317th Airlift Group


The 317th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force unit, stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Assigned to Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force, the 317 AW operates as a tenant unit at Dyess AFB, an installation under the control of the 7th Bomb Wing of the Air Force Global Strike Command.
Previously designated as the 317th Airlift Group, the unit was redesignated as the 317th Airlift Wing 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 ; Operation Iraqi Freedom, 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:

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 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 and Somalia. 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 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, Senagal 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

Group
Squadrons