Facilities at Athens
There were no hanger facilities. The area was designated Det #1 of the 7499th Support Group. The 7406th had two hotels in Glifada with two to a room. This was just north of Athens and the airport and across the road from a beautiful beach. Uniforms were not permitted off base.

1969-1972
In June 1969 Capt Walter Snyder assigned Operations Officer for Det 3 in Athens. In Dec 1969 aircraft 56-534 was turned over to the 4409th Support Squadron at Homestead AFB, FL. On 1 January 1970 LtCol Samuel I. Sifers, Jr. was assigned Sq Operations Officer. On 26th January 1970 LtCol Paul L. Smith was assigned Commander. Starting in May 1970 two missions per day were scheduled for Eastern Mediterranean Missions continuing through August 1970. This commitment resulted with 90 percent of the missions operating out of Athens. In the spring of 1970 the electrical shop installed Intruder Alarm System on all aircraft. In August 1970 the average mission duration was 7.5 hours. The ideal mission profile still showed 8.7 hours. Increases in aircraft basic weight, added at each IRAN, had reduced the allowable fuel load. IRAN was required on all mission aircraft every 18 months for radio calibration. 1959-62 = thicker skin panels & reinforcement to increase cabin pressure, 1962-63 two 450 gal fuel tanks installed in the life raft areas. These fuel tanks were not connected to the single point refueling system, they had to be filled over the wing, and pumped their fuel into the adjacent main fuel tanks. 1964-68 = four auxiliary seats installed on the left cargo door & two auxiliary seats installed fwd of the aft left exit door (fwd of the portable drinking water tank), Airline type toilets were reinstalled in place of the honey buckets. 1968 = sleeping bags installed in survival kits. The two LOX converters above the compartments were replaced with one converter.
Aircraft 56-0535 had the #2 radio compartment lined with lead sheets. This aircraft was called the “Lead Sled”. On 17 July 1971 Major Louis E. Bartrand was assigned as commander of Det. 3 at Athens. In July 1971 the 7406th Squadron was informed that all C-130A-II aircraft were to be replaced by C-130B-II aircraft from Yokota AB, Japan. In Aug 1971 aircraft 56-534 was returned to the 7406th Squadron.

C-130A-II date of departure:

• Sep 1971 aircraft 56-0525
• Dec 1971 aircraft 56-0534
• Dec 1971 aircraft 56-0535
• Jan 1972 aircraft 56-0541
• Jan 1972 aircraft 54-1637
• Feb 1972 aircraft 56-0540
• Feb 1972 aircraft 56-0538
• Apr 1972 aircraft 56-0484
• Apr 1972 aircraft 56-0530

C-130B-II acft arriving date:

• Nov 1971 aircraft 59-1537
• Dec 1971 aircraft 59-1535
• Dec 1971 aircraft 59-1524
• Dec 1971 aircraft 59-1528
• Dec 1971 aircraft 59-1530
• Jan 1972 aircraft 59-1527
• Apr 1972 aircraft 59-1533
• May 1972 aircraft 59-1532
• Jun 1972 aircraft 59-1531

1971-1974

On 10 September 1971 Lt. Col. Robert C. Burns was assigned commander of the 7406 Squadron.

In Oct 1971 six more crew members attended C-130E model school at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas.

On 1 Nov 1971 fund responsibility moved to the 322nd Tactical Airlift Wing.

In Nov the last pilot was sent to Little Rock AFB to attend C-130E training.
The first B model operational mission was scheduled for 1 January 1972.

On 15 November 1971 the 7406th Support Squadron was assigned to the 322nd TAC. Standardization - Evaluation function was now dissolved and control was now administered through Wing. The squadron appointed Major Robert Reneau as squadron Stan/Eval officer to help administer flight checks.

In the last half of 1971 over 50% of the missions were flown from Athens airport. At one point all available flight crews were sent to Athens due to increased mission requirements.

On 1st March 1972, the 7499th Support Group was inactivated.
In spring of 1972 ceased operations out of Naples.

On 25th April 1972 Lt. Col. Willis B. Conable was assigned Squadron Operations Officer and Capt. M. G. Whitaker was assigned Administrative Officer.

On 11 May 1972 maintenance & supply personnel of the 7406 Squadron were consolidated with the 322nd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

In early 1972 the aircraft scanner position (2nd flight engineer) was eliminated. In summer of 1972 the 7406th began operations out of Rota NAS, Spain.

On Nov 1972 Lt Col Marvin D. Bixby was assigned Squadron Operations Officer.

On January 1973 the 7406th squadron reported to the 322nd TAW as an
Operations Squadron.

On May 1973 Lt Col Peter T. Dicroce was appointed Squadron Commander.

By June of 1973 all operational missions were flown out of Athens. The mission of the squadron was reduced and four of the eight aircraft were assigned to the Air Force Reserve. The unit was flying only Med missions by this time mostly East Med.

In June 1973 the Baltic Sea area reconnaissance was assumed by SAC RC-135 acft from RAF Mildenhall, England.

On 14 June 1974 the squadron flew its last USAFE-scheduled mission.

On 26 June 1974 the last four C-130B-II aircraft 59-1524, 59-1531, 59-1532 & 59-1535 departed Rhein/Main AB for CONUS.

30 June 1974 the official date of inactivation. After deactivation of the 7406th Squadron the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SAC) at Offutt AFB, NE took over the East Med recon missions with RC-135 aircraft.