Ramey Air Force Base

Ramey Air Force Base
Part of the Strategic Air Command
Located in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
13 October 1993 Ramey AFB Ramey AFB (Puerto Rico)
Type	Air Force Base
Coordinates	18°29′40″N 067°07′46″W
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.

History

Origins

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.

World War II era

During World War II, the following squadrons were assigned to the airfield:

• Headquarters, 25th Bombardment Group, 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 Squadron, 1 November 1940-1 November 1942 (B-18 Bolo)

12th Bombardment Squadron, 1 November 1940-8 November 1941 (B-18 Bolo)

35th Bombardment Squadron, 31 October-11 November 1941 (B-18 Bolo)

• 44th Bombardment Squadron (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 Squadron (72d Reconnaissance Group) 27 October 1943-21 May 1945; 5 October 1945-20 August 1946

Cold War era

• Antilles Air Command, 1 March-25 August 1946

As: Antilles Air Division, 12 January 1948-22 January 1949

• 24th Composite Wing, 25 August 1946-28 June 1948

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.

Closing and current use

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. 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-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:

• Puerto Rico National Guard
• Puerto Rico Air National Guard
• U.S. Army Reserve
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• U.S. Border Patrol Ramey Sector
• Central Intelligence Agency

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 Light

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office 1961 (republished 1983, Office of Air Force History, ISBN 0-912799-02-1).
• Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History 1984. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Volume 1: Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. ISBN 0912799536; 0160022614

External links

• Ramey AFB Historical Association
• Airport information for TJBQ at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.