Spanish Bases

In September 1953 agreements were signed between the United States and Spain granting the US the right to construct and operate air and naval bases in Spanish territory. The Department of Defesnse planners quickly discovered that the select...ion of sites for airbases in Spain would be limited by the topography of the country, the second most mountainous in Europe. The sites selected for the installation stretched out roughly in a diagonal line from the southwest toward the northeast corner of the country.

From Rota to Zaragota the OICC Madrid was charged with building 20 major air and naval facilities with Rota being the crown jewel. Across the bay from Cadiz, Rota was the main terminal for the 485 mile underground fuel transportation system which supplied Air Force and Navy bases with aviation and motor fuel products.

Once the OICC Madrid completed its massive projects, the Seabees were tasked to deploy to Rota every year to support the air base and local community with public works projects and civic action programs. This tradition continues to this day with Seabees also using Rota as a launching point for their deployments to HOA and the Middle East.