| Ramey Air Force Base | |
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| Part of the Strategic Air Command | |
| Located in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | |
13 October 1993 Ramey AFB
Ramey AFB (Puerto Rico)
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| Type | Air Force Base |
| Built | 1936 |
| In use | 1936-1971 |
| Controlled by | Formerly the Strategic Air Command |
| Garrison | None - base deactivated in 1973 |
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.
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Origins of this air force base go back to 1936, when the necessity for an air base in Puerto Rico 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.
During World War II, the following squadrons were assigned to the airfield:
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.
In 1971, the Coast Guard 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.[1] 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.[1]
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-130H/J Hercules and HU-25 Falcon aircraft normally based at other Coast Guard Air Stations.
CGAS Borinquen consists of two runways (the primary runway, 11,700 feet (3,600 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.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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