Ramey AFB Historical Association

[CoastieJohn]

Here's their website. It has alot of aircraft pics (and names) showing the various aircraft that have called Ramey home. It's a buffet of aircraft.

http://www.rameyafb.net/

When you get to the website, just click on these links to look at the historical pics and stories.

The Pre War Years

The War Years 1941-1945

Borinquen Field Renamed In 1948

The Cold War Years 1948-1972

[The Inspector]

Coastie John,
Thanks dude! What a treasure trove of info about another forgotten front in WW2 and the Cold War.

[JohnB]

There are several interesting oral histories from Ramey B-36 crew members in the Convair B-36 by Meyers K. Jacobsen.

In one, a former radar-nav talks abut the CO, General B. Harrison, who decreed that uniforms had to be worn at all times. If you wentto the BX on a Sturday, you had to be in uniform. If you went to the Officer's Club at night, you had to waer the black-tie uniform...a pre "Mess Dress" outfit for any AF Vets out there.
Today there would be a mutiny with heavy handed orders like that.

[Ken]

I can't tell you how timely this post is. My neighbor, CB Howard, recently passed (see Gone West thread) and I'm preparing a short presentation for his memorial on his Air Force service - he was a KB-29M flight engineer in the 55th at Ramey. The link to some representative photos are gold and the timing was perfect! Thanks!

Ken

[CoastieJohn]

As a Coastie, I had two tours there. Looking at the hanger from the early days with the old planes in it brings back memories of current times while I was there. My first tour (91-94) still had old DC's and Connies rumbling down the runaway doing cargo runs. The 2nd tour (98-00) was a great tour. I was married while down there but if you're a single guy....life can be very fulfilling. I did a bit of snorkling there and at the end of the runway they used to throw some old radials and recips off the cliff and into the ocean. It's cool to snorkle around these big engines. The inside of the cylinders are still bright and shiney even though the outer part of engines are now barnical encrusted. Folks still dive on the B-29 sitting just off the beach abit.

Anyway....you don't hear alot about Ramey AFB. It is an unspoken place with a big war history.