This airport was formerly the Ramey Air Force Base.
The current Rafael Hernández Airport began life as nearly 4,000 acres of sugar cane when it was purchased the first week of September 1939. By mid-October construction had begun on an airstrip to be called Borinquen Field. Throughout World War II, large guns were placed around the base to guard against any enemy ships and constant construction continued to further upgrade the base. In January of 1948 Borinquen was officially redesignated Ramey Air Force Base in honor of Brigadeer General Howard K. Ramey who lost his life in the Southwest Pacific in 1943.
During the Cold War this was an important Strategic Air Command installation. Flying B-52's, the 72nd Bombardment Wing was based at Ramey from 1959 until its deactivation in 1971. The base closed in 1973. Today Aeropuerto Rafael Hernández (named after a famous singer from nearby Aguadille) has the longest runway of any aviation facility in the Caribbean or South America. Based at the airport is the Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, and U.S. Customs and Immigration.
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The current Rafael Hernández Airport began life as nearly 4,000 acres of sugar cane when it was purchased the first week of September 1939. By mid-October construction had begun on an airstrip to be called Borinquen Field. Throughout World War II, large guns were placed around the base to guard against any enemy ships and constant construction continued to further upgrade the base. In January of 1948 Borinquen was officially redesignated Ramey Air Force Base in honor of Brigadeer General Howard K. Ramey who lost his life in the Southwest Pacific in 1943.
During the Cold War this was an important Strategic Air Command installation. Flying B-52's, the 72nd Bombardment Wing was based at Ramey from 1959 until its deactivation in 1971. The base closed in 1973. Today Aeropuerto Rafael Hernández (named after a famous singer from nearby Aguadille) has the longest runway of any aviation facility in the Caribbean or South America. Based at the airport is the Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, and U.S. Customs and Immigration.
a More Info Link: http://rameyafb.org