During the Cold War, my father’s US AIr Force Unit was the 7406th Support Squadron. Stationed at Rhein/Main AFB, they shared runways with Frankfurt International Airport. Their mission primarily listened in to communications from aircraft flying along Eastern Bloc borders.
Early missions did photo mapping to be applied to Matador missle guidance systems, often flying at near tree
In September 1958, a mission flying out of Incirlik, Turkey, one of the unit’s C-130’s, strayed into Soviet controlled Armenia and was shot down. The 7406th lost a crew of six.
Detailed information on the aircraft and missions can be found here: http://www.7406supportsquadron.com/history/history1.asp