Misplaced Pages

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

317th Airlift Wing
Active	1948–1949; 1952–1993; 1997–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Part of	Air Mobility Command 18th Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Dyess Air Force Base
Motto(s)	"I Gain By Hazard"
Equipment	C-130 Hercules
Decorations	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Current commander	Col. James G. Young
Vice commander	Col. Steven P. Wick
Command Chief	CCM Arthur J. Williams IV
Insignia
317th Airlift Group emblem (Approved 15 May 1958)

The 317th Airlift Wing (317 AW) is a United States Air Force unit, stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Assigned to Air Mobility Command (AMC) Eighteenth Air Force, the 317 AW operates as a tenant unit at Dyess AFB, an installation under the control of the 7th Bomb Wing (7 BW) of the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).

Previously designated as the 317th Airlift Group (317 AG), the unit was redesignated as the 317th Airlift Wing (317 AW) on 6 July 2017.

The 317 AW is a "tactical" airlift organization, flying the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. Since December 2003, the 317th has been in a continuously deployed status in support of the Global War on Terrorism, with elements being deployed into combat areas. It has been engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF); Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), as well as supporting other Air Expeditionary units around the world.

During World War II, the unit's predecessor, the 317th Troop Carrier Group was one of the most highly decorated troop carrier units of the United States Army Air Forces.

Units

The 317 AW is composed of the following groups and squadrons:

• 317th Operations Group
  • 39th Airlift Squadron "Trail Blazers" (C-130J)
  • 40th Airlift Squadron "Screaming Eagles" (C-130J)
  • 317th Operations Support Squadron "War Hawks"
• 317th Maintenance Group
  • 317th Maintenance Squadron
  • 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

History

Cold War

317th Troop Carrier Wing was activated in Japan in 1948. Provided troop carrier and courier service in the Far East, 1948. As a result of Soviet blockade of Berlin, moved by ship from Japan to West Germany, December 1948— January 1949 and reassigned to USAFE.. Participated in Berlin Airlift, 9 January – 31 July 1949.

Became USAFE theater airlift organization. From July 1952 to April 1957 provided C-119 troop carrier and airlift service in support of USAFE, NATO, and UN, at same time participating in numerous exercises and humanitarian missions. Moved to France in April 1957, replacing 465th Troop Carrier Wing on 8 July From April 1963 to June 1964, provided C-130 airlift in support of USAFE, NATO, and UN.

Reassigned to "Tactical" Air Command and moved to Ohio in June 1964. Became involved in TAC's worldwide C-130 airlift operations, with airborne training a major responsibility.

In May 1967 the unit was redesignated the 317 Troop Carrier Wing and by 1971 it transferred to Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. Provided C-130 replacement training support for PACAF, October 1965— July 1971 and August— December 1971. Also provided C-123 combat crew training for the U.S. and Republic of Vietnam crews, September 1969— August 1971.

Reassigned to Military Airlift Command in December 1974. Pioneered in use of adverse weather aerial delivery system (AWADS) equipment in active combat operations in Southeast Asia, and from September 1977 to January 1988, trained aircrews in the AWADS for a C-130 squadron in Europe.

The 317th provided airlift, combat control, medical evacuation, and security police support for Operation Urgent Fury, the rescue and evacuation of American citizens from Grenada, October–November 1983.

Between 1983 and 1993, the 317th participated in training exercises, special assignment airlift missions, channel missions for Military Airlift Command and Air Mobility Command, and national airlift competitions. Crews and aircraft of assigned squadrons rotated periodically to England for European providing intra-theater airlift. It has Trained jointly with Army airborne forces from Fort Bragg, NC, tested container delivery system for parachute dropping of heavy equipment, deployed crews and aircraft worldwide as needed, and led C-130 Airborne Assault of Rio Hato for the Rangers and provided launch support out of Green Ramp at Pope Air Force Base for 2126 82d Airborne Division paratroopers on C-141s and follow on support airlift for airborne and special operations forces in Operation Just Cause in Panama.

Post Cold War era

After an Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, transported troops, equipment, and supplies to Southwest Asia as part of Operation Desert Shield and participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. In 1992, the Fighting 3-1-7 took part in humanitarian airlifts to Bosnia (Operation Provide Promise) and Somalia (Operation Provide Relief). It transported relief workers and supplies to Florida after Hurricane Andrew. As the Air Force continued to streamline its operations after the end of the Cold War, the 317th was inactivated at Pope Air Force Base in July 1993.

Four years after the inactivation, in April 1997, a transfer of all U.S. based C-130 aircraft to Air Mobility Command (AMC) resulted in the reactivation of the 317th as a group organization. From 1997 to present, deployed personnel and equipment worldwide to provide all phases of combat delivery, air-land, airdrop, airlift maintenance and recovery, operations support and deployable air mobility command and control.

In 2008, the 317 AG again supported Americans providing hurricane relief in Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, transporting patients and ambulatory personnel away from affected areas to temporary shelters.

Beginning 20 December 2003 and ending 20 March 2013, the 317th AG deployed for 3,378 continuous days in service to the United States at home and abroad.

On 25 July 2013, the 317 AG received its 28th and final Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, giving the Group the distinction of being the largest C-130J unit in the world.

In May 2014, crews and planes of the group deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, where they formed the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, supporting Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. During the deployment crews supported medical evacuations, disaster relief, humanitarian and airdrop operations. Operations included movement of the East Africa Response Force to forward positions.

On 19 February 2015, airmen of the 317th who had been deployed to Dakar, Senegal as part of Operation United Assistance, the US military support to the Agency for International Development in its response to contain the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa. The return of these airmen marked the first time since September 2013 that the entire group was together at its home station. At Dakar, the airmen had served as part of the 787th Air Expeditionary Squadron.

In July 2017, the unit was upgraded to wing status with the activation of the 317th Airlift Wing and concurrent establishment of the 317th Operations Group and 317th Maintenance Group.

Lineage

• Established as the 317th Troop Carrier Wing, on 10 August 1948

Activated on 18 August 1948

Inactivated on 14 September 1949

• Redesignated 317th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, on 3 July 1952

Activated on 14 July 1952

Inactivated on 25 September 1958

• Activated on 13 March 1963 (not organized)

Organized on 15 April 1963

Redesignated: 317th Troop Carrier Wing on 1 March 1966

Redesignated: 317th "Tactical" Airlift Wing on 1 May 1967

Redesignated: 317th Airlift Wing on 1 January 1992

Inactivated on 18 August 1993

• Redesignated 317th Airlift Group on 31 March 1997

Activated on 1 April 1997

• Redesignated 317th Airlift Wing on 6 July 2017

Assignments

Components

Group

• 317th Troop Carrier Group (later 317th "Tactical" Airlift, later 317th Operations Group): 18 August 1948 – 14 September 1949 (attached to 7480th Air Force Wing 21 September 1948 – 8 January 1949; not operational after c. 31 August 1949); 14 July 1952 – 12 March 1957 (not operational after 8 May 1955), 15 September 1978 – 1 April 1980; 1 January 1992 – 16 July 1993

Squadrons

• 18th Troop Carrier Squadron: 1 April 1965 – 25 June 1967
• 37th "Tactical" Airlift Squadron: 15 September 1975 – 1 October 1977
• 39th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 39th "Tactical" Airlift Squadron, 39th Airlift Squadron): attached 8 May 1955 – 23 June 1956; assigned 8 July 1957 – 25 September 1958; 15 April 1963 – 31 July 1971 (detached c. February—c. May 1965, 13 May – 18 July 1968 and 15 April – 22 July 1969; not operational, 1 June – 31 July 1971); 31 August 1971 – 15 September 1978 (detached 12 December 1973 – 17 February 1974, 9 July – 15 September 1974, 12 July – 14 September 1975, 12 April – 14 June 1976, 4 January – 4 March 1977); 1 April 1980 – 1 January 1992 (detached 8 October – 13 December 1980, 3 February – 14 April 1982, 4 June – 13 August 1983, 1 October – 12 December 1984, 2 February – 15 April 1986, 3 March – 15 May 1987, 3 June – 10 August 1988, 6 August – 10 October 1989, 1 June – 9 July 1991); 1 April 1997 – present
• 40th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 40th "Tactical" Airlift Squadron, 40th Airlift Squadron: attached 21 September – 15 November 1948; attached 8 May 1955 – 11 March 1957, assigned 12 March 1957 – 25 September 1958 (detached 10 April – 7 July 1957); 15 April 1963 – 15 September 1978 (detached 24 November 1964 – 19 February 1965, 16 March – 26 May 1968; not operational, 12 – 30 August 1971; detached 31 August – 17 October 1971, 7 April – 16 June 1973, 4 March – 7 May 1975, 12 January – 15 March 1976, 4 October – 15 December 1976, and 26 April – 15 July 1977) 1 April 1980 – 1 January 1992 (detached 7 June – 8 August 1980, 3 October – 16 December 1981, 3 February – 14 April 1983, 7 April – 17 June 1984, 4 August – 16 October 1985, 5 October – 10 December 1986, 20 November 1987 – 10 February 1988, 4 February – 12 April 1989, 31 March – 9 April 1990, 9 July – 10 August 1991); 1 April 1997 – present
• 41st Troop Carrier Squadron (later 41st "Tactical" Airlift Squadron, 41st Airlift Squadron: attached 8 May 1955 – 11 March 1957, assigned 12 March 1957 – 25 September 1958 (detached 15 March – 7 July 1957); assigned 15 April 1963 – 21 November 1965 (detached 6 September – 21 December 1964); 31 August 1971 – 15 September 1978 (detached 6 November 1971 – 12 January 1972, 4 June – 16 August 1972, 5 February – 14 April 1973, 9 August – 15 October 1973, 11 March – 16 May 1974, 11 November 1974 – 15 January 1975, 4 October – 15 December 1975, 13 July – 10 September 1976, and 5 March – 25 April 1977) 1 April 1980 – 1 January 1992 (detached 3 April – 14 June 1981, 3 August – 14 October 1982, 4 December 1983 – 15 February 1984, 10 February – 10 April 1985, 25 May – 13 August 1986, 1 August – 14 October 1987, 2 October – 15 December 1988, 3 December 1989 – 15 February 1990
• 46th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 18 August – 30 September 1948
• 52d Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 15 April 1963 – 31 March 1964
• 780th Troop Carrier Squadron: 8 July 1957 – 8 March 1958
• 781st Troop Carrier Squadron: 8 July 1957 – 8 March 1958
• 782d Troop Carrier Squadron: 8 July – 20 December 1957
• 4408th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 22 September 1969 – 15 August 1971

Stations

• Tachikawa Airfield, Japan, 18 August 1948 – c. 21 September 1948
• Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany, c. 30 September 1948
• Celle RAF Station, Germany (later: West Germany), 9 January – 14 September 1949
• Rhein-Main Air Base, West Germany, 14 July 1952
• Neubiberg Air Base, West Germany, 17 March 1953
• Évreux-Fauville Air Base, France, 17 April 1957 – 25 September 1958; 15 April 1963 – 20 June 1964
• Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, 20 June 1964
• Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, 31 August 1971 – 20 August 1993
• Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, 1 April 1997–present

Aircraft

• C-47 Skytrain, 1942–1948
• C-46 Commando, 1948
• C-54 Skymaster, 1948–1949
• C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1952–1957, 1957–1958
• C-130 Hercules, 1957–1958, 1963–1964, 1964–1971, 1971–1993, 1997–2012
• C-124 Globemaster II, 1963–1964
• C-123 Provider, 1969–1971.
• Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, 2010–present

See also

• United States Army Air Forces in Australia
• Bakers Creek air crash

References

Notes

1. ^ Kane, Robert B. (27 May 2015). "Factsheet 317 Airlift Group (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
2. "Dyess Air Force Base > Units". www.dyess.af.mil.
3. Keopka, SSG Leslie (11 July 2014). "Dyess AFB members help open new 75 EAS chapter at CJTF-HOA". USAFE Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
4. Hall, SRA Shannon (19 February 2015). "317th AG made whole again". 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
5. Taunton, Capt Sybil (6 February 2015). "AF Ebola support winds down". USAFE Public Affairs. Retrieved 26 February 2015.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) . Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Rogers, Brian. (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.

External links

• Dyess Air Force Base: 317 Airlift Group factsheet
• Air Force Historical Research Agency: 317 Airlift Group
• GlobalSecurity.org: 317 Airlift Group
• Historic homecoming for Dyess Mobility Airmen (2013)
• The fleet is complete (2013)

v t e United States Air Force
Leadership	Department of the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Air Staff Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Director of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Four-star generals Three-star generals 1940–1959 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–present House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Airland Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Structure	Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major commands ACC AETC AFGSC AFMC AFRC AFSOC AMC PACAF USAFE–AFAFRICA Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Expeditionary Fifteenth Sixteenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security Forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol
Personnel and training	Personnel Rank officers cadets enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Security Forces Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: Air Force Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment
Uniforms and equipment	Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Aircraft Uniforms
History and traditions	History Aeronautical Division / Aviation Section / Division of Military Aeronautics / Army Air Service / Army Air Corps / Army Air Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Women Airforce Service Pilots Air Force One / Air Force Two Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers Air & Space Forces Association
Category

v t e Air Mobility Command (AMC)
Numbered Air Forces	Eighteenth (Transportation)
Command Organizations	618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) USAF Expeditionary Center Special Air Mission
Bases	Andrews Charleston Dover Dyess Fairchild Hickam Little Rock MacDill McChord McConnell McGuire Pope Ramstein Scott Travis
Group	43d Air Mobility Operations 317th Airlift Group
Wings	Air Base 87th 628th Air Mobility 60th 305th 375th Air Refueling (Tanker) 6th 22d 92d Airlift 19th 62d 89th 436th 437th Air Mobility Operations 515th 521st Contingency Response 621st

Links to related articles

v t e USAAF Fifth Air Force in World War II Previously: Philippine Department Air Force (1941); Far East Air Force (1941-1942) Airfields Pacific USAAF in Australia USAAF in the Southwest Pacific USAAF in Okinawa Units Commands V Bomber V Fighter 5th Interceptor (Provisional) Wings 54th Troop Carrier 85th Fighter 86th Fighter 91st Reconnaissance 308th Bombardment 309th Bombardment 310th Bombardment Groups Air Commando 3d Air Commando Bombardment 3d Bombardment 7th Bombardment 19th Bombardment 22d Bombardment 27th Bombardment 38th Bombardment 43d Bombardment 90th Bombardment 312th Bombardment 345th Bombardment 380th Bombardment 417th Bombardment Combat Cargo 2d Combat Cargo Fighter 8th Fighter 24th Pursuit 35th Fighter 49th Fighter 58th Fighter 348th Fighter 475th Fighter Reconnaissance 6th Reconnaissance 71st Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 317th Troop Carrier 374th Troop Carrier 375th Troop Carrier 433d Troop Carrier Squadrons Bombardment 31st Bombardment Night Fighter 418th Night Fighter 421st Night Fighter 547th Intelligence Reconnaissance 2d Observation 8th Photographic Reconnaissance 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 21st Troop Carrier 22d Troop Carrier 65th Troop Carrier 66th Troop Carrier United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth v t e USAAF First Air Force in World War II Airfields First Air Force Group Training Stations First Air Force Replacement Training Stations First Air Force Tactical Airfields Freeman Army Airfield Godman Army Airfield Selfridge Field Units Commands I Bomber Command I Fighter Command I Ground Air Support Command Wings 25th Antisubmarine 50th Troop Carrier 52d Troop Carrier 53d Troop Carrier 60th Troop Carrier 61st Troop Carrier Boston Fighter New York Fighter Norfolk Fighter Philadelphia Fighter Groups Bombardment 2d Bombardment 13th Bombardment 22d Bombardment 34th Bombardment 43d Bombardment 45th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 302d Bombardment 400th Bombardment 402d Bombardment 455th Bombardment 459th Bombardment 460th Bombardment 471st Bombardment Combat Cargo 1st Combat Cargo 2d Combat Cargo 4th Combat Cargo Fighter 8th Fighter 31st Fighter 33d Fighter 52d Fighter 56th Fighter 57th Fighter 58th Fighter 59th Fighter 79th Fighter 80th Fighter 83d Fighter 87th Fighter 324th Fighter 325th Fighter 326th Fighter 327th Fighter 332d Fighter 348th Fighter 352d Fighter 353d Fighter 355th Fighter 356th Fighter 358th Fighter 359th Fighter 361st Fighter 362d Fighter 365th Fighter 366th Fighter 368th Fighter 370th Fighter 371st Fighter 373d Fighter 402d Fighter 413th Fighter 476th Fighter Reconnaissance 26th Reconnaissance 73d Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 10th Troop Carrier 60th Troop Carrier 61st Troop Carrier 62d Troop Carrier 63d Troop Carrier 89th Troop Carrier 313th Troop Carrier 314th Troop Carrier 315th Troop Carrier 316th Troop Carrier 317th Troop Carrier 349th Troop Carrier 375th Troop Carrier 403d Troop Carrier 433d Troop Carrier 434th Troop Carrier 435th Troop Carrier 436th Troop Carrier 437th Troop Carrier 438th Troop Carrier 439th Troop Carrier 440th Troop Carrier 441st Troop Carrier 442d Troop Carrier Other 1st Search Attack 477th Composite Incidents Freeman Field Mutiny United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

• Military units and formations in Texas
• Airlift groups of the United States Air Force