317th Airlift Squadron

317th Airlift Squadron
317th Airlift Squadron Emblem
Active	25 October 1943-9 April 1944 1 May 1944-28 February 1946 6 April 1964-30 April 1974 1 April 1992-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command 22nd Air Force 315th Airlift Wing 315th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Charleston Air Force Base
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant Colonel William R. Fingar

The 317th Airlift Squadron (317 AS) is part of the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission worldwide. It continues the histories of three squadrons with airlift missions that bear the number 317.

The mission of the 317th Airlift Squadron is to recruit, train, and support combat ready aircrews in order to meet global taskings.

The 317th was first activated as a transport squadron during World War II and airlifted cargo and mail for the Eighth Air Force within the United Kingdom from 1943-1944.

The squadron's second activation was as a troop carrier unit. After training in the United States, it moved overseas and airlifted troops and cargo in India and Burma from 11 November 1944 to about August 1945. Through its first eight months in theater, the squadron flew Chinese troops, horses, and mules over The Hump, air dropped supplies, and evacuated wounded. The squadron arrived in theater at a time when British troops were on the offensive in the Chindwin Valley. Because only a few forward airfields were available, a large amount of supplies for these troops had to be airdropped to them. The squadron also airlanded at the forward airfields and evacuated wounded aiding the ground troops in the successful outcome of the campaign.

In December 1944, a decision was made to airlift an entire Chinese division and all of its equipment over The Hump to respond to the Japanese capture of Kweilin, which threatened the lifeline to China. The 317th, along with other transport squadrons, spent most of its efforts until 6 January 1945 in supporting this operation, for which it received commendations from the commanding generals of Army Air Forces, India Burma Theater and Tenth Air Force.