17th Airlift Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 17th Airlift Squadron


caption= 17th Airlift Squadron Patch
dates= 18 February 1942 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Airlift
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Mobility Command
18th Air Force
437th Airlift Wing
437th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Charleston Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= AAA Moving
patron=
motto= Anything, Anywhere, Anytime
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 17th Airlift Squadron is one of 4 active duty C-17A Globemaster III squadrons at Charleston AFB, SC.

The 17th Airlift Squadron is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel, who serves as head of the squadron and the pilots. The Chief Loadmaster is in charge of the loadmasters, and the First Sergeant takes charge of the few support military personnel and civilians working in the squadron.

The 17th was responsible for being the first unit to set up forward deployed C-17 staging operations, in the start of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, creating the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (EAS) .

Recently, the 17th Airlift Squadron stepped up to the plate again and created another EAS. For the first time in history, two C-17 Squadrons became deployed in forward theater locations, supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. The 817th Area of Responsibility split. On June 1, 2006, the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron was created and launched its first crew 15 minutes later.

Unlike previous C-17 deployments, this one actually had the squadron itself doing all the flying from "an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia." The 17th helped initiate a whole new concept in C-17 operations in that this was the first time that the airframe was employed like traditional intratheater airlift assets such as the (C-130, C-21, C-12, or C-20). However, unlike traditional tactical airlift assets that are under the direct command of the theater commander, the 817th EAS is headquartered out of theater.

Lineage

Constituted 17th Air Corps Ferrying Squadron on 18 Feb 1942. Activated on 27 Apr 1942. Redesignated 17th Transport Squadron on 19 Mar 1943. Disbanded on 31 Oct 1943. Reconstituted, and redesignated 17th Air Transport Squadron, Medium, on 22 Mar 1954. Activated on 18 Jul 1954. Redesignated: 17th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 18 Jun 1958; 17th Military Airlift Squadron on 8 Jan 1966. Inactivated on 8 Apr 1969. Activated on 1 Aug 1987. Redesignated 17th Airlift Squadron on 1 Oct 1991.

Note: the 17th Airlift Squadron already existed at the time of redesignation as a C-130 squadron based out of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. This unit originated from the 17th Troop Carrier Squadron under Alaskan Air Command in 1964. The squadron was redesignated the 17th Tactical Airlift Squadron in 1966. The squadron was redesignated the 517th Airlift Squadron upon activation of the C-17 squadron that took its name. In January 2006 the 517th Airlift Squadron began its own transition from C-130s to C-17s with the final C-130 leaving the unit on 26 March 2007. [ [http://www.elmendorf.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7714 Fact Sheets : 517th Airlift Squadron : 517th Airlift Squadron ] ]

Assignments

Army Air Forces Ferrying Command (later, Air Transport Command), 27 Apr 1942; 11th Ferrying (later, 11th Transport) Group, 28 Jul 1942–31 Oct 1943. 1608th Air Transport Group, 18 Jul 1954; 1608th Air Transport Wing, 18 Jan 1963; 437th Military Airlift Wing, 8 Jan 1966–8 Apr 1969. 437th Military Airlift Wing, 1 Aug 1987; 437th Operations Group, 1 Oct 1991–.

tations

Hamilton Field, CA, 27 Apr 1942–31 Oct 1943. Charleston AFB, SC, 18 Jul 1954–8 Apr 1969. 1 Aug 1987–.

Aircraft

C-46, 1942–1943; C-47, 1942–1943. C-54, 1954–1958; C-124, 1958–1969. C-141, 1987–1989; C-17, 1989-.

Operations

World War II: Air Transport and aircraft delivery to the Pacific Theater. Worldwide Airlift beginning 1954. Missions to Southeast Asia, 1964–1969. Supported operations in Panama, 18–29 Dec 1989, and Southwest Asia, Aug 1990–Dec 1991. Continues to support operations in Afghanistan, Sep. 2001- present. Continues to support operations in Iraq, 2003- present. Supported Tsunami Relief in India and Sri Lanka. Supported Pakistan earth quake relief. Supported Katrina Relief in United States. Most recently supported the evacuation of American Citizens from Lebanon.

Awards and Decorations

ervice Streamers

World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers

Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

Panama, 1989–1990.

Decorations

* Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1963–1 Feb 1964; 11 Jul 1966–10 Jul 1967; 11 Jul 1967–10 Jul 1968; 11 Jul 1968–8 Apr 1969; 1 Jul 1988–30 Jun 1989; 1 Jul 1989–30 Jun 1990; 21 Sep 1989–31 Oct 1989.
* Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966–8 Apr 1969.

Emblem

On an Air Force Blue globe, grid lines White, issuing from the top of a White scroll, two hands flesh tone, winged at the wrists White, bearing supplies or cargo Air Force golden Yellow; outlines and details Air Force Blue throughout. MOTTO: ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME. Approved 27 Oct 1959 (K 11458).

ources

* [http://www.elmendorf.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7714 517th Airlift Squadron History] Elmendorf Air Force Base
* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/wwwroot/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0017as.html 17th Airlift Squadron Lineage] at the AFHRA
* [http://public.charleston.amc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6850 17th Airlift Squadron web site]
* [http://www.amc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123019887 817th Airlift Squadron] Air Mobility Command

References