2 - RARE Old RAMEY Air Force Base Puerto Rico PostCard

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Rare 60 Yr+ Collectibles Two (2#) Beautiful Color Historical Postcards RAMEY AIR FORCE BASE Officer's Club & Bachelor's Quarters Puerto Rico - circa 1950's Up for grabs are these old but nice Ramey AFB Postcards from circa 1950's Puerto Rico . What a RARE find ! These two cards are of the Officer's Club Swimming Pool and the Bachelor Officer's Quarters. The photo credits are to S/Sgt. Roland Cloutier and published by Matias Photo Shop in San Juan, P.R. YorKolor Process . Today, this former AFB is home to the US Coast Guard and Rafael Hernandez International Airport (See more below). Ramey Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command bomber base in Aguadilla , Puerto Rico . Today, parts of the former Air Force Base are operated by the United States Coast Guard as CGAS Borinquen , and t is civilian general aviation airport use of the facility as Rafael Hernandez International Airport . Ramey's origins go back to 1936 , when the necessity for an air base in Puerto Rico was recognized and advocated by Army Air Corps officials as a logical extension of the air defense of the Panama Canal . The Commandant of the Air Corps Tactical School forwarded to the Chief of the Air Corps a report pointing out that Puerto Rico was a "most valuable asset" of the for national defense, and recommending that an air base be established on the island. In 1939 , Major George C. Kenney was sent to Puerto Rico to conduct a preliminary survey of possible air base sites. In all, 42 sites were examined, and Major Kenney declared that Punta Borinquen was the best site for a major air base. A total of 3,796 acres (covered by planted sugar cane farms) were expropiated in 1939 . Later that year, Major Karl S Axtater assumed command of what was to become Borinquen Army Air Field . In a somewhat less than auspicious arrival, Axtater, upon landing the first aircraft ever at Borinquen's crude & unprepared runway, blew the tire on his plane's tail wheel, but no serious damage or injury resulted. The first squadron based at Borinquen Field was the 27th Bombardment Squadron , consisting of nine B-18A Bolo bombers, arriving from Langley AAF , Virginia in late 1939 . In 1940 , the air echelon of the 25th Bombardment Group (14 B-18A aircraft and 2 A-17 aircraft) arrived at the base from Langley Field. On December 13 , 1940 , the infamous "Battle of Borinquen Field" took place. Strictly a misnomer, the "battle" consisted solely of an "alert" and the firing of machine guns by nervous guards against a non-existent enemy invasion force, which was 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 , Ramey was significantly expanded for its new role as a Strategic Air Command bomber base. From 1952-1959, the 72d Bombardment Wing, Heavy was equipped with the huge RB-36 . Ramey later served as a B-52 base. In 1971 , the Coast Guard relocated their aviation units from San Juan , and established Borinquen Coast Guard Air Station . The Coast Guard took possession of an outstanding hangar with adjacent support facilities. Within the boundaries of the base are a housing area, clinic and dispensary, station library, community center, swimming pool, exchange, mini-mart, package store, gymnasium and other fitness facilities, chapel, and theater. In 1973 , Ramey AFB was closed by the Air Force as a military facility. The primary mission of Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is search & rescue. Secondary missions include law enforcement, aerial support for ATON, and logistic support. To accomplish these missions, the Air Station has four HH-65A helicopters and four HU-25A jets. CGAS Borinquen consists of two runways (the primary runway, 8/26, 11,700' long, is still maintained), a very large former B-52 dispersal parking area, ramps & numerous hangars. In addition to the Coast Guard facility, the former Ramey AFB flight line is now operated as a ge... read more

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