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General Information About Soto Cano Air Base

Borinquen, which would eventually become Soto Cano Air Base, became operational as a military station for the first time in September 1939. Construction work then started on administrative buildings, housing units and a hospital.

The first Puerto Rican troops arrived at the site in mid-September from Henry Barracks, Cayey and were assigned to Company B, 65th Infantry - they set up tents on what later became Aircraft Hangar 5.

On January 1st 1942, most of the temporary facilities first constructed at the field had been converted to permanent ones, making the base an important operating center for Army forces and USAAF units.

By March 1943, the field was under the control of Army's Antilles Department and Caribbean Air Command. There were numerous specialized units at this field such as weather reconnaissance detachments, coastal artillery firing units and air transport squadrons as well as support and maintenance organizations.

At its height in 1943, this field served as one of the primary depots for the 25th Air Depot Group of the Army and had repaired and serviced 1,982 aircraft by closing.

In 1945, this base played a vital part in Operation Big Slam/Puerto Pine - one of the largest peacetime air transport movements ever undertaken by U.S. Army forces - moving 21,000 troops and 11 tons of equipment from across America into Puerto Rico before returning them back home again.

The main base area, featuring runways and a 500,000-gallon water storage tank, can be found at 18 degrees 30'N 67 degrees 8'W on the northwest corner of Borinquen. San Juan lies 60 miles west, while Aguadilla (the nearest town) lies six miles north. A paved road from Aguadilla leads directly to Borinquen; both car and truck access can be easily achieved from there.