517th Airlift Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 517th Airlift Squadron


caption= 517th Airlift Squadron Patch
dates= 20 November 1940 - 31 July 1945
19 May 1947 - 10 September 1948
14 July 1952 - 21 July 1954
24 October 1960 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Airlift
role=
size=
command_structure= Pacific Air Forces
11th Air Force
3d Wing
3d Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Elmendorf Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Firebirds
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Husky
Operation Dragoon
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations= Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
battle_honours=

The 517th Airlift Squadron (517 AS) is part of the 3d Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It operates C-12 Huron and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing airlfit in the Pacific theater.

Mission

The 517th Airlift Squadron provides tactical airlift operating C-17 and C-12F/J 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 PACOM, NORAD, and TRANSCOM. Provides aircrew qualification training for the U.S. Air Force.

History

During World War II the squadron participated in airborne assaults on Sicily and Southern France, support for partisans in Northern Italy from January-May 1945, aerial transportation in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, and briefly in the China-Burma-India Theater. The squadron was deactivated following the war.

It was activated but unmanned from 1947-1948. When reactivated again in the 1960 it resupplied Distant Early Warning (DEW) 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 C-130 aircraft and crews for Pacific airlift to Southwest Asia, August-November 1990. Since 1992 the 517th 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 PACAF. It has provided continuous rotational airlift and airdrop support in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2004. The 517th was among first responders to Asian tsunami that occurred on 26 December 2004.

Operations

*World War II
*Vietnam War
*Operation Desert Shield
*Operation Enduring Freedom
*Operation Iraqi Freedom

Lineage

*17th Transport Squadron (1940 - 1942)
*17th Troop Carrier Squadron (1942 - 1952)
*17th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1952 - 1965)
*17th Troop Carrier Squadron (1965 - 1967)
*17th Tactical Airlift Squadron (1967 - 1992)
*517th Airlift Squadron (1992 - Present)

Assignments

*64th Troop Carrier Group (1940 – 1945, 1947 – 1948, 1952 – 1954)
*Tactical Air Command (1960 - 1961)
*64th Troop Carrier Wing (1961 - 1963)
*516th Troop Carrier Wing (1963 – 1964)
*5040th Air Base Wing (1964 - 1966)
*21st Composite Wing (1966 – 1975)
*22nd Air Force (1975)
*616th Military Airlift Group (1975 – 1992)
*3d Wing (1992 - Present)

Bases stationed

*McClellan Field, California (1940 - 1941)
*Hamilton Field, California (1941 - 1942)
*Westover Field, Massachusetts (1942)
*RAF Ramsbury England (1942)
*RAF Greenham Common, England (1942)
*Blida, Algeria (1942 - 1943)
*Kairouan, Tunisia (1943)
*El Djem, Tunisia (1943)
*Milo, Sicily (1943)
*Comiso, Sicily (1943 - 1944)
**Air Echelon: Lalmia, India (7 April - 9 June 1944)
*Ciampino, Italy (1944 - 1945)
**Operated From: Istres, France (8 September - 11 November 1944)
*Rosignano Airfield, Italy (1945)
*Waller Field, Trinidad (1945)
*Langley Field, Virginia (1947 - 1948)
*Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina (1952 - 1954)
*Dyess Air Force Base, Texas (1961 - 1964)
*Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska (1964 - Present)

Aircraft Operated

*C-47 Skytrain (1941 – 1945)
*C-82 Packet (1952 – 1953)
*C-119 Flying Boxcar (1953 – 1954)
*C-130 Hercules (1961 – 2007)
*C-124 Globemaster II (1970 – 1971)
*C-12 Huron (1992 – Present)
*C-17 Globemaster III (2007 – Present)

References

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0517as.asp USAF 517th Airlift Squadron History]
* [http://www.elmendorf.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7714 517th Airlift Squadron Fact Sheet]

External links