| Unit Name: | 317th Airlift Squadron |
| Dates: | 1943–1944; 1944–1946; 1964–1974; 1992–present |
| Role: | Airlift |
| Command Structure: | Air Force Reserve Command |
| Current Commander: | Lieutenant Colonel John Gurrieri |
| Garrison: | Charleston Air Force Base |
| Battles: | China-Burma-India Theater[1] |
| Decorations: | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 317th Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 15 March 1968, revised 23 September 1999) |
The 317th Airlift Squadron (317 AS) is part of the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission worldwide. It continues the histories of three squadrons with airlift missions that bear the number 317.
The mission of the 317th Airlift Squadron is to recruit, train, and support combat ready aircrews in order to meet global taskings.
The 317th was first activated as a transport squadron during World War II and airlifted cargo and mail for the Eighth Air Force within the United Kingdom from 1943 to 1944.[1]
The squadron's second activation was as a troop carrier unit. After training in the United States, it moved overseas and airlifted troops and cargo in India and Burma from 11 November 1944 to about August 1945. Through its first eight months in theater, the squadron flew Chinese troops, horses, and mules over The Hump, air dropped supplies, and evacuated wounded.[2] The squadron arrived in theater at a time when British troops were on the offensive in the Chindwin Valley. Because only a few forward airfields were available, a large amount of supplies for these troops had to be airdropped to them. The squadron also airlanded at the forward airfields and evacuated wounded aiding the ground troops in the successful outcome of the campaign.[2]
In December 1944, a decision was made to airlift an entire Chinese division and all of its equipment over The Hump to respond to the Japanese capture of Guilin, which threatened the lifeline to China. The 317th, along with other transport squadrons, spent most of its efforts until 6 January 1945 in supporting this operation, for which it received commendations from the commanding generals of Army Air Forces, India Burma Theater and Tenth Air Force.[2]
The squadron then turned its efforts toward Burma, while its glider section trained British glider pilots.[2] In February, planning was made for glider operations from Sinthe to seize airfields in the Meiktila area. However, British forces seized the airstrip at Thabutkon and after one of the squadron's gliders had landed to inspect the field the squadron began operations to airlift an Indian brigade into the field.[2] For this assault landing the squadron was awarded an arrowhead for its campaign ribbon.[3] In April, the squadron glider section landed eight gliders loaded with engineering equipment into the Lewe airfield to level the field for aircraft operation. An attack the following day by Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar" fighters resulted in the destruction of five of the gliders.[2] This operation earned the squadron a second arrowhead.[3]
In May 1945, British and Indian forces had driven forward and were closing in on Rangoon. It was determined to conduct an airborne assault to the south of Rangoon to capture or destroy Japanese gun positions. The 317th dropped Gurkha paratroopers at Elephant Point in the first combat airdrop in Asia.[2] The squadron converted from a commando unit in September and provided aerial transportation for US and allied units in China briefly after the war until November 1945.[3]
The squadron was again activated as a special operations airlift unit at Hurlburt Field with a mission of training C-123 Provider aircrews for combat in the Vietnam War in 1964. In 1966, the 317th moved to England AFB and a few months later converted to training crews involved in other forms of special air warfare until 1973.[1]
Since reactivation in the Air Force Reserve in the spring of 1992, the squadron has flown worldwide airlift missions. It flew humanitarian airlift missions to Washington DC and New York City, NY, after the terrorist attack on the US, 11 September 2001.[1]
317th Transport Squadron[1]
Activated on 28 October 1943
Disbanded on 9 April 1944
317th Troop Carrier Squadron[3]
Activated on 1 May 1944
Redesignated as 317th Troop Carrier Squadron on 29 September 1945
Inactivated on 28 February 1946
317th Airlift Squadron[1]
Organized on 1 July 1964
Redesignated as 317th Air Commando Squadron, Utility on 15 June 1966
Redesignated as 317th Special Operations Squadron on 8 July 1968
Inactivated on 30 April 1974
Activated on 1 April 1992
Redesignated as 317th Airlift Squadron on 1 October 1994
From:[1]
Detachment operated from Tulihal, India, 11 November 1944 – 18 November 1944
Detachments operated from Dinjan, India, 8 January 1945 – 13 January 1945, and Bikram, 22 January 1945 – 30 January 1945
A detachment operated from Akyab, Burma, 29 April 1945 – 1 May 1945, and Comilla, India, 3 May 1945 – 20 May 1945
From:[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
1 June 1964 – June 1965
15 April 1970 – 15 April 1971
1 July 1993 – 30 June 1995
1 July 1995 – 30 June 1997
1 July 1998 – 30 June 2000
1 September 1998 – 31 August 2000
11 September 2001 – 30 September 2003
1 August 2005 – 31 July 2007
India-Burma
China Defensive
Central Burma with two Arrowheads
China Offensive
From:[1]