Bomber Plane at the Borinquen Field Airport

CJHO0160

Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín > Sección X, Serie 3, Colección José H. Orraca

Aguadilla

1941

Title assigned by the cataloging team. The front of the image has a printed inscription.

The Douglas B-18A bomber at Borinquen Field in Aguadilla encapsulates a complex legacy of US military presence, from 1898 into World War II. When the first Douglas B-18 heavy bomber arrived November 27, 1939, an enormous crowd had gathered to cheer its arrival. The bomber, and its base, represented a major investment in Aguadilla by the US government. That influx of money, however, would not benefit the local economy in the way that residents had hoped. While the base brought economic transformation to Puerto Rico, with millions invested and a surge in purchasing power, its history also underscores the darker aspects of military occupation and land appropriation. Rapid buildup and immense cost hint at the prioritization of military infrastructure over social needs and sustainable growth. The applause for the planes landing symbolizes a moment of triumph, but it masks the negative impact of the base on local communities. The proliferation of bars, restaurants, and the shadow of prostitution that came in the wake of the airfield’s construction highlight the social disruptions caused by territorial appropriation, revealing the human cost behind defense spending and economic development.

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Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín

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