Ramey Air Force Base

Ramey Air Force Base
Part of the Strategic Air Command
Located in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
13 October 1993
Ramey AFB
Coordinates	18°29′40″N 067°07′46″W / 18.49444°N 67.12944°WCoordinates: 18°29′40″N 067°07′46″W / 18.49444°N 67.12944°W
Type	Air Force Base
Site information
Controlled by	Formerly the Strategic Air Command
Site history
Built	1936
In use	1936–1971
Garrison information
Garrison	None – base deactivated in 1973

Ramey Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It was named after Brigadier General Howard Knox Ramey. Following its closure, it was redeveloped into Rafael Hernandez Airport.

History

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
• 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 1 November 1950 - 1953
• 72d Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 1953 - 1959 (RB-39 Peacemaker)
• 72nd Bombardment Wing, 1959 - 30 June 1971 (B-52 Stratofortress)

Realignment and closure

Ramey Air Force Base deactivation began in 1972 and final closure in 1973.

See also

• Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
• Punta Borinquen Light
• Punta Borinquen Radar Station
• Military of Puerto Rico

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• 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.

External links

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