe Antilles Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico...
, 1 March-25 August 1946
- As: Antilles Air Division, 12 January 1948-22 January 1949
- 24th Composite Wing24th WingThe 24th Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Twelfth Air Force, stationed at Howard Air Force Base, Panama...
, 25 August 1946-28 June 1948
- 24th Composite Wing
Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Air Force significantly expanded Ramey Air Force Base for its new role as 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) bomber base. From 1952-1959, the 72d Bombardment Wing, Heavy was equipped with the huge B-36 Peacemaker. In 1959, the 72d Bombardment Wing transitioned to the B-52 Stratofortress
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...
and Ramey served as a B-52 and KC-135 Stratotanker
KC-135 Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
base until mid-1971.
Closing and current use
In 1971, the Coast GuardUnited States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
relocated its aviation units from San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, and established the "Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen". U.S. Coast Guard fact sheets and historical documents state that the Coast Guard took possession of, "...an outstanding hangar with adjacent support facilities," from the Air Force. Within the boundaries of the base are a housing area, a clinic and dispensary, a station library, a community center, a swimming pool, a Coast Guard Exchange Base exchange
Base exchange
A Base Exchange is a type of retail store operating on United States military installations worldwide...
, a mini-mart, a package store, a gymnasium and other fitness facilities, a chapel, and a movie theater.
In 1973, Ramey AFB was closed by the Air Force as an active Air Force Base, part of a post-Vietnam War reduction-in-force (RIF) that closed-down numerous Air Force Bases.
As it was before the Air Force's departure, the primary mission of Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen remains search & rescue. Secondary missions include law enforcement, aerial support for ATON
Aton
The term Aton may refer to:* Aten or Aton, the disk of the sun, regarded as a deity in ancient Egyptian mythology* Aton Capital, a Russian investment bank* ATON, abbreviation for Aid to Navigation* Archive of Turkish Oral NarrativePeople...
, and logistic support. To accomplish these missions, the Air Station has now four HH-65A Dolphin helicopters as well as periodically hosting Coast Guard HC-130
HC-130
The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue and Combat search and rescue version of the C-130 Hercules transport. The HC-130H and HC-130J versions are operated by the United States Coast Guard in a SAR and maritime reconnaissance role. The HC-130P and HC-130N Combat King models...
H/J Hercules and HU-25 Falcon aircraft normally based at other Coast Guard Air Stations.
CGAS Borinquen consists of two runways (the primary runway, 11700 feet (3,566.2 m) long, is still maintained), a very large former B-52 heavy bomber dispersal parking area, and numerous ramps & hangars - many of which are currently in a state of disrepair.
The Members of the U.S Coast Guard stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen are the only Active Duty military personnel at the former Ramey Air Force Base.
In addition to the Coast Guard facility, the former Ramey AFB flight-line is now operated as a general aviation airport, named Rafael Hernandez International Airport, and it supports numerous military Reserve Component units and Department of Homeland Security agencies such as:
- Puerto Rico National GuardPuerto Rico National GuardThe Puerto Rico National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components with a total authorized strength of 10,000 soldiers and airmen. The Constitution of the United States specifically...
- Puerto Rico Air National GuardPuerto Rico Air National GuardThe Puerto Rico Air National Guard is the air force militia of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. It is, along with the Puerto Rico Army National Guard, an element of the Puerto Rico National Guard.History=...
- U.S. Army Reserve
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionU.S. Customs and Border ProtectionU.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the...
- Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- U.S. Border Patrol Ramey Sector
- Central Intelligence AgencyCentral Intelligence AgencyThe Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
The US Army and the US Air Force also have active duty and reserve units stationed on the base grounds. The former Air Force Base is also the home of the Ramey Sector of the US Border Patrol, which covers all of Puerto Rico, and also an Immigration Detention Center run by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
See also
- Punta Borinquen LightPunta Borinquen LightPunta Borinquen Light is a lighthouse located in the old Ramey Air Force Base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The station was established in 1889 by the Spanish government. With the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, the lighthouse would become "the most important aid to navigation on the route from...