In the Spring and Summer of 1963 VR-24 moved its base of operations from NAS Port Lyautey, Morocco to Naval Station Rota, Spain. The move marked not only the end of an era of operations from a homebase on the African Continent, but also a sea change in the mode of operations. The Lockheed GRV-1/C-130 Hercules, which had been added to VR-24's inventory in the Spring of 1962, enabled the squadron to complete missions in and around the Mediterranean area in much less time than was possible with the older and slower R5Ds and R4Qs, and even R6Ds which were flown by VR-24 only while based at Rota. C-130 flights to and from Naples were routinely completed in one day, elimating the need for flight crews to RON at Naples as had been the case. The C-130's longer range and higher speed also enabled VR-24 to provide support to U.S. Fleet operations farther afield. Dets were sent from Rota to the Pacific and South Eeast Asia. The squadron's other primary mission, direct COD support to U.S. Navy ships at sea, did not change at this time. However, its capability to meet that requirement was vastly improved when another new aircraft, the C-2 Greyhound, was added to the squadron inventory while VR-24 was based at Rota. Nine years later, in 1972, VR-24's command headquarters shifted from Rota to Naples, consolidating COD opeations there. VR-24 Det Rota became the squadron's permanent detachment, focusing on C-130 opeations. Some would argue that the character of the squadron itself underwent a fundamental change while at Rota, and perhaps it did. What did not change, then or later, however, as most former members of VR-24 would agree, was the adventure and desirability of duty in VR-24 and its detachments.