| Unit Name: | 517th Airlift Squadron |
| Dates: | 1940–1945; 1947–1948; 1952–1954; 1961–present |
| Role: | Airlift |
| Command Structure: | Pacific Air Forces |
| Garrison: | Elmendorf Air Force Base |
| Nickname: | Firebirds[1] |
| Motto: | Versatile Capable (1970-1999) |
| Battles: | Operation Husky Operation Dragoon Vietnam War[2] |
| Decorations: | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 517th Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 16 February 1999) |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | 17 Tactical Airlift Sq emblem (approved 19 August 1970)[3] |
| Identification Symbol 3 Label: | 17th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem (approved 29 March 1962)[4] |
| Identification Symbol 4 Label: | 17th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem (World War II)[5] |
The 517th Airlift Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force, Pacific Air Forces 3d Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska. It operates Beechcraft C-12 Huron and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing airlift in the Pacific theater.
The 517th Airlift Squadron provides airlift operating Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Beechcraft C-12F Huron aircraft. Supporting worldwide airlift, airdrop, airland requirements while providing airlift for theater deployed forces and resupply of remote Alaskan long-range radar sites in support of United States Pacific Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command, and United States Transportation Command. Provides aircrew qualification training for the U.S. Air Force.
Activated in December 1940 as the 17th Transport Squadron flying Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft. It trained under I Troop Carrier Command for combat operations. In July 1942, redesignated 17th Troop Carrier Squadron. It was assigned to VIII Air Support Command of Eighth Air Force and deployed to England in August 1942, providing transport to the newly established U.S. Army Air Forces.[2]
The squadron was transferred to Algiers, Algeria in November 1942, and attached, being later assigned to Twelfth Air Force as part of the North African Campaign. The squadron's aircraft flew supplies to front-line units in Algeria and Tunisia as soon as suitable landing strips were available and evacuated casualties back to rear area field hospitals. A flight of the squadron deployed to Tenth Air Force in India during the fall of 1942, to assist in the resupply of Brigadier General Frank Merrill and his men, affectionately known as "Merrill's Marauders". It was during this Ceylon, Burma, India campaign that the squadron received its first Distinguished Unit Citation, returning to Tunisia by the end of the year. During WW II, members of a C-47 crew of the 17th Troop Carrier Squadron were credited with downing an enemy plane after they were attacked by Japanese fighter planes while on a mission near the Indo-Burmese border.[6]
The squadron moved to Sicily, dropping airborne forces onto the island during Operation Husky, then moved to forward airfields in Italy during 1943 as part of the Italian Campaign. Just prior to D Day, part of the 16th left India for Italy to tow gliders into France on D Day.
In July 1944, the detached unit was joined by the remainder of the 16th at Ciampino Airport, Italy and as the European Theater closed in on Germany, part of the 16th again went on detached service to Rosignano Airfield, Italy, operating resupply missions to Greek partisans during September and October 1944.
In the fall of 1944, it moved to France in support of Operation Anvil, the Allied invasion of Southern France, and supported ground forces moving north through the Rhone Valley to link up with Allied forces moving east from Normandy. Returned to Northern Italy in early 1945, supporting the drive into the Po River Valley and the end of combat in Italy during May 1945. The squadron also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals.
In late May 1945, after V-E Day, the squadron moved to Waller Field, Trinidad and was attached to Air Transport Command. From Trinidad, the squadron ferried returning military personnel to Morrison Field, Florida, where they were sent on to other bases or prepared for separation after the war. The squadron was inactivated at the end of July 1945.[2]
It was activated but unmanned from 1947–1948. When reactivated again in the 1960 it resupplied Distant Early Warning Line sites in Northern Canada and radar sites in Greenland. Parts of the squadron deployed to South Vietnam from 1967-1968 to provide tactical airlift. It provided intratheater airlift within Alaska including support to forward operating bases, airland/airdrop of troops, equipment and supplies, and Search and rescue as required. It provided Lockheed C-130 Hercules crews for Pacific airlift to the Middle East for Operation Desert Shield, from August to November 1990.[2]
Redesignated the 517th Airlift Squadron on 1 Apr 1992, it has provided worldwide combat airdrop, tactical air/land, operational support airlift, airlift for theater deployed forces and resupply of remote Alaskan long-range radar sites in support of Pacific Air Forces. It has provided continuous rotational airlift and airdrop support in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2004. The 517th, flying C-130H1s, was among first United States units to participate in relief efforts following the 2004 Asian tsunami that occurred on 26 December 2004.[2]
Activated on 11 December 1940
Redesignated 17th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942
Inactivated on 31 July 1945
Inactivated on 10 September 1948
Activated on 14 July 1952
Inactivated on 21 July 1954
Organized on 8 February 1961
Redesignated 17th Troop Carrier Squadron on 8 December 1965
Redesignated 17th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 September 1967
Redesignated 517th Airlift Squadron on 1 April 1992[2] [7]
Operated from Maison Blanche Airport, Algiers, Algeria, 11 November–December 1942
Operated from bases in India, 7 April–June 1944
Operated from Istres/Le Tubé Airfield (Y-17),[9] France, 7 September–11 October 1944
Operated from Brindisi Airfield, Italy, 29 March–13 May 1945