17th Airlift Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 17th Airlift Squadron is one of four 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.
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 March 26, 2007.
, CA, April 27, 1942 – October 31, 1943. Charleston AFB, SC, July 18, 1954 – April 8, 1969; August 1, 1987 –
, 1942–1943. C-54, 1954–1958; C-124, 1958–1969. C-141, 1987–1993; C-17
, 1993-.
The 17th Airlift
Airlift
Airlift is the act of transporting people or cargo from point to point using aircraft.Airlift may also refer to:*Airlift , a suction device for moving sand and silt underwater-See also:...
Squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, who serves as head of the squadron and the pilots. The Chief Loadmaster
Loadmaster
A Loadmaster is an aircrew member on military transport aircraft. Loadmasters serve in the Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Navy of many nations...
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
Staging area
A staging area is a location where organisms, people, vehicles, equipment or material are assembled before use.- In construction :...
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 February 18, 1942
- Activated on April 27, 1942
- Redesignated 17th Transport Squadron on March 19, 1943
- Disbanded on October 31, 1943
- Reconstituted, and redesignated 17th Air Transport Squadron, Medium, on March 22, 1954
- Activated on July 18, 1954
- Redesignated: 17th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on June 18, 1958
- Redesignated: 17th Military Airlift Squadron on January 8, 1966
- Inactivated on April 8, 1969
- Activated on August 1, 1987
- Redesignated 17th Airlift Squadron on October 1, 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 March 26, 2007.
Assignments
- Army Air Forces Ferrying Command (later, Air Transport CommandAir Transport CommandAir Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
), April 27, 1942 - 11th Ferrying (later, 11th Transport) Group, July 28, 1942 – October 31, 1943
- 1608th Air Transport Group, July 18, 1954
- 1608th Air Transport Wing1608th Air Transport WingThe 1608th Air Transport Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Eastern Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina...
, January 18, 1963 - 437th Military Airlift Wing, January 8, 1966 – April 8, 1969; August 1, 1987
- 437th Operations Group437th Operations GroupThe 437th Operations Group is an active United States Air Force unit. It is the flying component of the Twenty-First Air Force 437th Airlift Wing, stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, October 1, 1991 – Present
Stations
Hamilton FieldHamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay, south of Novato, California.-History:...
, CA, April 27, 1942 – October 31, 1943. Charleston AFB, SC, July 18, 1954 – April 8, 1969; August 1, 1987 –
Aircraft
C-46, 1942–1943; C-47C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, 1942–1943. C-54, 1954–1958; C-124, 1958–1969. C-141, 1987–1993; C-17
C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
, 1993-.
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, December 18–29, 1989, and Southwest Asia, August 1990 – December 1991. Continues to support operations in Afghanistan, September 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.Decorations
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: January 1, 1963 – February 1, 1964; July 11, 1966 – July 10, 1967; July 11, 1967 – July 10, 1968; July 11, 1968 – April 8, 1969; July 1, 1988 – June 30, 1989; July 1, 1989 – June 30, 1990; September 21, 1989 – October 31, 1989.
- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: April 1, 1966 – April 8, 1969.