Iraklion Air Station

Iraklion Air Station
Part of Air Force Intelligence Command (AFIC)
Located adjacent to Gournes, Crete

Emblem of 7276th Air Base Group
Iraklion AS
Location of Iraklion Air Station, Crete
Coordinates 35°19′48″N 025°17′07″E / 35.33000°N 25.28528°E / 35.33000; 25.28528
Type Military Air Station
Site information
Controlled by United States Air Force
Site history
Built 1954
In use 1954- 1993
Garrison information
Garrison 7276th Air Base Group

Iraklion Air Station was a United States Air Force facility located 16 kilometers (9.9 mi) east of the city of Iraklion near the village of Gournes, in the north central section of the Greek island of Crete.

History

Major commands to which assigned

Detachment 2, 34 Radio Squadron Mobile, USAFSS, 1953-1955

Major units assigned

Redesignated: 6931st Security Group (SG) 1 July 1963-1 October 1978
Redesignated: 6931st Electronic Security Squadron (ESS), 1 October 1979-30 September 1993

Operational history

A non-flying facility, Iraklion Air Station (Iraklion AS) began operations in support of activities of the 1603rd Air Transport Wing and other USAFE liaison operations in Crete beginning on 5 October 1954. The base also supported units of USAFSS, USAFE and NATO as directed. The base provided administrative and logistical support to the 6931st Electronic Security Squadron, as well as policy guidance in administrative, logistical and support matters for all regular and other tenant organizations at Iraklion AS, and as well as other dispersed U.S. Department of Defense units located on the island of Crete from October 1, 1978, until the closure of the base in 1994. Iraklion AS also provided liaison and base support services for the United States Embassy located in Athens, Greece.

Since the station's closure in 1994, the facility has been abandoned and appears to have been looted and vandalized. It is in an unkept state being taken over by weeds. Currently, an aquarium known as the Cretaquarium, a dinosaur park and an exhibition center are housed at the site.

References

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