Rosy roads
Published 9:37 am Friday, September 12, 2014
by Archie Howell
It’s about seven and a half hours from Jacksonville to Roosevelt Roads NAS, on Puerto Rico’s east coast. It’s a world away otherwise. Spanish is the primary language, but it’s not difficult to get around with English (most of the island is bilingual to some degree). Its tropical climate is not much different from Florida’s, with the exception of rain. Puerto Rico is one climatic zone south and has mountains; that means that the island has significant variations of rainfall and wind velocity.
The U.S. Air Force has laid claim to the northwestern corner of Puerto Rico. A Strategic Air Command Wing operates from Ramey Air Force Base for its job during the Cold War. It’s a seriously powerful unit, with B-52s and associated tanker aircraft. Things have cooled off a bit the last year or so, but the air force still maintains a certain vigilance from this tropical island.
The largest city and seaport, San Juan is on the north coast in the eastern third; the second largest is Ponce, on the south shore, in the western third. A straight line between them bisects the island.
Roosevelt Roads NAS is located on the eastern shore. Virtually all our flights will be over water to the east. We’ll become very familiar with islands little known to most people. Anguilla, St. Martin, Antigua and Barbuda, all the windward islands, especially Barbados, will become navigational waypoints and provisional landing airports during hurricane season. A special provision, by international agreement, grants landing rights to hurricane hunters. It’s in everyone’s interest to be informed about hurricanes.
I’m settled in as Officer in Charge of our detachment. I’ve checked out my allowed truck from the motor pool, and acquainted myself with the routine of operations. As aircraft deploy here during season, they bring a small contingent of support personnel. Flight crews will seek out the storms; support personnel will care for the aircraft when it returns from a mission. That way, we can operate with minimal disturbance and burden to permanent station personnel. We even bring cooks to help with food preparation. We are assigned shop space for aircraft maintenance. It’s a well tried and true way of doing things.
I provide transportation for officer crews to and from the flight line for operations. While aircraft are airborne, my duties are almost nil. Communications and monitoring duties with the aircraft are handled by the National Hurricane Center. I only check in every hour or so with my local communications office.
Most missions are 8-10 hours in duration, depending on whether or not a tropical disturbance has turned into something more menacing. Early morning departures are the norm, with most weather aberrations located at the maximum range of our aircraft. The earlier the discovery, the better for defensive planning for everyone in the storm’s path. Here on Puerto Rico, we are not the first impacted. Those island countries to our east will be first.
I become familiar with the swimming pool and beach area, and other station amenities. During days between flights, crew members and I travel inland and visit Luquillo Beach, one of the most beautiful and underutilized that I’ve seen. It’s on the northern coast, about ten miles from Rosy Roads. The beach is easily accessible with a very long, relatively unused portion to the east. Palm trees line the beach and trade winds keep the temperature stable. It’s a real pleasure.
A little more distant and time consuming adventure is El Yunque National Forest. It is the only tropical rain forest in the national park system. Roads are good and not well traveled. We seem to be the only vehicle for miles at a stretch. Our car climbs from flatlands to mountain switchbacks in a short distance. True to its name, it rains frequently and heavily during our ascent, but the views are wonderful and we arrive at Coca Falls not the worse for wear. This falls is beautiful and convenient; direct access is from the parking lot. None of us brought swimming suits; it’s a mistake. We enjoy the sight of other people enjoying a swim in the natural pool below the falls, and return to Rosy Roads. It’s a good day.
Still somewhat new to the squadron, I enjoy visiting with each crew as they arrive, get temporarily settled in, perform their flying duties and depart. I am introduced to musicians, merrymakers, and the less boisterous, all in the guise of hurricane hunters. I am the constant in this operation.
Time seems to move slower here; people do, also. Trade winds and tropical night rains are a pleasant change from Adak. For my tenure, I adapt quickly to the pace but am, nonetheless, happy to return to Jacksonville. My next visits will be as a crewmember.
JAMES D. “ARCHIE” HOWELL is a Southampton County native and 1955 graduate of Franklin High School. He can be reached at archiepix@kingwoodcable.com