817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron
| 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron | |
|---|---|
|
Members of the 8th Airlift Squadron are welcomed home as they return from deployment to Southwest Asia[note 1] | |
| Active | 1943–1945; 1953–1970; 2002–2014 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch |
 United States Air Force |
| Role | Airlift |
| Motto(s) | Ad Astra et Ultra Latin To the Stars and Beyond[1][note 2] |
| Engagements |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations[2] Iraq Campaign |
| Decorations |
Distinguished Unit Citation (2x) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (3x)[2] |
| Insignia | |
| 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 19 August 1958)[2] |
 |
| Unofficial 817th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem (Korean War era) |
 |
| Unofficial 817th Bombardment Squadron emblem[3] |
 |
The 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit. It was engaged in combat operations in Southwest Asia. It was inactivated in 2014, however it can be reactivated by Air Mobility Command at any time needed for contingency iperations.
During World War II as the 817th Bombardment Squadron, it was one of the last Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber squadrons deployed to southern Italy as part of the Fifteenth Air Force 483d Bombardment Group in March 1944.
The squadron was converted to airlift operations and activated in the Pacific area, where it served during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars until it was inactivated in 1970.
Mission
The squadron was equipped with McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III transports and supported Coalition forces engaging in combat operations as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and also operated in the Horn of Africa.
The mission of the 817h was to provide global strategic airlift, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and humanitarian relief, to create an air bridge for personnel, equipment and supplies throughout their assigned areas of responsibility.
History
World War II
Established in late 1943 as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron, trained under Third Air Force in Florida. Was deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force in Southern Italy. Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment of enemy military, industrial and transport targets, including oil refineries and production oilfields in Italy, France, southern Germany. Austria and the Balkans. Continued strategic bombardment until German capitulation in May 1945.
After V-E Day, was assigned to Air Transport Command (ATC) Green Project which was the movement of troops from Pisa Airfield staging area in Morocco. B-17s were dearmed with flooring and seats for 25 passengers installed. Crew consisted of Pilot, co-Pilot, Navigator and Flight Engineer. Carried passengers from Pisa to Port Lyautey Airfield, French Morocco where ATC transports moved them across the Atlantic or to Dakar for movement via South Atlantic Transport Route. Inactivated in Italy in September 1945.
Korean War
Reactivated by Far East Air Forces in 1952 in Japan as a C-119 Troop Carrier squadron. Engaged in combat operations in South Korea transporting personnel and supplies to front-line units, under hazardous conditions. Also evacuated wounded personnel to hospital facilities in South Korea and Japan. Remained in Japan after the 1953 Armistice, providing intra-theater transport within Japan, South Korea and Okinawa.
Vietnam War
Moved to Okinawa in 1958, re-equipped with Lockheed C-130A Hercules aircraft. Continued intra-theater transport operations, also flying to locations in the Philippines, Thailand and Indochina, supporting United States civilian and military personnel assigned to the region. As the United States increased its combat presence in Indochina in the early 1960s, made frequent flights to airfields in South Vietnam and to locations within the country. As in South Korea, the flights within South Vietnam were extremely hazardous as the squadron operated within combat areas and frequently were under fire from communist forces during takeoff, landing and ground operations. Inactivated in 1970 as part of the drawdown of US forces in Southeast Asia.
Expeditionary operations
Reactivated in 2002 as a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III squadron as part of the Global War on Terrorism. Provided intra-theater transport within Southwest Asia and other locations as directed in support of units engaged in combat operations.
Lineage
- Constituted as the 817th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 September 1943
- Activated on 20 September 1943
- Re-designated 817th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. September 1944
- Inactivated on 25 September 1945
- Re-designated 817th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 15 November 1952
- Activated on 1 January 1953
- Redesignated 817th Troop Carrier Squadron on 8 December 1965
- Redesignated 817th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 August 1967
- Inactivated on 15 June 1970
- Redesignated 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and converted to provisional status, on 12 June 2002[2]
- Activated c. 2002
- Inactivated on 1 April 2014
Assignments
- 483d Bombardment Group, 20 September 1943 – 25 September 1945
- 483d Troop Carrier Group, 1 January 1953
- 483d Troop Carrier Wing, 8 December 1958
- 315th Air Division, 25 June 1960[4] (attached to 6315th Operations Group)
- 374th Troop Carrier Wing (later 374th Tactical Airlift Wing), 8 August 1966 – 15 June 1970
- Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate at any time after 12 June 2002[2]
Stations
- Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, 20 September 1943
- MacDill Field, Florida, 7 November 1943 – 2 March 1944
- Sterparone Airfield, Italy, 9 April 1944
- Pisa Airfield, Italy, 15 May 1945 – 25 September 1945
- Ashiya Air Base, Japan, 1 January 1953
- Naha Air Base, Okinawa, 25 June 1960 – 15 June 1970[2]
- Southwest Asia, 2002–2014
Aircraft
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1945
- Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1953–1959
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules, 1958–1970[2]
- Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, 2002–2014
See also
References
- Notes
- ↑ Taken 5 April 2013 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The airmen were deployed to the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
- ↑ This has also been rendered as "Ad Astra et Sursuum"
- ↑ Lead aircraft is Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress serial 44-8591. Delivered to the squadron on 3 January 1945, this aircraft survived the war and was used by Air Transport Command as a passenger transport between Pisa and Port Lyautey Airfield, French Morocco returning personnel to the United States after the war.
- Citationss
- ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 767
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Haulman, Daniel L. (May 1, 2011). "Factsheet 817 Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ↑ Watkins, p. 116
- ↑ "Factsheet 315 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 10 December 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. 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. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
Watkins, Robert A. (2009). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force In World War II. Volume IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-3401-6.