Ramey Air Force Base 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 . In addition to some military Reserve Component activity from the U . S . Army Reserve and , the Puerto Rico Army and 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 . Many Federal law enforcement agencies have presence at the former Ramey base and here is also civilian general aviation use of the airfield , now known as Rafael Hernandez International Airport . 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 : Cold War era . 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 . 1950 – 1953 ( 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing , Medium ) ( RB - 50 ) ( KB - 29 ) 1953 – 1955 ( 72nd Strategic Reconnaissance Wing , Heavy ) , ( B - 36 Peacemaker ) was established at Ramey AFB during 1953 . The 72nd did not become operational until the last elements of the 55TH SRW were absorbed by the newly established wing . ( 72d Bombardment Wing , Heavy ) 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 . Base closing . Throughout 1972 , Ramey AFB deactivated and the various units readied for closure . Some groups transferred out intact , while others gradually were phased out . The Air Force controlled the base until early 1974 , when all remaining active units were dissolved . The Base had been formally closed in 1973 . The main installation of Ramey AFB consisted of 3 , 139 . 55 acres . In February , 1974 , the bulk of Ramey AFB proper ( 3 , 138 acres ) was declared excess by the General Services Administration ( GSA ) . In July , 1974 , the Air Force transferred 303 acres to the Navy . Of the remaining 257 acres , the Navy transferred 57 + acres to the Army , and 129 acres to the Coast Guard . In December 1974 , the Air Force transferred 21 acres of land to the Coast Guard , which still utilizes the area . Closing and current use . Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen . In 1971 , the United States Coast Guard relocated its aviation units from U . S . Naval Air Station Isla Grande in San Juan , Puerto Rico and established the Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen . United States Coast Guard fact sheets and historical documents state that the U . S . Coast Guard took possession of , " . . . an outstanding hangar with adjacent support facilities , " from the Air Force . Air Station Borinquen consist of many facilities around the former Ramey Base , this are a Coast Guard housing area formerly U . S . Air Force housing , a Coast Guard recruiting office , Medical Health Clinic and Dental Clinic , Base Library , Community Center , Swimming Pool , a Coast Guard Exchange PX , a Gymnasium and other fitness facilities , Base Chapel , Movie Theater , Child Development Center , and a Boys and Girls Club . 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 . In the late 1970s the base was given to the town of Aguadilla for its care . During the late 1970s and early 1980s most of the old military housing area was sold off to the general public . A few base buildings were converted into government agencies . The base old military hospital was converted into a three star hotel and now is one of the most visited hotels on the west side of the island . 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 - 130 H / J Hercules and HU - 25 Falcon aircraft normally based at other Coast Guard Air Stations . CGAS Borinquen consists of two runways ( the primary runway , 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 . U . S . Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is under the direct command of the 7th U . S . Coast Guard District in Miami , Florida . 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 . The Punta Borinquen Light house located at the former Ramey Air Force Base is now lodging facility of Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen . Borinquen Guest Cottages is operated by the air station Morale , Welfare and Recreation Guest Housing office . The Department of Defense Education Activity Ramey School located at 201 Arch Road educates the children of members of the U . S . Coast Guard stationed at Air Station Boriquen as well the children of federal employees and U . S . Department of Homeland Security Agents . U . S . Army Reserve & National Guard . The U . S . Military Reserve Component occupy some parts of the former Air Force Base such as the U . S . Army Reserve Center located at Cliff Road is home for the 210th Regional Support Group , the 246th Mortuary Affairs Company the only mortuary affair unit in the U . S . Army Reserve , the 91st Chaplain Detachment , 77th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion , 266th Ordenance Company , 311 Quartermaster Company , 35th Expeditionary Signal Battalion Bravo Company and the 613 Military Police Company . The Puerto Rico Army National Guard , The 770th Military Police Company and the 130th Engineer Battalion Alpha Company are located at Ramey . Punta Borinquen Radar Station is a Puerto Rico Air National Guard installation located next to Punta Borinquen Golf Course at the former U . S . Air Force Base and is home for the 141st Air Control Squadron . There is also NGX PX at Punta Borinquen Radar Station . Federal Law Enforcement . The U . S . Department of Homeland Security federal law enforcement agencies have a very significant presence in the area such as the U . S . Customs and Border Protection , The U . S . Border Patrol Ramey Sector at 722 Belt St conduct operations from the former Air Force base . The U . S . Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Immigration Detention Center is located at 505 Gun Road . A Federal Bureau of Investigation field office is also at Ramey . Ramey AFB Historical Association and veterans organizations . The Ramey AFB Historical Association is an organization formed to preserve the rich history of the former Ramey AFB , Aguadilla , Puerto Rico . The Borinquen Field - Ramey AFB Museum was established in 2007 for the purpose of pursuing the Ramey AFB Historical Association objectives : To promote the historical significance of Borinquen Field – Ramey AFB as it existed between 1939 and 1973 and maintain a repository and place of safekeeping for documents , photographs , items and remembrance of Borinquen Field / Ramey AFB as it existed between 1939 and 1973 . The Ramey Historical Association also gatther reunions for Ramey AFB Veterans and their families . National veterans organizations can be foud at the former Air Force installation such as The American Legion Mayor Rafael Sanchez Saliva , Post 150 Aguadilla , PR and Military Order of the Purple Heart – Chapter 660 located at 506 Gun RD . Some military retirees settled in the Ramey area because of the golf course , post exchange and other facilities they are entitled to use at U . S . Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen and at Punta Borinquen Radar Station . Job Corps . The United States Department of Labor Ramey Job Corps Central Campus is located at Belt St . Building # 760 . This facility has an Administration Office , Wellness Center , Female Dormitory , Male Dormitory , Cafeteria and Classrooms . Rafael Hernandez Airport . Is an airport located at the former Air Force Base in Aguadilla , Puerto Rico . It is named after the Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernández Marín . The airport is the second international airport in Puerto Rico in the region of Porta del Sol , Puerto Rico ' s west coast . In 1988 , Rafael Hernández Airport started to surface as an alternative to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport , when Carnival Air Lines and ATA began jet services . In the 1990s , American Airlines joined those two airlines . Later on , Pan Am and TWA also came . In 2000 , North American Airlines re - opened passenger service with a non - stop flight to New York - JFK three times a week . Later on Continental Airlines joined North American with a daily flight to their hub in Newark . The evident success of service from the Aguadilla , caught the attention of Boston - Maine Airways that opened a route to Orlando - Sanford and Santo Domingo . Rafael Hernandez Airport continued expanding for the next several years with addition of Jet Blue Airways with 2 daily flights to New York - JFK and Orlando , Florida . Delta Air Lines Connection began regional jet service to Atlanta , Georgia five times a week . Spirit Airlines began service from the airport to their hub in Fort Lauderdale , Florida with a flight five times a week during the summer . In 2007 , The Rafael Hernandez Airport control tower was renovated . By the low season of 2007 there were 59 flights per week , 1 daily flight to New York , 1 to Newark and Orlando and a flight 5 times per week to Ft . Lauderdale . FedEx also has a terminal at this airport . The Governor of Puerto Rico , Luis Fortuño , announced at the International Fair of Tourism , in Madrid , that charter flights to the Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona will commence on March 2011 . The flights will begin in a weekly basis for a period of 6 months with goals of permanent service to the European cities . The flight to Madrid will be on Saturdays , while the one to Barcelona will be on Sundays . They will be on a Boeing 767 with capacity for 214 passengers in a 18 / 196 configuration . University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla campus . The University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla is one of eleven campuses in the University of Puerto Rico system . The campus was originally established in 1972 and moved in 1975 to its actual location in a 35 . 86 acres of land at the former Ramey Air Force Base . The University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla offers Bachelor Degrees in Science in Environmental Technology , Bachelor of Arts in Education with a concentration in English and multimedia technology , Bachelor in Business Administration with concentrations in human resources , Computerized Information Systems , Accounting , Marketing and Finances and Bachelor of Science in Biology with emphasis in Bioinformatics and Biomedical Quality Systems Assessment Process Industries . Marriott Courtyard Aguadilla . Marriott International opened a Courtyard by Marriott brand hotel at the former Ramey Air Force Base Hospital building at West Parade / Belt Road . This hotel has a casino and many facilities such as 4 restaurants , Bars , Game Room , Fitness Center and Pools with Aquatic Playground . Punta Borinquen Golf Course . The Ramey AFB golf course was one of president Dwight D . Eisenhower favorites golf courses . When the Air Force left Ramey this became the first public golf course in Puerto Rico . This 18 hole golf course is set atop a cliff with a great view Atlantic Ocean . Punta Borinquen Golf Course is a very popular golfing spot for west Puerto Rico residents , tourists and members of the U . S . Coast Guard stationed at Air Station Borinquen .