Puerto Rico

Full Name 121 Territory of Puerto Rico
Alliance Allies - Minor Member Nation or Possession
Possessing Power United States
Entry into WW2 8 Dec 1941
Population in 1939 1,826,300

Contributor:

ww2dbaseEuropeans first reached the island of Puerto Rico in 1493, and it was subsequently made a colony of Spain. At the end of the Spanish-American War of 1898, Spain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris, which transferred Puerto Rico to the United States. At the eve of WW2, Puerto Rico was governed as a unincorporated organized territory, with governors directly appointed by the US President. During the war, Puerto Rico served similar functions as the island of Oahu of the Territory of Hawaii, in which it hosted a large navy base (Roosevelt Roads) and several Army and Navy airfields. During the war, 65,034 Puerto Ricans served in the US military. Most of them served with the 295th and 296th Infantry Regiments of the US Army National Guard and the 65th Infantry Regiment of the US Army, serving in Europe, Pacific Islands, North Africa, and Panama Canal Zone. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico women were not initially accepted into military service; that changed in 1944 when the Army Nurse Corps finally opened its doors by recruiting about 200 Puerto Rican nurses. After the war, in 1947, Puerto Rico was given the right to democratically elect its own governor. In 1952, it was given commonwealth status, which allowed it to draft its own constitution.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Update: Mar 2017

People
del Valle, Pedro


Facilities
Borinquen FieldAir Base
Isla Grande Naval Air StationAir Base
Losey FieldAir Base
Roosevelt Roads Naval BaseNavy Base
Vega Baja Auxiliary AirdromeAir Base

Photographs

The US NavyUSS Langley, USS Mississippi, USS New Mexico, and others at anchor off Culebra island, Puerto Rico, 18 Mar 1926German built Focke-Wulf Fw-200 Condor passenger airliner of the German owned Sdeta Airline based in Ecuador during a stop at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico, 1939.German built Junkers Ju-52 passenger airliner of the German owned Scadta Airline based in Columbia during a stop at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico, 1939.
See all 44 photographs of Puerto Rico in World War II


Puerto Rico in World War II Interactive Map




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Stephen McKenna says:
29 Feb 2020 09:53:58 AM

I'm researching a great uncle of mine who may have carried out military work in Puerto Rico in '42/'43. I have his draft registration car which states as his employer 'War Department (engineering)'. He was 40 at the time so I doubt he was enlisted in the military. My research on the 'Ancestry' genealogy site generated immigration details only. I'd be interested to know of any other lines of query I could pursue. SMcK
2. Stephen McKenna says:
1 Mar 2020 10:55:20 AM

Just to add some clarity to my previous post. My great uncle was originally from Ireland and his name was Ulick James McKenna. His christian name is from the gaelic but maybe Norse in origin. He arrived in San Juan Puerto Rico by the USAT Thomas H Barry 5 Nov. 1941 and appears to have been posted there till July 1943. On being drafted he would have been 40 working for the 'War Department' in some engineering capacity. His previous employment history doesn't point to any skill, so he might just have been a paper shuffler. Impossible on the limited information to say whether he was involved in support work for the Airforce or the Navy. His DOB/D are: 01/09/1901 - 23/11/1948
3. Carlos Olivares says:
20 Aug 2020 11:43:03 AM

I am also looking for information on why WWII US army soldiers, from the States, would have been sent Puerto Rico.
My Grand Uncle was sent there after basic training around 1942-43.
4. S Sutherland says:
13 Dec 2022 06:43:52 PM

I am seeking flight path from San Juan PR to North Africa as it relates to January 24, 1943 missing flight:

Col. Walter Sumpter Smith, AC, Chief
of Transport and Facilities Division, Di-
rectorate of Air Support Command, Hq.,
AAF; Maj. Lewin B. Barringer, AO,
chief of the glider production and train-
ing unit, Division of Air Support Com-
mand, Hq., AAF; 1st Lt. John L. D’Azzo,
AC: 1st Lt. Anees K. Khoury, AC; 2nd
Lt. John T. Torrillo, AC; 2nd Lt. Albert
O. Bain, AC; 2nd tt. John G. Marvin,
AC; T. Sgt. Joseph Dragelis, AC; and
Sgt. John A. Miller, AC.

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See all 44 photographs of Puerto Rico in World War II


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